Bacteria on your body influence how long you are going to live. Skin microbiome – a group of bacteria, living on our skin, protecting us from harmful microorganisms – changes due to age, geography, diet, lifestyle, and environment. An imbalanced skin microbiome is also one of the main causes of body odor.

Let’s look at the most problematic (in terms of skin microbiome and body odor) periods everyone comes through in their life. 

Teenagers

Babies inherit their mothers’ bacteria and some microorganisms are introduced later through the environment. But when you reach puberty, the skin microbiome changes. 

Teenagers have the strongest body odor because their microbiome has to adjust to new conditions when hormones stimulate sebaceous glands and sweat glands, thus more sebum and sweat are produced. All these “excess products” of your body are actively consumed by the bacteria on the skin and this is how you get a strong body odor.

Naturally, teenagers have to start paying more attention to hygiene. If possible, you should shower more frequently than you used to, or at least rinse the most stinky body parts. Consider using exfoliating products, which will remove dead skin cells buildup and layers of an old antiperspirant, which you probably use at that age. You can try acidifying CREAM which gently acidifies the skin and can be used instead of a deodorant.

By the way, these increased amounts of sweat penetrate the fabrics of the clothes along with bacteria, and they are difficult to wash out. So teenagers need to change their clothes more often and wash the stinkiest parts, like underarms, with a stronger stain remover. 

Men after 40

Adults have mostly stable skin microbial communities, maintained by the growth of microorganisms that already live on the skin. At the age of 20-30, you have the least problems with body odor. And by the 40s, men especially, have a noticeably different BO. 

They are considered the second stinkiest age group after teenagers. Starting at about age 40, human bodies begin to subtly change the way that omega-7 unsaturated fatty acids on the skin are degraded. As these acids are exposed to oxygen in the air, the change creates a smell.

According to EJPPS research, there is a difference in the skin microbiome of men and women. Men have increased bacterial levels and higher skin pH. It is caused by more active production of sebum and sweat. Moreover, men shed 5 times more microbe-carrying particles and have more increased levels of skin commensal organisms than females. 

Many of our male customers are uncertain when ordering WASH as it’s usually emphasized that women need to support their healthy flora. But as you can see, men’s microbiome also needs support and extra cleaning. WASH will feed healthy bacteria and prevent body odor on the underarms, chest, and groin. 

Why do older people smell?

Older people, who have fewer antioxidants on their skin, have this specific odor, also known as the “old people smell”. Antioxidants help the skin repair itself, and once their number decreases, the lipids become the source of the smell. 

It gets a bit more tricky with older people, because, in their case, it’s not just body odor from sweat and sebum. As people get older, they often get overactive bladder and incontinence, meaning the more frequent and sudden urge to urinate that may be difficult to control. So some of the urine will inevitably get on their underwear and, over time, will form a smelly biofilm in clothes. If that’s the case, change your clothes more often to avoid biofilm formation and for your own comfort and confidence. 

The smell of urine itself can be stronger due to asymptomatic bacteriuria. These bacteria are not harmful and can be present in your body not causing any symptoms besides the odor. Asymptomatic bacteriuria is more common in the elderly and people with diabetes or catheters. Other reasons for stronger urine odor may include a UTI or simple dehydration, which leads to more concentrated, and, as a result, stronger-smelling urine. 

If you feel like your urine smells too strong, drink more water or green tea to dilute urine. It will also break down the compounds responsible for the nonenal (musty) smells. 

Additionally, choose microbiome-friendly products in the shower, like WASH with prebiotics, that will support healthy flora, and prevent the spread of opportunistic bacteria, body odor, and infections.

Menopausal women

Asymptomatic bacteriuria (bacteria that give your urine a stronger smell) is also common during estrogen decrease. So, naturally, peri/menopausal women may notice stronger body odor in the intimate area. 

During menopause you are also more prone to UTIs. The lack of estrogen disbalances vaginal flora which protects your vagina and urinary tract from opportunistic bacteria. If you noticed getting UTIs during your hormonal changes, you may find this post useful. 

What is more, hot flushes – a common symptom during menopause – make women sweat more. Why do hot flushes happen? 

The answer lies in the sweat glands which regulate your body temperature and keep it cool. Going through menopause you may find your internal thermostat is out of whack. This can cause you to perspire more during warmer temperatures and shiver at cooler ones, leading to hot flushes. 

As a result of decreased estrogen levels during menopause, women may have more male hormone (testosterone) leading to increased bacteria in their sweat. These bacteria consume the nutritious compounds in sweat and more body odor is produced.

What can you do to reduce your BO during peri/menopause?

• Consume more liquids and change underwear more often to reduce the urine smell and prevent bacterial biofilm on your clothes.
• Take probiotics, as they help to balance your body’s bacterial ecosystem and, as a result, manage your vaginal smell. You can find some supplement recommendations here.
• Wash genitals and underarms with water more often or use pH-balancing shower products, like zerotaboos WASH with prebiotics.

Read more about body odor during menopause in this post.

Is body odor genetic?

There is a genetic condition called trimethylaminuria. A specific gene interferes with the body’s ability to break down trimethtylamine (TMA), which is found in choline-rich foods such as eggs, fish, and organ meats (brains, livers, hearts, etc.). Even being squeaky clean won’t help those with trimethylaminuria if they do not cut on choline-rich foods. 

You don’t have trimethylaminuria? Well, you might have inherited something else, for example, your sebaceous glands, which can be larger in size and produce more oil.

By the way, hyperhidrosis is also genetic in 80% of cases. Individuals that inherit the autosomal dominant gene will often have excessive sweating.

Your genes also influence the production of proteins in the body. Proteins break down into amino acids, which the body converts into ammonia and releases with sweat. As bacteria like certain proteins more than others, this can lead to their growth and result in stronger body odor.

Summary:

1. Groups that need additional support in fighting body odor include teenagers, men after 40, the elderly, and peri/menopausal women. 
2. Overactive bladder and urinary incontinence are more common in older people. But others can get it too (watch out for your lifestyle and diseases like Parkinson’s or diabetes).
3. Exfoliating your skin and supporting healthy bacteria in and on your body can prevent body odor and infections.