Body Odor Changes as You Age
As the body ages, the body changes. Most people think of these changes in terms of weight gain and wrinkles, but another area in which women change is body odor. Changes in body odor can be quite embarrassing and cause you to feel anxiety around other people – even those that you love.
Body odor is a byproduct of sweating. Sweating is the body’s natural cooling system, so you should not think of sweat as a “bad thing.” Understanding how the body sweats can help you control it and combat the body odor that often accompanies it.
As women age and get closer to menopause, the hormonal changes that they experience can impact body odor. Increased sweat production, hot flashes, and night sweats all contribute to changes in body odor. When estrogen levels drop during menopause, a false message is sent to the hypothalamus saying that the body is overheated. Then, the body over-produces sweat to try to cool the body. This excess sweating causes changes in body odor.
The body has two types of sweat glands:
- Eccrine Glands – located all over the body; produce odorless sweat; sweat is released onto the body’s surface
- Apocrine Glands – located near hair follicles; produce fatty sweat inside glands; sweat is pushed to the surface when women feel anxious or stressed
Your gynecologist is the perfect person to speak with about changes that you have noticed in body odor. At Marietta OB-GYN Affiliates, P.A., we are here for you in all the changes that your body experiences. Various natural and alternative remedies exist to help you through the multiple changes that you will experience as you age. Our physicians and staff are available to discuss your symptoms and find the safest and most effective course of treatment to meet your individual needs.
At Marietta OB-GYN Affiliates, P.A., we are currently accepting new patients, and we participate with most health insurance providers. We look forward to providing you with high-quality women’s care.
