What is it about our bodies that makes our armpits a trap for odors?

Question

My wife wants to know.

Answer 1

Body odor develops in the underarms due in part to the waste products of microorganisms that feed on sebum, the fatty secretions produced by apocrine glands.

Bromhidrosis or body odor (also called bromidrosis, osmidrosis and ozochrotia) is the smell of bacteria growing on the body. These bacteria multiply considerably in the presence of sweat, but sweat itself is almost totally odorless. Body odor is associated with the hair, feet, crotch (upper medial thigh), anus, skin in general, breasts, armpits, genitals, pubic hair, and mouth.

Answer 2

Q: What can you do about smelly feet and armpits?
By Judy Foreman, Globe Staff | April 26, 2005

Lots, including washing many times and keeping these areas as dry and cool as possible.

As you may have noticed, sweat, which helps regulate body temperature, smells different in different parts of the body. That's because the skin contains different kinds of glands. The more common are the eccrine glands, which pump out salty water or sweat.

Sweaty feet smell bad because of bacteria that feed off this sweat and dead skin, said Dr. Robert Stern, chief of dermatology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Some strong odors, such as garlic, are also pumped out in sweat, he said.

The armpits and groin also contain apocrine glands, which pump out a number of substances, including mate-attracting pheromones.

To combat odor, in addition to washing, you can use baby powder to sop up sweat, leaving less for bacteria to feed on. Antiperspirants reduce sweat by blocking eccrine glands; Deodorants are really just perfumes, though some also contain antiperspirants.

For really bad foot odor, some people swear by antimicrobial socks that contain silver-coated nylon, which may inhibit the growth of bacteria. Other people swear by insoles containing super-activated charcoal and baking soda, though there isn't much scientific data to support either. Clearing up athlete's foot can also help.

For people who sweat profusely, a condition called hyperhydrosis, a prescription solution called Drysol can help ''shrivel up sweat glands," said Dr. Samuel Ahn, chief of endovascular surgery at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine. Botox injections, which deaden the nerves that trigger sweating, also help, especially in the armpits.

As a last resort, there's surgery to remove pieces of the sympathetic nerves that supply the hands, armpits, or feet. It can help, but a major risk is that it may actually increase sweating on the trunk.

Original source:
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/health_science/articles/2005/04/26/q_what_can_you_do_about_smelly_feet_and_armpits/

Answer 3

Well, since its not you and your wife. Usually is because contact of the skin in that area is so high. Creating more heat, and more sweat. I belive theres a bacteria on your skin that eats the salt. and they excrete an odor. But some of it is also from the natural smell humans produce. Tell her to shave her armpits : )

Answer 4

there is a bacteria there, and bacteria love moisture its where they thrive. when you sweat, it mixes with the bacteria causing the odor, get rid of the bacteria, and you get rid of the odor. best bet is to wash with hot soapy water and use alot of friction. more difficult in males becuase of the hair.

Answer 5

It's like a cave without a hole. If you leave it closed up, like we do when we have our arms down, with no ventalation or a way to sanitize it, the smell becomes stale and awful.

Answer 6

Endocrine glands.

Answer 7

Shave the hair and no stink will come from there!