ANIMALS COMMUNICATE their emotional states through body odour. A recently-published study presents evidence that humans may also communicate their emotional state through odour. In this study the persons tested were able to correctly identify, significantly more often than chance, a bottle containing an odour produced by persons when they were happy and frightened.
In general, odours are accepted as pleasant, neutral or unpleasant.
Secretions from healthy and clean skin contain insignificant amounts of substances that produce smell. The skin odour results from the action of bacteria breaking down the secretions of our sweat and sebaceous glands. Other possible sources of odour are hair, nails and the outer keratin scales of the skin.
An unpleasant body odour can result from excessive perspiration and poor personal hygiene. Sweat glands are present all over the body but are found in greatest numbers in the armpits and genital areas. In these areas hairs trap the secretions and the warmth and moisture promote bacterial growth. Sweat is sterile and odourless when it reaches the skin's surface. Within a few hours the bacteria on the skin's surface cause the breakdown of the sweat to volatile salts, fatty acids, ammonia and odorous androgens. The odour is intensified by heat and emotional stress.
The most important cause of smelly feet is hyperhydrosis or excessive perspiration of the palms and soles. When the sweat is mixed with sebum, keratin and other debris on the feet, bacteria have a field day. The sweaty, cheesy foot odour is due to the breakdown of soft keratin due to bacteria. Some persons have a condition called pitted keratolysis where small pits appear on the soles of the feet as a result of bacterial breakdown of the outer keratinous layer of the skin. The bacteria produce chemicals that are highly volatile and unpleasant smelling.
Certain skin diseases may produce a particular smell:
Fungal infection of the scalp - mousy
Psoriasis - musty
Genital warts -foul
Leg ulcers - unpleasant, foul.
These odours result from the decomposition of tissues and bacterial overgrowth. Body odour can often be improved by the use of:
Antiperspirant - this reduces sweating and may be applied to the soles and palms to give some relief from excessive sweating
Antibacterial soaps -
these reduce the bacterial
population on the skin
Absorbent powders and cotton underwear and socks - these reduce moisture on the skin
See a dermatologist to treat any disease of the skin, hair or nails.
Dr. Clive Anderson,
dermatologist
