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Lack of body hygiene is the most common cause of body odor. However, recent studies have shown that age can also affect a person's body odor. How can body odor change as you get older?
What causes body odor?
Apart from oil glands, your skin also has sweat glands. Well, these sweat glands function to regulate body temperature, maintain skin moisture, and balance body fluids. These sweat glands are of two types, namely eccrine and apocrine glands.
The eccrine glands produce sweat which is made up of water and salt. Almost all areas of the skin on your body have eccrine glands. Meanwhile, the apocrine glands are only in areas of the skin where hair is generally grown, such as the armpits, nipples, and vital organs. These glands produce sweat which is made up of fat.
Although both glands produce odors, generally body odor comes from the sweat of the apocrine glands. The reason is, bacteria that stick to the skin more easily break down the sweat in the apocrine glands. That's why your armpits, groin, and breasts often smell bad.
Is it true that body odor changes when you get old?
Apart from lack of body hygiene, body odor can also be influenced by food choices, body activity, certain medical conditions, and the use of certain drugs. However, have you ever noticed what a baby's body smells like with an adult. The body odor of babies and children is not as bad as the smell of adults, right? So, can body odor change with age?
A study tested 44 men and women who were divided into three groups, namely ages 20 to 30 years, 45 to 55 years, and 75 to 90 years. They were asked to sleep wearing special clothes equipped with armpit pads for 5 consecutive days by avoiding foods that can cause body odor.
The results showed that older people did have very different and stronger scents. Researchers believe that this change in body odor occurs as a result of damage to certain compounds that the body produces with age. This compound is known as nonenal-2.
Nonenal-2 compounds are known to form as a result of the breakdown of omega 7 unsaturated fats. These compounds usually form when a person reaches the age of 40.
