Bad body odor could be in your DNA, dermatologists revealed.
While nearly everyone sweats, it turns out your genes could determine how much you perspire and how smelly you get.
Heather Kornmehl, a Texas-based dermatologist, informed her 111,000 TikTok followers that whether you get smelly as the day progresses or during a strenuous workout may be out of your control.
Some people are more likely to have a foul odor after a hard workout or a long day than others due to variations in the ABCC11 gene, which is responsible for producing underarm body odor.
There are two sweat-related variations of this gene: GG and AA – and people with different versions produce different amounts of odor-causing molecules in sweat glands.
When a person sweats, molecules are released through the body’s sweat glands and bacteria on the skin break them down into strong-smelling compounds detectable in the air.
People with the GG variation will have a foul-smelling odor, while those with the AA type have virtually odor-free. It’s not clear how many people have the odorless variant, but one study involving nearly 6,500 women found that only two percent did.
And when it comes to who has which gene, this could be predetermined by your ancestry.
Texas dermatologist Heather Kornmehl told her 111,000 TikTok followers that body odor during the day or after exercise may be beyond your control
Between 70-100 percent of people with European and African ancestry have the GG genotype, linked to stronger body odors, while 70-100 percent of people with Asian ancestry, especially Chinese and Korean, have the AA genotype, associated with less body odor
Between 70 and 100 percent of people with European and African ancestry have the GG version, while 70 to 100 percent of people with Asian ancestry, particularly those of Chinese and Korean descent, have the AA version.
Body odor is associated with the apocrine sweat glands found in the armpits and around the genitals.
ABCC11 plays a crucial role in determining the production of odor precursors, specific compounds that later become stinky molecules when contacted by bacteria.
These precursors do not smell on their own, but when released from the apocrine sweat glands in the armpits, bacteria break them down.
Some of these molecules have a sulfur-like smell, while others can smell like musk or urine.
Sweating is unavoidable, but genetics says smell is not. Those fortunate enough to have the AA genotype produce fewer molecules interacting with the skin’s bacteria.
Dr. Madalyn Nguyen, an Oregon-based dermatologist, told NBC News: ‘It’s just going to be a lot less pungent and a lot less prevalent.
‘So we can go a little bit longer without needing to mask our body odor.’
Deodorant combats these smelly molecule byproducts with antibacterial agents like alcohol or triclosan, which reduces the colonies of bacteria on the skin.
One study found women with the GG version of the gene were 10 times more likely to use deodorant daily than women with the AA version.
Even people with the AA variant use deodorant, though.
Sweating is inevitable, but genetics affect body odor. People with the AA genotype produce fewer molecules that interact with skin bacteria, leading to less odor, according to Dr Kornmehl
Dr Kornmehl recommends washing armpits daily with benzoyl peroxide or Hibiclens to kill odor-causing bacteria and using a clinical-strength antiperspirant at night to combat body odor, in addition to deodorants
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A 2013 study based on people from the UK found while five percent of those with the body odor-causing gene don’t use deodorant, 78 percent of people who don’t produce body odor use it.
Professor Ian Day, co-author of the study, said: ‘Three-quarters of those who do not produce an odor regularly use deodorants; we believe that these people simply follow socio-cultural norms.
‘This contrasts with the situation in North East Asia, where most people do not need to use deodorant and they don’t.’
In addition to using deodorants, some of which emit toxic fumes in aerosol form or can cause allergic reactions, Dr Kornmehl has suggested some other ways to beat body odor.
She said: ‘When I tell my patients with stinky, sweaty underarms to wash your armpits daily with benzoyl peroxide or Hibiclens to kill odor-causing bacteria, and to apply clinical strength antiperspirant of certain DRI [a type of clinical strength deodorant] to your underarms at night before you go to sleep.’
The ABCC11 gene variation also affects earwax. People with the AA genotype who are less likely to have body odor are more likely to have dry earwax, while people with the GG type are more likely to have earwax the consistency of honey.
Given the low prevalence of the AA genotype, the billion-dollar deodorant market is not likely to suffer. While not everyone needs deodorant, it’s wise to give yourself a sniff before going au natural.
