why do i have a metallic body odor

Appl Environ Microbiol. Some sudden changes in body odor can come down to increasing your healthy hygiene habits. Body odor is commonly attributed to poor hygiene, eating garlic and numerous spicy foods, taking some medication, stress and anxiety, or hormonal fluctuations associated with puberty and menopause. Phantosmia brought on by a sinus condition or other temporary health problem will usually disappear when your condition improves. If you have hyperhidrosis disorder, you sweat excessively and uncontrollably, sometimes for no apparent reason. Consider shaving your underarms. Your body odor can change due to hormones, the food you eat, infection, medications or underlying conditions like diabetes. They also release sweat when you're under stress. "Semen within the vagina can alter the pH and contribute to a metallic odor. The use of insulin to control diabetes is usually associated with an acetone-like smell. Carla M. Delgado is a health and culture writer based in the Philippines. Consider seeing a doctor. At the end of the process, the ions become triple charged and stop generating compounds that humans can smell. Loss of Taste, Smell in COVID-19 Might Last Up to 5 Months, Smell Training Could Help People Who Lost Their Sense of Smell From COVID-19, Overview and Causes of Olfactory Disorders, Parosmia in patients with COVID-19 and olfactory dysfunction, Smell training in prolonged COVID-19 post-infectious olfactory dysfunction: a case report. Body and mind: Questions answered. 2005 - 2023 WebMD LLC, an Internet Brands company. Once digestion of food has taken place, these compounds are then absorbed into the blood and lungs leading to not only offensive body odor but also bad breath. Or, you just may need a stronger treatment. 2021;S1748-6815(21)00193-5. doi:10.1016/j.bjps.2021.03.089. You dont need to treat this change unless it bothers you. This problem just occurred today and has never occurred before. The condition can also be caused by inflamed sinuses, temporal lobe seizures, Parkinson's disease and brain tumors, plus even an upper respiratory tract infection. As we have seen, this symptom can point to a serious underlying pathology, as . You might benefit from a prescription antiperspirant/deodorant. A metallic body odor can also result from a reaction between metallic tools and the skin especially in individuals whose occupation involves using metallic tools every now and then. Seattle Childrens Hospital: Ear Discharge., Mayo Clinic: Sweating and Body Odor, Vaginal odor, Diarrhea, Bad breath, Diabetic ketoacidosis., PLOS One: A Jungle in There: Bacteria in Belly Buttons are Highly Diverse, but Predictable., Mather Hospital: Theres a Rainforest in Your Belly Button., Johns Hopkins Medicine: Giardiasis., HealthDirect: Male Groin Irritation and Infection., National Health Service (U.K.): How to Stop Smelly Feet, Metallic Taste, Smelly Urine., Cleveland Clinic: Four Ways You Can Avoid Stinky Feet.. While taking certain vitamins and supplements can cause a stinky body odor (like B vitamins thiamin and choline), per MIT Medical, they can also cause your poop to smell bad, too. People whose diet is rich in onions are very likely to get onion body odor, but in most cases, eliminating the problem is as easy as halting onion intake for a while. Certain medications and dental appliances may trigger a metallic body odor, reports CNN Health. Fruity or sweet-smelling pee. When metal comes into contact with skin, it catalyzes reactions among the organic molecules that coat our bodies. This sweat is high in fats and other compounds that smell when broken down by bacteria. Eccrine glands occur over most of your body and open directly onto the surface of the skin. Accessed July 6, 2016. In: Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine. These ions then quickly decompose certain compounds, lipid peroxides, that are present in the skin oils produced by the body, generating the chemical 1-octen-2-one, which exudes a strong fungal-metallic smell even in very small quantities, and other gaseous compounds, reports Science Daily. The smell of age: Perception and discrimination of body odors of different ages. Type 1 diabetes mellitus (juvenile) is an auto-immune disease with no known cause at this time, although there are a few risk factors. If you eat these types of foods regularly, try eating less of them or stop eating them altogether. Because blood contains iron atoms, rubbing it on the skin triggers the same process, which is why blood seems to give off a metallic smell. Eccrine gland sweat lacks the fats and other compounds that can smell when broken down by bacteria. Sudden changes may be triggered by the environment, your medications, or your food. Trimethylaminuria is attributed to a lack of an enzyme called flavin which then makes the body unable to metabolize sulfur, phosphorus and nitrogen. Antiperspirants block sweat glands to reduce perspiration. Lots of sweat and wearing the same shoes every day can lead to stinky feet. The longer you hold your urine, the more concentrated it will end up being. They can treat the infected wound. Chronic body odor is often an indication of some serious medical conditions such as Trimethylaminuria which is recognizable for an offensive smell similar to rotten fish (or garbage in situations of lower levels of trimethylamice, the compound responsible for the offending smell. Parosmia is a change in the normal perception of odors, usually taking pleasant smells and turning them into foul ones, R. Peter Manes, MD, FACS, Yale Medicine rhinologist and associate professor of surgery at the Yale School of Medicine, told Verywell. Apocrine glands remain inactive until puberty. (2016). Body odor can be embarrassing. This site may contain third-party advertisements and links to third-party sites. Be sure to shower immediately after you exercise or sweat. Metallic smell in nose is a problem involving a person's sense of smell. Body odor is commonly attributed to poor hygiene, eating garlic and numerous spicy foods, taking some medication, stress and anxiety, or hormonal fluctuations associated with puberty and menopause. Bad Body Odor #5: A sweet or fruity smell in your urine "If you notice this, it may be because you're spilling sugar in your urine," Dr. Greene says. Your Breath Is Kickin'. DOI: Semkova K, et al. Sudden changes may be triggered by the environment, your medications, or your food. Straightforward information on fitness, exercise and fat loss. Giardiasis is a type of diarrhea that triggers unusually bad-smelling poop. Hyperhidrosis is often diagnosed in people with mental health conditions, such as social anxiety, which may influence its onset. Sweat itself doesnt have an odor, but when it mixes with bacteria on your skin, watch out. This buildup becomes a smelly, cheese-like substance called smegma. The main chemical in single use hot packs is either calcium chloride or magnesium sulfate; the other ingredient is distilled water. Dehydration. Check out the best ways to manage diabetes with medications, alternative treatments, or natural remedies. A copper imbalance in the body, which triggers excessive yeast growth, can also cause a metallic odor, notes Dr. Lawrence Wilson. Body odor happens when bacteria that live on your skin break down sweat into acids. WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Hamada K, Haruyama S, Yamaguchi T, et al. frequent urination. See our, Body Odor Disease, Chronic, Onion & Sour Body Odor, What Causes Strong Odor in Body in Women, Men? Why do the apocrine sweat glands become active during puberty? (More on this below.) This element has to do with how long we hold on to . Personal Hygiene Poor personal hygiene can cause an overgrowth bacteria and encourage smelly sweat. If youre smelling metal for no apparent reason, however, do not jump to the conclusion that you have brain cancer. If you experience a sudden change in body odor and have been diagnosed with cancer, speak with your doctor. The body odor is usually associated with Trimethylaminuria is usually attributed to Trimethylamine which is produced during break down of foods rich in choline such as liver and egg yolks, saltwater fish and certain legumes. Diabetic ketoacidosis is a complication of diabetes 3. Is it bad for you? We sincerely hope that this article will help you make sense of the problem and possibly decide your best course of action to get rid of body odor. They're also common when you're feeling nervous, anxious or stressed. Other types of infections that occur outside of the vagina may also cause a change in body odor in the affected area. It also explains why small children don't get body odor even when they sweat. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you somehow cut or scrape your bellybutton, it could get infected. All text is copyright property of this site's authors. Division of Population Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. 2023 Dotdash Media, Inc. All rights reserved. It also provides patients with great pleasure. Some people with gynecological tumors do complain of unpleasant-smelling vaginal discharge. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Smelling ammonia usually happens towards the end of a long or challenging workout and is a strong indicator that you have been burning protein as fuel. B vitamins are water soluble, which means your body doesn't store them, and whatever you don't need is removed in your urine. Chronic body odor is best attended to by a doctor. While its different from parosmia, the two are related. You can't completely get rid of it. Having a distorted sense of smell can affect ones daily function, so many try to get their sense of smell back to normal through a relatively simple and cheap method called smell training. If you still have body odor after trying these things, ask your doctor about prescription medication or medical procedures that might help. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. Apocrine glands are concentrated in areas covered by hair. The odor can be just about anything thats disagreeable, from rotting meat or cheese to fish, something burning or something chemical. To avoid any dangers, monitor food expiration dates and ensure that smoke and natural gas detectors are functioning properly. Exposure to heat, physical activity and emotional stress can all prompt the body to activate its internal cooling system - perspiration. It's only then that body odor becomes an issue. As we have already mentioned elsewhere, onion is one of the foods that are known to cause body odor. Here are some common body signals you should pay attention to: 1. Some people naturally sweat more or less than other people. Therefore, parosmia can occur when: Having a distorted sense of smell, or parosmia, can turn normal, everyday odorsnot just foodinto exceedingly unpleasant ones. If you are in a very hot or humid area, you may need to shower twice a day. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Carla M. Delgado is a health and culture writer based in the Philippines. Mitro S, et al. If the onion body odor however doesnt seem to go away even after you have eliminated onions from your diet, then you could be having a case of metallic abnormality at hand. The smell will go away once the food is metabolized, unless its eaten daily. Eccrine glands squeeze sweat directly to the surface of the skin through a duct. It also offers tips for controlling body odor. For others, problems with smell can rob them of the pleasure of cooking and eating. Washing your penis every day can stop this from happening. All rights reserved. When skin oils are exposed to iron and copper, they produce unpleasant smelling aldehydes and ketones. Mayo Clinic on Incontinence - Mayo Clinic Press, NEW Mayo Clinic on High Blood Pressure - Mayo Clinic Press, Mayo Clinic on Hearing and Balance - Mayo Clinic Press, FREE Mayo Clinic Diet Assessment - Mayo Clinic Press, Mayo Clinic Health Letter - FREE book - Mayo Clinic Press, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development, Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education. Pastor DK, Harper DS. None of those are what my body smells like but its hard to describe. Anatomy, Skin Sweat Glands. That can lead to body odor. 1. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. You can get more of these vitamins by adding certain foods to your diet, or by taking supplements. 2. Dont stop taking any medication until youve spoken with a doctor. Individual variation in body odor [Abstract]. UTIs can also cause odor. For instance, many people experience a sudden, strong smell from their urine after eating asparagus. It is illegal to copy, reprint or republish any content or portions of content from this site without the author's permission. 322166814/www.reference.com/Reference_Mobile_Feed_Center3_300x250, How My Regus Can Boost Your Business Productivity, How to Find the Best GE Appliances Dishwasher for Your Needs, How to Shop for Rooms to Go Bedroom Furniture, Tips to Maximize Your Corel Draw Productivity, How to Plan the Perfect Viator Tour for Every Occasion. These glands release a milky fluid when you're stressed. An antibacterial soap also often helps and so does deodorants and antiperspirant. I hope readers will share their advice for dealing with this type of situation in the comment area below. The Atkins Diet since while in ketosis, the body turns to body fats for provision of energy. Research has found that women at high fertility within their menstrual cycle actually put out a different, perceived to be more attractive, scent to men than those at low fertility in their cycle. If you're smelling something metal down there, it probably just means you're on your period. Diseases that Can Make You Smell Cigarette Smoke, Brain Tumor Can Cause Smelling Something Bad thats Not There. Even alcohol can change the smell of your sweat. Everyone gets body odor. Vitamins. DOI: Hsu VM, et al. Proper hydration isnt just about keeping thirst at bay. Body odor is caused by bacteria breaking down the sweat from the apocrine glands in your armpits, groin, and pubic area. Trimethylaminuria is yet another disease that causes body odor. Hyperhidrosis and stress [Abstract]. Blood in the mouth, such as the kind caused by. Waking up with smelly breath is normal. Apocrine glands remain inactive until puberty. Or your food while its different from parosmia, the more concentrated it end! This buildup becomes a smelly, cheese-like substance called smegma strong smell from their urine after eating asparagus iron copper... 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Not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, your! People experience a sudden change in body odor and have been diagnosed with cancer, speak with your.. Smell from their urine after eating asparagus the pH and contribute to a metallic odor, but when it with. That can Make you smell Cigarette smoke, brain Tumor can cause smelling something Bad thats There. Magnesium sulfate ; the other ingredient is distilled water of Population health, National for. Charged and stop generating compounds that smell when broken down by bacteria the environment, your medications, alternative,! Serious underlying pathology, as third-party advertisements and links why do i have a metallic body odor third-party sites Disease... Down sweat into acids you hold your urine, the body, which may influence its onset - WebMD... Prevention and health Promotion that triggers unusually bad-smelling poop with gynecological tumors do complain of vaginal! 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Occurred today and has never occurred before metallic odor these types of foods regularly try! Smoke and natural gas detectors are functioning properly ask your doctor about prescription medication or medical procedures why do i have a metallic body odor help!

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