Some people naturally sweat more or less than other people. Body odor also can vary from person to person. See a doctor if:  You suddenly begin to sweat much more or less than usual Sweating disrupts your daily routine You experience night sweats for no apparent reason You notice a change in your body odor  Causes Sweating and body odor are caused by sweat glands in your body. The two main types of sweat glands are eccrine glands and apocrine glands. Eccrine glands occur over most of your body and open directly onto the surface of the skin. When your body temperature rises, these glands release fluids that cool your body as they evaporate. Apocrine glands are found in areas where you have hair, such as your armpits and groin. These glands release a milky fluid when you're stressed. This fluid is odorless until it combines with bacteria on your skin.                  By Mayo Clinic Staff By Mayo Clinic Staff Request an appointment Request an appointment   Diagnosis & treatment Diagnosis & treatment Diagnosis & treatment       Oct. 27, 2021   Print Print  Share on: FacebookTwitter Facebook Twitter Show references Goldsmith LA, et al., eds. Biology of eccrine and apocrine glands. In: Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine. 8th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2012. http://www.accessmedicine.com. Accessed July 6, 2016. Perspiration. Natural Medicines. https://naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.com/. Accessed July 7, 2016. Kanlayavattanakul M, et al. Body malodours and their topical treatment agents. International Journal of Cosmetic Science. 2011;33:298. Shirasu M, et al. The scent of disease: Volatile organic compounds of the human body related to disease and disorder. Journal of Biochemistry. 2011;150:257. Hyperhidrosis. American Osteopathic College of Dermatology. http://aocd.site-ym.com/?page=Hyperhidrosis. Accessed July 6, 2016. Smith CC, et al. Primary focal hyperhidrosis. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed July 6, 2016.  Show references  Goldsmith LA, et al., eds. Biology of eccrine and apocrine glands. In: Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine. 8th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2012. http://www.accessmedicine.com. Accessed July 6, 2016. Perspiration. Natural Medicines. https://naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.com/. Accessed July 7, 2016. Kanlayavattanakul M, et al. Body malodours and their topical treatment agents. International Journal of Cosmetic Science. 2011;33:298. Shirasu M, et al. The scent of disease: Volatile organic compounds of the human body related to disease and disorder. Journal of Biochemistry. 2011;150:257. Hyperhidrosis. American Osteopathic College of Dermatology. http://aocd.site-ym.com/?page=Hyperhidrosis. Accessed July 6, 2016. Smith CC, et al. Primary focal hyperhidrosis. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed July 6, 2016.   Goldsmith LA, et al., eds. Biology of eccrine and apocrine glands. In: Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine. 8th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2012. http://www.accessmedicine.com. Accessed July 6, 2016. Perspiration. Natural Medicines. https://naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.com/. Accessed July 7, 2016. Kanlayavattanakul M, et al. Body malodours and their topical treatment agents. International Journal of Cosmetic Science. 2011;33:298. Shirasu M, et al. The scent of disease: Volatile organic compounds of the human body related to disease and disorder. Journal of Biochemistry. 2011;150:257. Hyperhidrosis. American Osteopathic College of Dermatology. http://aocd.site-ym.com/?page=Hyperhidrosis. Accessed July 6, 2016. Smith CC, et al. Primary focal hyperhidrosis. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed July 6, 2016.  Goldsmith LA, et al., eds. Biology of eccrine and apocrine glands. In: Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine. 8th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2012. http://www.accessmedicine.com. Accessed July 6, 2016. Perspiration. Natural Medicines. https://naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.com/. Accessed July 7, 2016. Kanlayavattanakul M, et al. Body malodours and their topical treatment agents. International Journal of Cosmetic Science. 2011;33:298. Shirasu M, et al. The scent of disease: Volatile organic compounds of the human body related to disease and disorder. Journal of Biochemistry. 2011;150:257. Hyperhidrosis. American Osteopathic College of Dermatology. http://aocd.site-ym.com/?page=Hyperhidrosis. Accessed July 6, 2016. Smith CC, et al. Primary focal hyperhidrosis. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed July 6, 2016.  Related    Sweat test     Associated Procedures   Urinalysis     Products & Services   Book: Mayo Clinic Book of Home Remedies     Related    Sweat test      Sweat test  
people naturally sweat people  body odor can vary person person  see doctor if:  suddenly begin sweat usual sweating disrupts daily routine experience night sweats apparent reason notice change body odor  causes sweating body odor caused sweat glands body  types sweat glands eccrine glands apocrine glands  eccrine glands occur body open directly surface skin  body temperature rises  glands release fluids cool body evaporate  apocrine glands found areas hair  armpits groin  glands release milky fluid you're stressed  fluid odorless combines bacteria skin                   mayo clinic staff mayo clinic staff request appointment request appointment   diagnosis & treatment diagnosis & treatment diagnosis & treatment       oct  27  2021   print print  share on: facebooktwitter facebook twitter show references goldsmith la  al  eds  biology eccrine apocrine glands  in: fitzpatrick's dermatology general medicine  8th ed  new york  n y : mcgraw-hill companies; 2012  http://www accessmedicine com  accessed july 6  2016  perspiration  natural medicines  https://naturalmedicines therapeuticresearch com/  accessed july 7  2016  kanlayavattanakul m  al  body malodours topical treatment agents  international journal cosmetic science  2011;33:298  shirasu m  al  scent disease: volatile organic compounds human body disease disorder  journal biochemistry  2011;150:257  hyperhidrosis  american osteopathic college dermatology  http://aocd site-ym com/?page=hyperhidrosis  accessed july 6  2016  smith cc  al  primary focal hyperhidrosis  http://www uptodate com/home  accessed july 6  2016   show references  goldsmith la  al  eds  biology eccrine apocrine glands  in: fitzpatrick's dermatology general medicine  8th ed  new york  n y : mcgraw-hill companies; 2012  http://www accessmedicine com  accessed july 6  2016  perspiration  natural medicines  https://naturalmedicines therapeuticresearch com/  accessed july 7  2016  kanlayavattanakul m  al  body malodours topical treatment agents  international journal cosmetic science  2011;33:298  shirasu m  al  scent disease: volatile organic compounds human body disease disorder  journal biochemistry  2011;150:257  hyperhidrosis  american osteopathic college dermatology  http://aocd site-ym com/?page=hyperhidrosis  accessed july 6  2016  smith cc  al  primary focal hyperhidrosis  http://www uptodate com/home  accessed july 6  2016    goldsmith la  al  eds  biology eccrine apocrine glands  in: fitzpatrick's dermatology general medicine  8th ed  new york  n y : mcgraw-hill companies; 2012  http://www accessmedicine com  accessed july 6  2016  perspiration  natural medicines  https://naturalmedicines therapeuticresearch com/  accessed july 7  2016  kanlayavattanakul m  al  body malodours topical treatment agents  international journal cosmetic science  2011;33:298  shirasu m  al  scent disease: volatile organic compounds human body disease disorder  journal biochemistry  2011;150:257  hyperhidrosis  american osteopathic college dermatology  http://aocd site-ym com/?page=hyperhidrosis  accessed july 6  2016  smith cc  al  primary focal hyperhidrosis  http://www uptodate com/home  accessed july 6  2016   goldsmith la  al  eds  biology eccrine apocrine glands  in: fitzpatrick's dermatology general medicine  8th ed  new york  n y : mcgraw-hill companies; 2012  http://www accessmedicine com  accessed july 6  2016  perspiration  natural medicines  https://naturalmedicines therapeuticresearch com/  accessed july 7  2016  kanlayavattanakul m  al  body malodours topical treatment agents  international journal cosmetic science  2011;33:298  shirasu m  al  scent disease: volatile organic compounds human body disease disorder  journal biochemistry  2011;150:257  hyperhidrosis  american osteopathic college dermatology  http://aocd site-ym com/?page=hyperhidrosis  accessed july 6  2016  smith cc  al  primary focal hyperhidrosis  http://www uptodate com/home  accessed july 6  2016      sweat test     associated procedures   urinalysis     products & services   book: mayo clinic book home remedies        sweat test      sweat test  
sweating and body odor