Study Reveals What Triggers Body Odour

Do you often wonder what may be the cause of that awful odour when seated next to that pretty damsel or prince charming?

Yes, it is so irritating to talk about and often times it is linked to bad hygiene, skipping showers, wearing dirty clothes or not brushing the teeth.

But body odour, according to a new study by scientist from the University of York’s department of biology, has been revealed to be caused by a protein that enables bacteria in your armpits to take up odourless compounds in sweat and make it stink.

Gavin Thomas, a co-author of the study said the “underarm skin provides a hospitable home for bacteria,” adding that “Through the secretions of various glands that open onto the skin or into hair follicles, this environment is nutrient-rich and hosts its own microbial community.

“Modern deodorants work by inhibiting or killing many of those bacteria in order to prevent odour,” he added.

However, Thomas noted that the research may lead to a possible development of new deodorants that will fight this protein.

“This study, along with our previous research revealing that only a small number of the bacteria in our armpits are actually responsible for bad smells, could result in the development of more targeted products that aim to inhibit the transport protein and block the production of body odour,” he said.

The study has been published in the journal eLife.