Question: what causes the armpits to smell within short period of time

Jacinta Nzilani answered on 22 Jul 2025:

Hey,
🦠💦 Why Armpits Smell Quickly.

The main cause of armpit odor is bacteria, not sweat itself!

Here’s how it works:

Sweat Glands in the Armpit
🔹 Your armpits have special sweat glands called apocrine glands.
🔹 These glands release a thick, protein-rich sweat, especially during stress, heat, or exercise.

Bacterial Breakdown
🔹 Skin bacteria (like Corynebacterium) feed on this sweat and break it down.
🔹 This breakdown releases smelly compounds like isovaleric acid and thioalcohols, which smell like onions or sulfur! 😖

Other Factors That Make It Worse
🔸 Poor hygiene
🔸 Tight or synthetic clothes
🔸 Hormonal changes
🔸 Eating strong-smelling foods (like garlic or onions)
🔸 Stress or anxiety