Warning scents: What your changing body odour might reveal about your health

Various metabolic processes continuously occur in our bodies. Every illness we battle affects these processes in its unique way, creating a specific scent signature.

Sometimes, the human nose cannot detect these changes. In such situations, dogs are much better at sensing even the most subtle changes in our scent. It's no wonder – it's said that a dog's sense of smell is 60 times stronger than a human's.

However, humans can also detect changes if, for example, someone's natural scent changes. If someone points this out to you, it might be a signal to take a closer look at your body – maybe some health changes are happening in your body.

A change in body odour can indicate, for example, ketoacidosis related to diabetes. Ketones are chemicals produced by the liver during the fat breakdown process. When ketone levels are too high – usually in cases of insulin deficiency – the blood becomes acidic, and the body odour can become sweet and fruity. If this happens, it's worth visiting a doctor.

Kidney failure is a condition where the functionality of this organ drops below 15%. When the kidneys stop functioning correctly, toxins build up in the body. This, in turn, can cause the body to emit an odour similar to ammonia. At this point, you shouldn't wait; you must seek a specialist's opinion.

When the liver stops functioning correctly, contaminants accumulate in our urine, sweat, and breath. This can cause the skin to emit an odour reminiscent of mould, garlic, or rotten eggs. If you don't consult this problem early with a specialist, it can lead to liver failure.

Extra pounds can contribute to the formation of folds on the skin, which become ideal places for bacteria. Being overweight or obese can increase the likelihood of an unpleasant skin odour. Scientific studies also show that overweight and obese people have a weaker sense of smell, which can cause their body odour to be detected slightly later than usual.

A change in skin or sweat odour can be related to diet (for example, a lack of carbohydrates) or hormonal imbalances. If you notice that your body odour is different than usual and persists for a long time, and you cannot identify the cause of this change, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible.

An unpleasant breath odour can also indicate cancer, so such symptoms should not be ignored. A metallic odour can indicate lung cancer or another type of cancer that has metastasized to the lungs. A mouldy smell can indicate lung or throat cancer and a musty smell can indicate liver or kidney cancer.