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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Severe Sweating With Foul Odour?

My husband is an x marine and does dip tobacco before bed. At night he sweats and a nasty sour vinegar odor comes from his neck and upper back. When he sweats during the day or from anywhere else on his body it doesn't smell at all. It causes his pillow case smells and gets soaked. I wash the sheets often and clean the plastic or vinyl cover I put on his pillow and on our mattress to protect it from germs, sweat, moisture ect. What is the cause? Is it serious? Could it be prevented? Is it something he's eating or not eating? He is about 30 yrs old.

Please help Thx.
Wed, 27 Aug 2014
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Addiction Medicine Specialist,  's  Response
There are at least three components to body odor. The classic one is the secretion of one type of sweat gland (apocrine) that is triggered by stress, some medications. Also, the oily secretions of these glands will carry out any chemicals that are in the body that dissolve in oil (garlic, alcohol, medications, spices, body chemical breakdown products if the liver or kidney isn't working). In addition, sometimes skin bacteria can be present enough to breakdown normal skin proteins into a rotten egg smelling compound (this is common on feet, and uncommon anywhere else).
Treatment... oddly enough vigorous exercise and being quite fit and thin AND showering regularly: changes the tone of the sweat glands, washes out toxins, kills off bacteria. Could try more cinnamon/cardomom less garlic in food.
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What Causes Severe Sweating With Foul Odour?

There are at least three components to body odor. The classic one is the secretion of one type of sweat gland (apocrine) that is triggered by stress, some medications. Also, the oily secretions of these glands will carry out any chemicals that are in the body that dissolve in oil (garlic, alcohol, medications, spices, body chemical breakdown products if the liver or kidney isn t working). In addition, sometimes skin bacteria can be present enough to breakdown normal skin proteins into a rotten egg smelling compound (this is common on feet, and uncommon anywhere else). Treatment... oddly enough vigorous exercise and being quite fit and thin AND showering regularly: changes the tone of the sweat glands, washes out toxins, kills off bacteria. Could try more cinnamon/cardomom less garlic in food.