Sweating and body odor most often affect the underarm and groin areas, the palms, the bottom of the feet, and the head, face and scalp. It's common for some people to sweat more or less than other people. Body odor also can vary from person to person. It might smell tangy, oniony, sour or some other strong odor.

See a doctor or other healthcare professional if:

• You suddenly begin to sweat more than usual.
• Sweating disrupts your daily life.
• You have night sweats for no clear reason.
• Your body odor changes for no clear reason.
• You have a family history of hyperhidrosis.

Sweating is the body's way of cooling itself. The nervous system activates the sweat glands when you're too warm. Sweating also occurs when you're under stress.

The two main types of sweat glands are eccrine glands and apocrine glands. Eccrine glands occur over most of the 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 the armpits and groin. These glands release a milky fluid when you're stressed. This fluid is odorless until it combines with bacteria on the skin.

Risk factors for sweating and body odor are:

• Body hair.
• Hormonal changes.
• Fever.
• Stress.
• Heat exposure.
• Being overweight.
• Taking certain medicines.
• Using too much alcohol.

Your healthcare professional likely will ask about your medical history and do an exam. You may need a blood or urine test. These tests can show if your symptoms are caused by a medical condition, such as an infection. Other possible causes are diabetes and an overactive thyroid, which also is called hyperthyroidism.

Sweating and body odor of the underarms often can be treated with antiperspirants or deodorants that you can buy without a prescription:

• Antiperspirants. Antiperspirants contain metal salt, such as aluminum, that blocks sweat pores. This reduces the amount of sweat that reaches the skin. The product works better when it's applied to dry skin and used daily. Many antiperspirants are deodorants too.
• Deodorants. Deodorants can eliminate odor but not sweat. They're usually alcohol-based and turn the skin acidic. This makes the skin less likely to grow odor-causing bacteria. Deodorants often contain scents intended to mask odor.

If antiperspirants and deodorants sold at stores don't ease your symptoms, a member of your healthcare team may prescribe a stronger version. These stronger products may cause a rash, swelling and itching in some people. Follow advice on the product label with care.

Other treatments are available for severe sweating and body odor that don't respond to these products. They include laser hair removal and botulinum toxin A injections. Talk with your healthcare professional if these options interest you.

Self-care habits that may ease sweating and body odor include:

• Washing regularly. Bathing reduces the growth of bacteria on your skin. Take a bath each day using an antibacterial wash or bar soap. To treat odors that cling to clothes and shoes, try laundry products made to remove bacteria and odors.
• Dressing to suit your activity. For daily wear, choose natural fabrics, such as light cotton, wool and silk. These allow your skin to breathe. For strenuous activities, you might prefer synthetic fabrics that wick sweat away from the skin.
• Trying yoga or other ways to ease stress. Learn about and try yoga, meditation or other stress-reducing practices. Taking up such an activity may help you control the stress that can sometimes lead to sweating.
• Cooling down. Try to cool down if your sweating is caused by heat. Methods that may help are seeking shade, drinking cold fluids, applying a cool cloth to your skin, and taking a cold bath or shower.
• Changing your diet. Spicy or strong-smelling foods also may make you sweat more. And they can cause changes in your body odor.
• Removing hair. Hair can trap bacteria and odor. Consider removing hair in affected areas. Hair removal methods include shaving, applying a hair-removing product or using electrolysis.
• Losing weight. If you're overweight, reducing your weight may help ease sweating.

People have had some success in treating sweating and body odor with products made of herbal extracts, essential oils or astringents. Charcoal-based products applied to the skin may help decrease odor. People have different skin types, so no one product works the same for everyone.

You're likely to start by seeing your primary care doctor or other member of your healthcare team. In some cases when you call to set up an appointment, you may be referred to a specialist in skin conditions. These specialists are called dermatologists.

Here's some information to help you prepare for your appointment.

What you can do

Preparing a list of questions will help you make the most of your appointment. For sweating and body odor, some basic questions to ask include:

• What are the most likely causes of my symptoms?
• Is my condition likely to clear up soon or is it long lasting?
• What treatments are available, and which might be best for me?
• Is there a generic alternative to the medicine you're prescribing me?

What to expect from your doctor

You're likely to be asked several questions, such as:

• When did you first notice symptoms?
• How often do you have these symptoms?
• Do you always have these symptoms, or do they come and go?
• Does anything seem to ease your symptoms?
• What, if anything, worsens your symptoms?