Sweating and body odor are common when you exercise or you're too warm. They're also common when you're feeling nervous, anxious or stressed.
Unusual changes in sweating — either too much (hyperhidrosis) or too little (anhidrosis) — can be cause for concern. Changes in body odor also may signal a health problem.
Otherwise, lifestyle and home treatments can usually help with normal sweating and body odor.

Some people naturally sweat more or less than other people. Body odor also can vary from person to person. See a doctor if:
You suddenly begin to sweat much more or less than usual
Sweating disrupts your daily routine
You experience night sweats for no apparent reason
You notice a change in your body odor

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

To diagnose a problem with sweating and body odor, your doctor will likely ask about your medical history and do an exam. The doctor may test your blood or urine. The tests can show if your problem is caused by a medical condition, such as an infection, diabetes or an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism).

If you're concerned about sweating and body odor, the solution may be simple: an antiperspirant or deodorant.
Antiperspirant. Antiperspirants contain aluminium-based compounds that temporarily block sweat pores, thereby reducing the amount of sweat that reaches your skin.
Deodorant. Deodorants can eliminate odor but not sweat. They're usually alcohol-based and turn your skin acidic, making it less attractive to bacteria. Deodorants often contain perfume fragrances intended to mask odor.
If nonprescription products don't help control your sweating, your doctor may prescribe a stronger product. These are strong solutions that can cause rashy, swollen and itchy skin in some people.

You can do a number of things on your own to reduce sweating and body odor. The following suggestions may help:
Bathe daily. Regular bathing, especially with an antibacterial soap, reduces the growth of bacteria on your skin.
Choose clothing to suit your activity. For daily wear, choose natural fabrics, such as cotton, wool and silk. These allow your skin to breathe. For exercise wear, you might prefer synthetic fabrics developed to wick moisture away from your skin.
Try relaxation techniques. Consider relaxation techniques, such as yoga, meditation or biofeedback. These practices can teach you to control the stress that triggers sweating.
Change your diet. Caffeinated beverages and spicy or strong-smelling foods may make you sweat more or have body odor that's stronger than usual. Eliminating these foods may help.

Preparing for an appointment
You're likely to start by seeing your primary care doctor. In some cases when you call to set up an appointment, you may be referred to a specialist in skin diseases (dermatologist).
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 your doctor include:
What are the most likely causes of my symptoms?
Is my condition likely temporary or 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
Your doctor is likely to ask you several questions, such as:

When did you begin experiencing symptoms?
How often do you experience these symptoms?
Do you always have these symptoms, or do they come and go?
Does anything seem to improve your symptoms?
What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms?

Body odor is natural and is usually caused by sweating. When you are hot, feel nervous, or start exercising, you are likely to sweat more. This is your body’s way of regulating your inner temperature. Yes, it’s annoying, but sweating and body odor is not something to be afraid of. Sweating is actually good for you, and body odor can easily be prevented.

As you go through puberty, it’s natural for you to perspire (sweat) more than before. Sweating is actually very important because it prevents you from overheating by working as your natural air conditioner. As you get hot, your body sweats so that when the air touches your sweaty skin and dries up the moisture, your body cools down.

When sweat mixes with the natural bacteria on your skin, it causes body odor. Sweat comes from the areas of your body with the most sweat glands such as under your arms, the palms of your hands, the bottom of your feet, and between your legs. During puberty, your sweat glands become more active and your body chemistry begins to change. When this happens, you will start to sweat more, which can lead to body odor.

The best way to prevent body odor is by taking showers regularly and making sure to wash every part of your body. Plain soap and water are fine. There are no health benefits to using expensive soaps or body washes.
Other ways to prevent body odor include:
Wearing clean clothes
Using deodorant or antiperspirants

Wearing cotton underwear and other natural fabrics. Man-made materials such as polyester, rayon and silk are not as breathable and can cause you to sweat more.
Using a medicated foot powder or antifungal spray to prevent foot odor. It’s also important to air out sweaty athletic shoes/sneakers.
Don’t rely on perfumes and sprays to cover up body odor. Because body odor is caused by a mix of bacteria and sweat, it’s important to use soap and water to kill the bacteria.

Deodorants control and cover up odor.
Antiperspirants reduce wetness by drying up sweat.
Both deodorants and antiperspirants can come in many forms (sprays, sticks, powders, roll-ons, gels etc.) and can be scented or unscented. There are many different products to choose from. It’s up to you to use the product that you like best.

Yes. Aluminum chloralhydrate is a substance that is used in most antiperspirants to reduce wetness. Some people might worry that it’s dangerous, but no research studies have shown that antiperspirants are unsafe.

When should I put on deodorant?
Read the instructions on the product. Some products may say that they work best if applied in the morning, at bedtime, or right after taking a shower. It may also be a good idea to apply deodorant before working out or a doing physical activity that you know will make you sweat a lot. It’s a good idea to avoid using deodorant right after shaving your underarms as this may cause stinging and/or a rash.

I sweat a lot when I work out. Should I drink more water?
Yes! When you sweat, your body loses water. Sweating is normal and it helps to regulate your body’s temperature however, if you lose too much water, you can become dehydrated. Dehydration can make you feel weak and tired, and affect your performance. Water is the best fluid to drink to stay hydrated however if you are very active for 60 minutes or longer, your body is likely also losing electrolytes (such as calcium, chloride, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and sodium). You’ll need to drink something in addition to water such as a sports drink that contains sodium and potassium.

Before exercise: Drink about 8-16 oz. of water about 1-2 hours before your work out so you will be well hydrated before you begin to use up energy. This amount will vary depending on your size/weight. One gulp = about 1 ounce of fluid.

During exercise: Drink about 4-8 oz. of water every 15-20 minutes. If you are exercising for less than an hour, drink water based on your thirst and the weather (if it’s hot or humid, you need more water).
After exercise: Drink 16-24oz water within two hours after exercise
If you think you sweat more than your friends when they are doing a similar activity or if you sweat when you are not active, talk to your health care provider.

You also have oil and sweat glands between your legs and on your vulva. They also become more active during puberty. This causes the area to feel moist and have a different smell than before.

What about vaginal deodorants, douches, and feminine sprays?
Vaginal deodorants, douches and feminine sprays can cause redness, irritation and even yeast infections or other infections. Also, vaginal odor can be a sign of an infection, so using scented products may cause you to miss an important sign that there is something wrong. The good news is that your vagina naturally cleanses itself so you don’t need to buy special products to clean it and actually should avoid using any cleaning product in your vagina. Washing your vulva and around your vaginal area with mild soap and water and changing your underwear regularly is usually all it takes in most cases to stop any odor.