This article was co-authored by Alina Goldenberg MD, MAS, FAAD and by wikiHow staff writer, Aly Rusciano. Dr. Alina Goldenberg is a Board Certified Dermatologist. She specializes in allergic contact and atopic dermatitis, patch testing, skin cancer screening and treatment, and medical and cosmetic dermatology. Dr. Goldenberg has published numerous peer-reviewed publications, textbook chapters and received grants and awards from organizations such as the National Institutes of Health and the American Skin Association. She holds a BA in Public Health from The University of California, Berkeley, a MAS in Clinical Research, and an MD from The University of California, San Diego.
There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources.
This article has been viewed 21,352 times.
Sweat and body odor are natural parts of life. Everyone stinks every once in a while! But what does it mean when one of your underarms smells more than the other? There’s no need to panic—there are plenty of reasons for this, including your activity levels and hormones. We interviewed licensed dermatologist Alina Goldenberg to give you the best advice possible. Read on to learn what may be causing one armpit to be stinkier than the other (and how to prevent it).
Things You Should Know
- The likeliest reason one of your armpits smells more than the other is because you’re using that arm more often.
- Your underarms sweat and release odor naturally when you do strenuous activity or are hot.
- The best way to prevent body odor is to wear a deodorant, bathe, and change your clothes regularly.
Steps
Expert Q&A
Video
Tips
Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about skin care, check out our in-depth interview with Alina Goldenberg MD, MAS, FAAD.
References
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4793925/
- ↑ https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/body-odour-bo/
- ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/17865-body-odor
- ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/17865-body-odor
- ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22673-hormonal-imbalance
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ingrown-hair/symptoms-causes/syc-20373893
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ingrown-hair/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20373898
- ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/17865-body-odor
- ↑ https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/personal-hygiene