Why do some people smell differently after puberty?
Quick Answer
Body odor changes after puberty because hormones activate different sweat glands and skin bacteria break down sweat into stronger-smelling compounds. Genetics also affects how much and what kind of odor a person produces.
The Full Story
Before puberty, children usually have much less body odor because apocrine sweat glands are not as active. During puberty, hormones switch on these glands, especially in the underarms and groin, and skin bacteria begin breaking down secretions into odor compounds. Genetics affects both sweat chemistry and how strongly the smell is produced. Some people also carry variants such as in the ABCC11 gene that influence underarm odor and even earwax type.
Key Facts
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