COMMON CAUSES YOU MIGHT OVERLOOK
Beyond natural asymmetry, there are other factors that can cause one armpit to smell more than the other. These include:
- Bacterial imbalance: Overwashing or harsh soaps can disrupt your underarm microbiome, which allow odor-causing bacteria to thrive unevenly.
- Trapped sweat: Tight clothing or fabrics that don’t breathe can trap moisture, and give one armpit a perfect environment for bacteria to multiply.
- Product buildup: Deodorant or antiperspirant residue can build up over time, especially if you don’t exfoliate. That buildup can trap sweat and bacteria close to the skin, making one side smell stronger.
- Shaving habits: If you shave one armpit more often (or use an old razor), tiny nicks can cause irritation and create a space where bacteria love to hang out.
FACTORS THAT MAKE IT WORSE
Sometimes, external or internal factors can make the imbalance even more noticeable.
- Hormonal changes: Fluctuations in hormones (like during stress, menstruation or menopause) can change your sweat composition.
- Stress: Emotional sweat from your apocrine glands are richer in proteins. Basically a buffet for odor-causing bacteria.
- Thyroid conditions: An overactive thyroid can cause excessive sweating (called hyperhidrosis), sometimes unevenly distributed.
- Clothing choices: Tight sleeves or synthetic fabrics can lock in sweat, especially on your more active side.
- Antiperspirant application: Applying unevenly or missing spots can make one armpit less protected from sweat and odor.