Covid-19: Here’s how the virus changes the way you smell, according to doctors

It’s looking more and more like Covid-19 is here to stay, but it still keeps surprising us as it continues to evolve, three years in. By now you know that loss of smell and or taste, fever, body aches and sore throat are not the only signs of the virus. Turns out it affects menstruation and now as we’re learning, it can make you reek as well.

Covid pits

The impact of Covid-19 on how your body smells has not been researched extensively, but preliminary observations show a link. This theory is not far-fetched because generally, infection, diabetes and other medical conditions can cause your sweat to smell bad, an article in the magazine Pop Sugar suggests.

Although research specific to Covid-19 and body odour is limited, a study showed that about one-fourth of patients with the virus experience sweating dysfunction which could change the way your sweat smells. According to medics, body odour can become more pronounced during stressful periods, such as mental or physical stress. Dr. Azadeh Shirazi, board-certified dermatologist explains:

The sweat from the eccrine glands is mostly water and a little salt. But when we get stressed, our body releases adrenaline and cortisol, prompting a different type of sweat-gland activation: the apocrine glands.

'Odour fingerprint'

Dr Shirazi added that since sweat from apocrine glands is thicker and richer in proteins and fats, it interacts differently with the bacteria on your skin, creating a stronger body odour.

What remains unclear is why this pungent, stress-induced sweat tends to last for weeks or months even after most of the conventional Covid symptoms disappear.

It sucks to have to deal with bad BO after recovery, but if you want to look on the bright side, at least you’ve still got your sense of smell back.

Sources used:

Pop Sugar: Do You Have "COVID Pits"? Docs Explain Why the Virus Can Mess With Your Body Odour

Cognitive FX: Post-COVID Skin Rashes, Weight Gain, Body Odor, and More