Body Odor Changes After 40: Why Showering May Not Remove It

The body odor many people associate with older age may have less to do with hygiene than with what happens to the skin over time. One compound involved is 2-nonenal, an aldehyde produced in greater quantities as people age.

Specialists describe the resulting smell as slightly dusty, oily or grassy. Its intensity varies from person to person. Dermatologists say 2-nonenal levels may begin to rise after age 40, becoming more noticeable around 50 and later.

Several skin processes occur at the same time. Antioxidant defenses decline, sebum changes, and accumulated exposure to ultraviolet radiation and environmental factors contributes to oxidative stress. “As we age, multiple things happen simultaneously with our skin,” said Dr. Sonal Choudhary, a dermatologist at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

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As we age, multiple things happen simultaneously with our skin.

The change does not mean someone is washing inadequately. “It is a normal biochemical change in aging skin, similar to wrinkles or dryness,” Choudhary said, according to HuffPost. Dermatologists Naana Boakye and Delphine J. Lee noted that production and perception vary among individuals, and the smell is not necessarily unpleasant.

People may also fail to notice their own changing odor because of olfactory adaptation. The brain filters smells it encounters constantly, while a gradual change gives the body and brain time to adjust. Danielle Reed of the Monell Chemical Senses Center said 2-nonenal adheres to skin and fabrics, so water and soap do not remove it as easily as sweat-related compounds. Washing can eliminate some of it, but the body continues producing substances that contribute to its formation.

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It is a normal biochemical change in aging skin, similar to wrinkles or dryness.