title: 'Nosing Around' the human skin: what information is concealed in skin odour?
abstract: In today's world, natural body odour is mostly considered as being unpleasant and combated by intensive cleansing, deodorants and perfumes. However, there is evidence that volatile body compounds provide the recipient with important information. Here, we present the chemical identity of odorous compounds derived from odourless precursors within sweat and sebum. Moreover, distinct volatile markers may be relevant for the clinical diagnosis of disease. Interestingly, ageing seems to correlate with the appearance of specific compounds that convey the so-called old man smell. Finally, it is discussed if human skin odour has the quality to act as pheromone transmitting information between individuals in terms of major histocompatibility complex type or reproductive status.
authors: Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergy, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt/Main, Germany.
authors: Stefan
authors: S
authors: Kippenberger
authors: Jan
authors: J
authors: Havlíček
authors: August
authors: A
authors: Bernd
authors: Diamant
authors: D
authors: Thaçi
authors: Roland
authors: R
authors: Kaufmann
authors: Markus
authors: M
authors: Meissner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000378:metabolism; D052586:Mating Preference, Animal; D008659:Metabolic Diseases / Q000378:metabolism; D009812:Odorants; D049049:Pheromones, Human / Q000378:metabolism*; D019529:Sexuality; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism*; D015595:Skin Aging
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D049049:Pheromones, Human