Clinical Report: Skin odor signatures may shift with age
Overview
A narrative review of 55 studies found that skin volatile organic compound (VOC) profiles vary across the lifespan, with reported changes from acidic compounds in infancy to androgen-related volatiles during puberty and 2-nonenal in older populations. The evidence is limited by small, mostly cross-sectional studies, inconsistent methods, and limited confounder control; disease-detection applications remain preliminary.
Background
Skin odor reflects volatile compounds arising from glandular secretions and microbial metabolism. Characterizing how these compounds vary with age and other biological factors may inform research into noninvasive health monitoring, although the review describes such applications as preliminary. The authors searched PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science through May 2026 and included 55 of 487 records. They assessed study quality using five criteria, while noting that the evidence base was heterogeneous and lacked sufficient longitudinal data.
Data Highlights
| Finding | Reported data |
|---|---|
| Review evidence base | 55 studies included from 487 records; median sample size 35 participants |
| Study quality ratings | High: 38% (n=22); moderate: 41% (n=24); low: 21% (n=12) |
| Sex-specific patterns | Among 11 adequately sized direct comparisons, 91% (n=10) reported consistent patterns |
| 3-methyl-2-hexenoic acid | 0.5–2 μg per sample in males and 0.2–0.8 μg per sample in females |
| Androstenone detection | 65%–80% of males and 10%–25% of females |
| Evidence limitations | 14% of studies enrolled more than 100 participants; 26% controlled for at least 3 potential confounders; 14% used authentic chemical standards for definitive VOC identification |
Key Findings
- Fatty acids were the most abundant chemical class across the reviewed evidence; 3-methyl-2-hexenoic acid was identified as a characteristic axillary odorant.
- Infant profiles were reported to be dominated by acidic VOCs, including acetic and propionic acids, and to lack androgen-related compounds characteristic of adult axillary odor; evidence came from four small studies.
- During puberty, androgen-mediated apocrine gland activation coincided with steroid VOCs such as androstenone and androstanol and increased branched-chain fatty acids; the evidence relied on cross-sectional comparisons.
- Sex-related differences were most consistent during reproductive age, and female profiles also varied with menstrual-cycle phase.
- Six cross-sectional studies of geriatric odor, each involving 20–50 participants, reported 2-nonenal as characteristic of older populations and concentrations increasing after age 40; the proposed link to oxidative degradation of unsaturated fatty acids has not been directly established experimentally.
- Microbial metabolism was described as complementary to glandular secretion: Corynebacterium species were associated with 3-methyl-2-hexenoic acid and other volatile fatty acids, Staphylococcus species with aldehydes and alcohols, and Cutibacterium acnes with propionic acid and other VOCs.
Clinical Implications
The review describes disease detection and health monitoring using odor signatures as potential applications, but reports that supporting studies were generally small, cross-sectional, and lacking independent validation. The authors call for standardized analytical protocols, longitudinal studies, normative reference data, and rigorous validation before odor-based approaches move toward clinical use; the supplied web context reports no dermatology society guideline specifically addressing age-stratified skin VOC profiling.
Conclusion
The reviewed literature describes age- and sex-associated variation in skin VOC profiles, but current evidence is constrained by methodological heterogeneity and limited study size. The authors identify standardized methods and stronger longitudinal and validation studies as priorities for further research.
Related Resources & Content
- Mohammed G. F. et al., Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026 -- Human Skin Odor Throughout Life: A Literature Review
- American Academy of Dermatology, Clinical guidelines -- Guideline catalogue
- the analytical scientist, 2017 -- Scent to Try Us
- MDSpire News -- Tactile Aging: A Tale of Two Skins
- the pathologist, 2016 -- Making Scents of Alzheimer’s
- MDSpire News — Study Investigates Biomarkers Associated With Skin Aging
- Human Skin Odor Throughout Life: A Literature Review
- American Academy of Dermatology Clinical Guidelines
- Scent to Try Us
- Tactile Aging: A Tale of Two Skins
- Making Scents of Alzheimer’s
- Clinical guidelines
- Human Skin Odor Throughout Life: A Literature Review - PMC
- Predicting Chronological Age via the Skin Volatile Profile | Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry | ACS Publications
This content is an AI-generated, fully rewritten summary based on a published scholarly article. It does not reproduce the original text and is not a substitute for the original publication. Readers are encouraged to consult the source for full context, data, and methodology.
