Answer to Question #247223 in Microbiology for Suier

Question

I have some questions to ask about smell & dead skin cells.

Human shed many dead skin cells everyday. If the cells are shed from a smelly person, would the dead skin cells "lose" the bad smell and why?

Plus, if the dead skin cells are shed from a dirty person, would it be dangerous for people around him to inhale them?

Thanks.

Answer 1

The odor will still remain after shedding since body odor has a strong genetic basis and is influenced by the body activities. If a smelly person is as a result of being dirty, that means the odor is as a result of accumulation of sweet on the skin. When shedding occurs, the dead skin cells will just retain the smell.

Since the sweat is secretion of body waste, bacteria can harbor in it. So when the shed skin cells from a dirty person are inhaled, it will cause harm to the person who inhaled it.