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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes A Sweet Smell To The Cut On The Hand?

Hi,
I was wondering why the cuts that I have smell sweet?
I am going to explain everything here and be completely honest. I am a cutter, and one night I cut "REAP IT" into my arm. A day later I smelled something sweet. I sniffed my sweater and the sweater smelled sweet, so I shrugged it off. Then the next day I was changing a smelled the sweet smell again. I sniffed my arm and realized they my cuts smell sweet. They smell like Iron and something really sweet.
Tue, 9 Jun 2015
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Internal Medicine Specialist,  's  Response
Some infectious bacteria can cause a sweet or fruity odor. One type is called Pseudomonas. This type can be very difficult to treat. You don't mention other symptoms suggesting infection, but I would be very concerned that this may be developing. If you are having any discharge, redness, swelling, tenderness, or sensation of heat in the area where you cut, go to emergency now and be sure it's not an infection developing. Blood could give an iron smell also, although you don't mention any current bleeding. Safest to have a doctor take a look and be sure nothing serious is starting to develop. Hope this helps.
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What Causes A Sweet Smell To The Cut On The Hand?

Some infectious bacteria can cause a sweet or fruity odor. One type is called Pseudomonas. This type can be very difficult to treat. You don t mention other symptoms suggesting infection, but I would be very concerned that this may be developing. If you are having any discharge, redness, swelling, tenderness, or sensation of heat in the area where you cut, go to emergency now and be sure it s not an infection developing. Blood could give an iron smell also, although you don t mention any current bleeding. Safest to have a doctor take a look and be sure nothing serious is starting to develop. Hope this helps.