Farts feel warm because they exit your body at its internal temperature—about 98.6°F or 37°C. This heat travels through your intestines, so the gas takes on your body’s warmth. Eating spicy foods or having certain dietary sensitivities can make the sensation feel even hotter. The contrast with cooler air outside your body makes this warmth more noticeable. If you have a fever or eat foods high in sulfur, you might notice the heat even more. There’s still plenty to learn about why this happens.
Ever wonder why farts often feel hot? It all comes down to how your body maintains its core temperature and the movement of gas inside you. The gas that becomes a fart starts out within your body, where the internal temperature is about 98.6°F (37°C). As gas travels through your intestines, it heats up to match that temperature, so it’s expelled at nearly the same warmth as your core.
Your digestive system ensures this process happens smoothly. Gases—whether swallowed or produced by bacteria—are warmed by your intestines. The intestinal environment keeps any gas at the same temperature as your body. Since gas remains in the large intestine for a while, it has plenty of time to reach this heat balance. When you finally release the gas, it leaves straight from this warm inner environment, barely cooling before it reaches the outside air. Some triggers of hot farts include spicy food, diarrhea, and food intolerances, which can also influence the perception of temperature.
The warmth you feel isn’t mainly due to the gas itself, but from your body’s natural heat. The main gases—nitrogen, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, methane, and oxygen—simply carry your body’s temperature. Gas is expelled quickly, usually at speeds around 10 feet per second, so it doesn’t have much time to lose heat, making it feel warm. If the release is slower, the sensation of heat might be even stronger, especially if your skin or the air is cooler than your body. Microorganisms like Clostridium, E. coli, and Klebsiella in your gut also contribute to the gas production, aiding the digestive process. Farting is a normal bodily function, and the gas composition can vary based on diet.
The difference between the temperature of the gas and your surroundings makes the fart feel hot. Even though the gas isn’t superheated, it’s still warmer than your skin, causing a noticeable sensation. Some people might even feel a burning sensation if spicy foods or irritants like capsaicin are present, as these can make sensitive tissues feel hot. Increased sensitivity, such as during diarrhea, may also make regular-temperature farts feel hotter than normal.
Bacterial fermentation in your gut produces gas and a bit of extra heat through chemical reactions. While this does add some warmth, it’s much less significant than your core body temperature.
Factors like having a fever or eating spicy or sulfur-rich foods can make farts feel even hotter. Still, the main reason farts feel hot is because they come from your body’s consistently warm core.
Conclusion
Farts can feel warm because the gases produced during digestion are released at your body’s internal temperature. When this gas exits, it meets your cooler skin, creating a warm sensation. This is completely normal, so there’s no need to feel embarrassed. The next time you notice a “hot” fart, just remember it’s a sign your body is working as it should.
