Body odor is a condition that negatively affects people who suffer from it and affects them both personally and in interpersonal relationships. This disease is commonly referred to as bromhidrosis.

In the following article, we share all the necessary information about bromhidrosis, its causes, and the options that exist to treat it.

What is bromhidrosis?

Bromhidrosis, also known by the names of osmidrosis or cacidrosis , is a disease that occurs in men and women, as a bad odor in certain areas of the body caused by the interaction between the discharge of the apocrine glands that are located in the armpits, feet, chest, genitals and breasts, and the bacterial flora present on the skin.

Note: The eccrine and apocrine glands are the sweat glands. Both connect to the skin, but the first does so directly, while the second does so through the hair follicle.

In this sense, a study on “Microbiological and biochemical origins of human axillary odour” , describes the intervention of the bacterial flora of the skin, in the production of odorous compounds that cause bromhidrosis.

What causes bromhidrosis?

People who have reported strong body odor and who have undergone diagnostic studies to identify its possible causes have found the following:

1. Metabolic disorders

Bromhidrosis may be caused in people with metabolic diseases , such as diabetes, thyroid diseases, changes in the adrenal gland and obesity, among others, which can cause excessive sweating on the skin and a change in the bacterial flora. .

Important: It is necessary to go to the specialist to identify the cause and thus define the intervention strategy.

2. Hyperhidrosis

Hyperhidrosis is defined as excessive body sweating, which causes people to constantly have wet skin. The proper ecosystem for the bacteria and yeasts that cause the decomposition of sweat elements is humidity.

In this sense, an article on “Primary axillary hyperhidrosis” associates this condition with the appearance of unpleasant odors due to humidity and the action of bacteria.

3. Food

The consumption of certain foods such as garlic and onion, rich in sulfoxide components, among which alliin stands out, are very volatile in nature and can contribute to bad body odor.

Note: The consumption of these beneficial foods for the body should be done in moderation if you suffer from bromhidrosis.

4. Drugs

Some prescription and over-the-counter medications , including acetaminophen and some such as bupropion hydrochloride or wellbutrin, used by depressed patients, increase perspiration and encourage the growth of odor-causing bacteria.

Important: You should consult your doctor about the side effects of the drugs you are taking.

5. Toxic substances

Similarly, people who report the consumption of alcoholic substances increase body sweating to compensate for poor thermoregulatory circulation, creating an optimal humid environment for the development of yeasts and the bacteria that cause bromhidrosis.

Similarly, the caffeine content in coffee not only increases perspiration, but also makes it extremely acidic, another favorable environment for these microorganisms.

How to remove bromhidrosis?

The strategies to be used in patients with this disease are varied. Here we mention the most common:

1. Maintain frequent and adequate body hygiene

Poor body hygiene induces many skin pathologies, including bromhidrosis. One of the essential measures is that people shower daily if they suspect they have it, as well as wash the most sensitive areas every time we sweat.

Tip: It is important to dry the entire body well to avoid bacterial growth.

2. Use antiseptic soaps and topical antibiotics

To prevent the development and growth of the bacterial flora that causes the breakdown of sweat, it is vital that people use personal hygiene items such as neutral pH antiseptic soaps formulated for example with tea, aloe vera or mint when washing or showering. .

Also the use of antibiotics such as clindamycin, erythromycin and neomycin for topical use to apply them locally.

3. Remove hair

Hair removal contributes to the lower development of bacterial flora on the skin, especially in the armpits. This helps patients retain bad odors less.

4. Regularly wash and change clothes

Another necessary measure is that the clothes that are used frequently on a daily basis should be washed, since these odors are transmitted to the clothes. The use of a neutral detergent is recommended for washing, and it is equally important to use clothes that are completely dry.

5. Avoid foods and drinks that increase odor

Excess foods with sulfur, as well as certain strong-smelling spices should be avoided. Also avoid excess toxic substances such as alcoholic beverages and others such as excessive caffeine consumption, to avoid bad sweating.

6. Treatment with botox, laser or surgery

In extreme cases, medicine recommends treatment with botulinum toxin, as it acts as an inhibitor of sweat gland secretions. The removal or removal of the apocrine glands through laser or surgery is also very frequently used.

In this case, there is scientific evidence that supports the use of Botox in the treatment of hyperhidrosis, in search of mitigating excessive sweating , which is primarily responsible for the development of the bacterial flora that causes bromhidrosis.

Highlights: In an article on “A Prospective Long-Term Follow-up Study of the 1444nm Nd:YAG Laser: A New Modality for the Treatment of Axillary Bromhidrosis” , the effectiveness of this procedure for treating this disease is discussed.

Key Findings

  • Bromhidrosis is also called by the medical community as osmidrosis or cacidrosis .
  • Its main characteristic is the production of strong body odor , especially in the armpits and feet.
  • This disease is closely related to axillary hyperhidrosis.
  • It has multiple causes ranging from metabolic to hygienic conditions of the patient.
  • It appears in men and women after puberty.
  • It can be treated with proper hygiene habits , as well as botox, laser, and surgery for extreme cases.

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