Where does the smell come from?
There are two types of sweat glands in the skin. Eccrine cells are located throughout the body and secrete almost pure water with salts - this sweat cools the body and has virtually no odor. Apocrines begin to work in adolescence, are found in the armpits, groin, around the nipples and secrete a thicker secretion with proteins and fats. Skin bacteria break it down, and volatile substances with a characteristic pungent odor are formed. The more hair, heat and moisture, the more bacteria multiply and the stronger the smell.
- Eccrine glands - watery, odorless sweat
- Apocrine glands are a source of odorous substances
- Odor is caused by bacteria, not sweat itself.
- Hair retains secretions and bacteria
- Synthetics and heat enhance the process
What makes the problem worse
The main amplifier is excessive sweating: the more moisture, the more active the microflora. Excess weight and deep folds of skin, thick synthetic clothing, hot climate and physical work contribute. The smell is affected by nutrition: garlic, onions, hot spices, an abundance of red meat, alcohol and smoking change the composition of sweat. Separately, it is worth mentioning medical reasons: diabetes mellitus, thyroid disease, menopausal hot flashes, some drugs and rare metabolic disorders in which the smell has a specific character.
- Excessive sweating
- Excess weight and deep folds
- Synthetic tight clothing
- Spicy food, garlic, alcohol, smoking
- Diabetes mellitus and thyroid diseases
- Hormonal changes and hot flashes
- Taking certain medications
What you can do yourself
Base - reduce the amount of bacteria and moisture. You should wash daily, or twice in hot weather, paying attention to folds and thoroughly drying the skin. It is helpful to use antibacterial soap or antiseptic products several times a week, trim or remove armpit hair, and wear cotton clothing and change it daily. Antiperspirants with aluminum salts are applied to dry skin at night: this is when they work best, and in the morning you can additionally use deodorant. Clothes with odors are washed at high temperatures.
- Daily washing with attention to creases
- Thorough drying of the skin
- Periodic use of antiseptics
- Removing or cutting hair short
- Antiperspirant for dry skin at night
- Cotton clothes and daily change
- Wash at high temperature
When do you need a doctor and what will he offer?
If basic measures do not help, you should consult a dermatologist. First of all, it will eliminate conditions that themselves give off an odor: erythrasma, fungal infection of folds, diaper rash with secondary infection. For confirmed excessive sweating, botulinum toxin injections into the armpits are effective: they temporarily block signal transmission to the sweat glands, and the effect lasts for several months. High concentration aluminum chloride solutions and hardware techniques are also used. Surgical interventions to remove apocrine glands are considered only in severe cases.
- Elimination of erythrasma and fungal infection
- High concentration antiperspirants according to their intended purpose
- Botulinum toxin injections into the armpits
- Hardware methods to reduce sweating
- Surgical treatment in severe cases
- Correction of diabetes mellitus and other causes
Nutrition, habits and psychological side
Changing your diet does not completely solve the problem, but it often noticeably softens the smell: you should cut out garlic, onions, hot spices, coffee and alcohol for a couple of weeks and evaluate the result. Quitting smoking, losing weight and drinking enough are helpful. It is important to understand the other side: people with bromhidrosis often experience severe anxiety, avoid socializing and sports, and are sometimes convinced of the presence of an odor that others cannot smell. If the fear of smell interferes with your life and work, you should discuss this with your doctor: this condition also requires help.
- Trial restriction of garlic, onions and hot spices
- Reduce alcohol and coffee
- Quitting smoking
- Weight loss
- Discussion with a doctor if anxiety is severe
- Regular physical activity in breathable clothing