About all

Under breast smells. Combating Bromhidrosis: A Comprehensive Guide to Causes, Treatments, and Solutions

by alexxlab

What is bromhidrosis? What are the causes of bromhidrosis? What are the treatment options for bromhidrosis? How can you manage bromhidrosis at home?.

Understanding Bromhidrosis: The Basics

Bromhidrosis, also known as osmidrosis or bromidrosis, is a condition characterized by foul-smelling body odor. It is caused by the interaction between sweat and bacteria on the skin. While perspiration itself is odorless, the breakdown of sweat by bacteria can result in an unpleasant smell. Bromhidrosis is typically associated with secretions from the apocrine glands, which are located in areas such as the underarms, groin, and breasts.

Causes of Bromhidrosis

Bromhidrosis can have several underlying causes. The two main types of sweat glands – apocrine and eccrine – can both contribute to the development of body odor. Apocrine sweat, which is thicker and contains pheromones, is more commonly associated with bromhidrosis. Additionally, certain medical conditions, such as diabetes, liver disease, and kidney disease, can also lead to abnormally strong body odor.

Diagnosing Bromhidrosis

Diagnosing bromhidrosis is relatively straightforward. Your healthcare provider can identify the condition based on your scent, especially after you have been exercising or have not recently showered. They may also ask you to exercise during the appointment to observe the odor. Your medical history will also be reviewed to identify any underlying factors that may be contributing to the body odor.

Treatment Options for Bromhidrosis

The treatment approach for bromhidrosis depends on the severity of the condition. In milder cases, preventive measures such as improved hygiene and the use of antiperspirants may be sufficient. In more severe cases, medical interventions may be necessary, including:

Botox Injections

Botulinum toxin A (Botox) can be injected into the underarms to block the nerve impulses that stimulate the sweat glands, temporarily reducing sweating and odor. However, the effects of Botox wear off over time, requiring repeat treatments.

Liposuction

A specialized form of liposuction can be used to remove the sweat glands from the underarms, reducing the source of excessive sweating and odor. However, this procedure may not completely eliminate the problem, as some glands may remain, and the nerves can sometimes regenerate, leading to a return of the issues.

Surgical Procedures

More invasive surgical options, such as endoscopic sympathectomy and electrosurgery, can be used to remove or destroy the sweat glands or the nerves that trigger sweating. These procedures are more effective but also carry a higher risk of complications and scarring.

Home Remedies for Bromhidrosis

Before considering any medical interventions, it’s recommended to try some basic hygiene strategies to manage bromhidrosis. These include:

  • Maintaining good personal hygiene, such as frequent bathing and the use of antibacterial soaps
  • Wearing breathable, moisture-wicking fabrics to help reduce sweating
  • Using antiperspirants and deodorants to help control sweat and odor
  • Avoiding foods and beverages that can contribute to body odor, such as garlic, onions, and alcohol

Preventing Bromhidrosis

In addition to the home remedies mentioned, there are several ways to help prevent the development of bromhidrosis:

  1. Maintain good personal hygiene, including regular bathing and the use of antibacterial soaps and cleansers.
  2. Wear breathable, moisture-wicking fabrics to help reduce sweating and the buildup of bacteria on the skin.
  3. Use antiperspirants and deodorants to help control sweat and odor-causing bacteria.
  4. Avoid foods and beverages that can contribute to body odor, such as garlic, onions, and alcohol.
  5. Manage any underlying medical conditions, such as diabetes or liver/kidney disease, that may contribute to excessive body odor.

Seeking Professional Help

If home remedies and preventive measures are not effective in managing your bromhidrosis, it’s recommended to consult with a healthcare provider. They can help identify the underlying cause and recommend the most appropriate treatment option, whether it’s a non-invasive approach or a more advanced medical procedure.

Remember, the key to addressing bromhidrosis is to identify the root cause and implement a comprehensive management plan tailored to your individual needs. With the right approach, you can effectively manage and even prevent this troublesome condition.

Bromhidrosis: Causes, Treatment, and More

What is bromhidrosis?

Bromhidrosis is foul-smelling body odor related to your sweat.

Perspiration itself actually has no odor. It’s only when sweat encounters bacteria on the skin that a smell can emerge. Other than body odor (BO), bromhidrosis is also known by other clinical terms, including osmidrosis and bromidrosis.

Bromhidrosis can often be treated or prevented through changes to your hygiene habits, though there are medical treatment options as well.

You have two types of sweat glands: apocrine and eccrine. Bromhidrosis is usually related to secretions by apocrine glands. But both types of sweat glands can lead to abnormal body odor.

Apocrine glands are located primarily in the underarm, groin, and breast areas. Sweat from the apocrine glands tends to be thicker than that produced by the eccrine glands. Apocrine sweat also contains chemicals called pheromones, which are hormones meant to have an effect on others. People and animals release pheromones to attract a mate, for example.

When apocrine sweat is released, it’s colorless and odorless. When bacteria on the body start to break down dried sweat, an offensive smell can result in people with bromhidrosis.

Apocrine glands don’t become active until puberty. That’s why BO isn’t usually an issue among young children.

Eccrine sweat glands are all over the body. Eccrine sweat is also odorless and colorless at first, though it does contain a mild salty solution. A bad smell can also develop when bacteria on the skin break down eccrine sweat. The smell of eccrine sweat can also reflect certain foods you may have eaten (such as garlic), alcohol you’ve consumed, or certain medications you’ve taken.

Bromhidrosis is easy to diagnose. Your doctor should be able to identify the condition based on your scent. You may have no discernible odor if you’re not sweating or recently showered. Your doctor may ask to see you after you’ve been exercising or may have you exercise on a treadmill, for example, at the appointment.

Your doctor will also review your medical history to look for possible underlying causes of your BO. Conditions such as diabetes and liver and kidney disease can contribute to an abnormally strong body odor.

The appropriate treatment approaches for bromhidrosis are based on the severity of the condition. In some cases, preventive measures are enough. In more serious cases, removal of the offending sweat glands may be the answer. Your treatment options include:

Botox

Botulinum toxin A (Botox), which works by blocking nerve impulses to the muscles, can be injected into the underarm to block nerve impulses to the sweat glands. The downside of Botox treatment is that it wears off after a while, so you may need it a few times a year. Botox is also used for sweaty hands and feet.

Liposuction

One way to cut down on apocrine sweat is to remove the sweat glands themselves. You may have heard about liposuction in relation to removing fat from your midsection or elsewhere in the body. Special tubes are carefully inserted into the body, and fat is extracted.

The same concept can be applied to sweat glands under your arms. A very small suction tube, called a cannula, is inserted just under the skin. It’s then grazed along the underside of your skin, removing sweat glands as it goes. This process may leave some glands in place that can continue to cause excessive sweating.

In some cases, early positive results of less sweating and odor are the result of damaged nerves. When the nerves stunned during liposuction repair themselves, the same problems can return.

There is some encouraging progress in the use of ultrasonic liposuction, which uses vibrating energy to better remove the targeted sweat glands.

Surgery

A more invasive way of removing sweat glands or the nerves that trigger sweating is through surgery. A procedure called endoscopic sympathectomy uses small incisions and special tools to destroy the nerves in the chest that lead to the underarm sweat glands. The procedure is effective for 5 to 10 years.

Another minimally invasive treatment is called electrosurgery. It’s done with tiny insulated needles. Over a period of several treatments, a doctor can use the needles to remove the sweat glands.

A surgeon can also remove the sweat glands themselves through a more traditional operation. This starts with an incision in the underarm. It allows the surgeon to see clearly where the glands are located. This type of surgery is called a skin resection, and it does leave some scarring on the surface of your skin. It tends to be used with people who also have hidradenitis, a chronic skin condition that leaves you with lumps in the armpits and elsewhere in the body.

Home remedies

Before any invasive procedure is attempted, you should try some basic hygiene strategies. These can help reduce the number of bacteria interacting with your sweat. These life hacks for beating BO are a great place to start.

Because bromhidrosis is triggered by the action of bacteria on the skin, frequent washing may be enough to neutralize the bacteria. Washing at least daily with soap and water may help. If the smell is localized to the armpits, for example, you can focus your cleansing efforts there.

An antiseptic soap and antibacterial creams containing erythromycin and clindamycin may also help.

A strong deodorant or antiperspirant can play a key role in minimizing odor. Trimming the hair in your underarms is also recommended.

You should also wash your clothes regularly and remove clothes that are sweaty as soon as you can. While some clothes can be worn more than once before washing as a general rule, if you have bromhidrosis, you may need to wash after every wear. An undershirt may help keep odor from reaching your outer layers of clothing.

For some people, bromhidrosis means more than having BO. It can be a sign of another medical condition. These include:

  • trichomycosis axillaris (an infection of the hair follicles under the arm)
  • erythrasma (a superficial skin infection)
  • intertrigo (skin rash)
  • type 2 diabetes

Obesity can also be a contributing factor to bromhidrosis, too.

Some odor under the arms or from other sweaty parts of the body is normal, especially during puberty. Bathing regularly, using a deodorant or antiperspirant, and wearing clean clothes may be enough to neutralize minor BO. You should try those approaches first.

However, if the problem can’t be contained with hygiene, talk with your doctor about other treatment options. Consult a dermatologist to see if a skin condition may be making things worse. Bromhidrosis can be a difficult condition, but it’s treatable for many people.

Potential Causes For a Rash Under Boob

Nothing’s worse than getting a rash in a sensitive area. Not only is it physically uncomfortable, it’s also not fun to talk about. If you’re dealing with a rash under your boob, you may be feeling this discomfort. Don’t panic: There are multiple reasons you may be experiencing this symptom, and they’re pretty common, especially in the summertime. We asked experts about the potential causes for rashes under your boob so that you can seek relief and feel your best.

Is your rash itchy and red?

“These are signs of intertrigo, a harmless rash that occurs when friction, moisture and heat irritate the skin in body folds like the breasts and underarms,” says Laura Corio, MD, author of The Change Before The Change: Everything You Need to Know to Stay Healthy in the Decade Before Menopause (Buy from Amazon, $18). “The rash is often more severe in the summer, as warmer temperatures ramp up the production of pore-clogging oils and allow bacteria, yeast and other microorganisms that worsen symptoms to thrive.”

Intertrigo is not an infection, but it may lead to a secondary fungal infection, often caused by candida, a type of yeast. Anyone can have intertrigo, but people with a weakened immune system, diabetes or obesity are more likely to get it. It can occur on multiple areas at the same time. It doesn’t spread (unless it develops into an infection), but it occurs on parts of your body that rub together.

How to Heal Intertrigo

It’s important to keep the area clean and dry to decrease the risk of infection. “To eliminate the rash, wash the area with a mild antibacterial cleaners. Pat dry, then dab on alcohol-containing mouthwash, which kills bacteria and dissolves irritating skin oils. Finish up with an antifungal powder like Lotrimin AF Cream) to combat yeast. Do this twice a day,” recommends Dr. Corio. But remember to keep a close eye on your rash’s progress. “If these steps don’t eliminate the rash in a week or so, I suggest visiting your doctor for a stronger prescription cream.”

Once you’ve gotten rid of the rash, you want to keep it from coming back. “I suggest dusting your breasts with sweat-wicking cornstarch as needed throughout the day to keep the area dry and ward off future problems,” says Dr. Corio.

Do you smell a vinegary odor?

Your chest might seem like an unlikely spot for a yeast infection, but summer’s high temperatures make the undersides of the breasts warm and damp, which creates an ideal environment for the more than 150 varieties of yeast that live on the skin. Some signs that the rash under your boob might be a yeast infection include a stale beer-like or vinegary odor, tenderness or a shiny, raised appearance. You may also experience blistering and dryness.

Paying extra attention to the rash under your boob with specific shampoo may help, says Barbara DePree, MD., a gynecologist in private practice and director of Women’s Midlife Services at Michigan’s Holland Hospital. A Certified Menopause Practitioner, she is the founder of MiddlesexMD.com, an educational resource for women’s sexual health in menopause and beyond.

How to Heal Yeast Infections on the Skin

There are many strategies you can try to heal a yeast infection under your breast. Here, the top remedies:

Dandruff Shampoo

“You should be able to clear up the rash by washing the area daily with a dandruff shampoo like Selsun Blue (Buy from Amazon, $7.48), patting it dry with a clean towel to prevent spreading and using a cotton swab or your fingers to apply an anti-fungal cream like Lotrimin (Buy from Amazon, $13. 47) once a day for two weeks,” advises Dr. DePree. “It’s also a good idea to trade in any nylon bras for supportive cotton ones to prevent skin-to-skin contact and moisture buildup.”

“Once you’ve eliminated the rash, you can keep future infections at bay by washing periodically with the dandruff shampoo and applying a breast cream like Carpe No-Sweat Breast Lotion (Buy from Walmart, $30.92) to absorb moisture,” says Dr. DePree. You can also dust your breasts and bra with sweat-wicking cornstarch or apply antiperspirant to the undersides of your breasts as needed throughout the day to keep the area dry and discourage future problems. Cleansing beneath the breasts and drying skin thoroughly may also help decrease the risk of yeast growth.

Grapefruit Seed Extract

Grapefruit seed extract contains flavonoids with potent antifungal properties. Simply mix three drops of the extract with 1 ounce of almond oil as a carrier and use a cotton ball to apply the solution to your breasts twice a day for one week. Keep in mind that grapefruit seed extract is different from grapefruit essential oil or grapefruit seed oil and may cause skin irritation if applied without diluting. One option to try is the NutriBiotic Grapefruit Seed Extract (Buy on Amazon, $17.99). You should notice an improvement after two days.

Coconut Oil

Research published in Acupuncture & Electro-Therapeutics Research suggests that caprylic acid, a fatty acid found in coconut oil, may kill candida. And a study published in Biomedical and Biotechnology Research Journal found that coconut oil work may work as well as antifungal meds. Apply coconut oil to the affected area daily until symptoms subside.

Oregano Oil

Georgetown University research suggests taking one to two capsules of oregano oil, which is derived from the same herb you sprinkle over pizza, may end an infection as effectively as antiobiotic medications. Credit goes to oregano’s carvacrol, which acts as a potent yeast-killing compound. Keep in mind that oregano oil is not the same as oregano essential oil, which shouldn’t be taken orally or used internally. Oregano oil also isn’t recommended for pregnant women or people with iron deficiencies.

Keep in mind that if the rash under your boob isn’t clearing up or your symptoms are worsening, you should talk to a medical professional for a treatment plan tailored to your specific needs.

This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis. Always consult your physician before pursuing any treatment plan.

First For Women aims to feature only the best products and services. We update when possible, but deals expire and prices can change. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.
Questions? Reach us at [email protected]

Rotten (rotten) smell under the breast

Rotten (rotten) smell …

14 answers
Go to

#1

900 02 #2

#3

#4

Wash if you still smell?

Infection means something.

#5

#6

9 0055 September 18, 2022 12:10

#7

#8

#9

#10

ChelLove ★ ★ ★

Wow.

Wash if it smells anyway?

Infection means something. September 18, 2022

#12

Flower

On the right there was some kind of induration at the nipple, but on the left it seems nothing is felt. The only thing is that bumps began to appear more often in the armpits, but they pass

#13

Guest

My belly button stinks.

#14

New topics per day:

  • Women’s legs. Question for men

    16 answers

  • Make you gain weight

    3 answers

  • What body parameters do you want

    4 answers

  • My husband’s belly and bust don’t go away

    12 answers

  • Is it true that women get fat in one place while driving?

    7 answers

  • Strongly sagging breasts after pregnancy

    10 answers 8

    4 answers

  • ?

    2 answers

  • Is it possible to sunbathe under a canopy?

    1 answer

  • Ingrown leg hairs

    1 answer 0209

    Very complex because of the growth of 167 at 21 years old .

    ..

    78 answers

  • How tall should I be?

    17 answers

  • Women’s legs. Question for men

    16 answers

  • Guy, 21 years old, height 167 cm, because of which I have a complex

    15 answers

  • 900 02

    My husband’s belly and bust don’t go away

    12 answers

    10 answers

    9 answers

  • Am I too skinny?

    8 answers

  • Flat chest

    7 answers

Next topic

  • Effective epilation 0002 Previous topic

    • Does a beautiful girl need to look after her figure?

      22 answers

    What dangerous diseases changes in body odor can signal We understand what it means when sweat smells sour, sweet, dough, vinegar and even ammonia.

    August 31, 20217

    Source:
    Getty Images

    We all smell differently: from adolescence, sweat has a rather specific smell, and in this case, antiperspirant is indispensable, and someone may not use it even on the hottest day. However, when the smell of sweat changes, this is a very alarming signal, writes the Express edition. Most often, such metamorphoses indicate the presence of various diseases.

    Sour smell

    The first and quite harmless reason is that you began to sweat more due to some external factors. It could be long exposure to the sun or too intense a workout. In this case, sweat mixes with bacteria that live on the skin, which is why the sour smell appears.

    A sour smell can also indicate hyperhidrosis – one of the symptoms of hyperthyroidism (thyrotoxicosis), in which too much thyroid hormone is produced. In this case, you need to contact an endocrinologist. Usually, patients in this case experience sudden weight gain and mood changes during the day.

    Another reason is too frequent consumption of spicy foods . For example, oriental spices, pepper, garlic.

    Urine odor

    Sweat begins to smell like urine due to ammonia – it is this element that gives the secretions such a specific smell. Such changes may signal liver or kidney disease . So, if these organs do not function properly, then toxins begin to be released from them, which is reflected in the smell of a person. A hepatologist will help to find out what condition the liver is in, and a nephrologist will help the kidneys.

    When sweat smells like dough

    Yeast gives a specific smell to dough, the same can be said about the changed smell of sweat. The most common “bread dough smell” appears, when you contracted STD (sexually transmitted diseases). In this case, it is better to contact a gynecologist and pass all the necessary tests.

    See also

    The smell of vinegar

    Another wake-up call is when your sweat smells like vinegar.