How to determine if underarm odor is bromhidrosis
Nov 13, 2024
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Liu Wenmin
Introduction
Under normal circumstances, whether there is body odor (bromhidrosis) can be determined by aspects such as odor under the armpits, skin and clothing, intensity of the smell, duration, sweating condition, and dermatoscopic examination. If symptoms are severe, it is recommended to visit a hospital for treatment and follow the doctor's advice to take appropriate measures, in order to avoid delaying treatment and affecting normal daily life.
In general, whether there is axillary odor can be determined by aspects such as skin and clothing, odor intensity, duration, sweating condition, and dermatoscopic examination. If symptoms are severe, it is recommended to seek medical treatment at a hospital. Detailed analysis is as follows:
1. Skin and Clothing
The local skin color of patients with axillary osmidrosis may appear darker, and the area tends to be moist and reddish. Moreover, the sweat produced can react with clothing fibers, forming yellowish stains, discoloration, or difficult-to-remove stains.
2. Odor Intensity
Axillary osmidrosis differs significantly from ordinary sweat odor. Normal sweat odor typically presents as a mild sour smell after exercise or heavy sweating, whereas the odor of axillary osmidrosis may occur even shortly after bathing and is usually more intense.
3. Duration
The unpleasant odor in patients with axillary osmidrosis may intensify after sweating and can be noticeable for most of the day. Even with timely clothing changes and underarm washing, the odor is difficult to completely eliminate. In contrast, normal sweat odor usually diminishes significantly or disappears after body cleansing and clothing changes.
4. Sweating Condition
When the body is in a high-temperature environment, under emotional stress, or after vigorous exercise, the axillary sweat glands secrete large amounts of sweat, at which time the odor of axillary osmidrosis becomes more intense. In contrast, sweating is merely a triggering factor for normal sweat odor, and the smell diminishes as sweating decreases.
5. Dermatoscopic Examination
Physicians will use a dermatoscope to observe whether there are skin lesions or abnormalities in the subcutaneous structures. It is important to clean the skin at the examination site before performing this examination to avoid interference from debris affecting visibility.
In daily life, if someone experiences symptoms similar to those mentioned above, it is recommended to seek timely medical consultation at a hospital and take appropriate measures under a physician's guidance to avoid delaying treatment and impacting normal life.
