What department should I register for excessive earwax (ozena)?

Aug 28, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health

Dr. Liu Wenmin

Introduction

Axillary osmidrosis, commonly known as body odor, generally refers to axillary bromhidrosis. When seeking medical advice, patients can choose departments such as dermatology, plastic surgery, medical aesthetics, general surgery, or endocrinology, depending on their specific needs and the hospital's departmental setup. Prior to visiting, patients may consult the hospital's official website or contact the hospital via phone to learn about the specific scope of diagnosis and treatment offered by each department.

Body odor usually refers to axillary bromhidrosis. Generally, patients with axillary bromhidrosis can choose to visit the dermatology, plastic surgery, medical aesthetics, general surgery, or endocrinology departments according to their needs and the hospital's departmental setup. Detailed analysis is as follows:

1. Dermatology: Axillary bromhidrosis mainly relates to abnormal sweat gland secretion in the armpit and odor caused by bacterial breakdown of sweat, which falls under the category of skin appendage disorders. Dermatologists are skilled in diagnosing such skin-related issues. They can assess the severity of the odor and provide non-surgical treatments like medication or laser therapy, suitable for patients with mild symptoms or those who prefer conservative treatment initially.

2. Plastic Surgery: If patients wish to improve axillary bromhidrosis through surgical methods, such as excising the apocrine gland tissue, plastic surgery is an appropriate choice. Plastic surgeons possess specialized surgical techniques to remove diseased tissue while minimizing surgical trauma and focusing on postoperative aesthetic recovery.

3. Medical Aesthetics: In some hospitals, the medical aesthetics department also offers diagnosis and treatment for axillary bromhidrosis, particularly emphasizing minimally invasive treatments such as microwave therapy or radiofrequency therapy. These treatments achieve odor elimination by damaging the function of the axillary apocrine glands and are characterized by minimal trauma, rapid recovery, and high postoperative aesthetic satisfaction.

4. General Surgery: In some general hospitals where plastic surgery or medical aesthetics departments are not separately established, surgical treatment for axillary bromhidrosis may be handled by the general surgery department. General surgeons can perform traditional apocrine gland removal surgeries, effectively resolving underarm odor issues.

5. Endocrinology: A few cases of axillary bromhidrosis might be related to endocrine disorders, such as increased sweat gland secretion caused by hormonal changes during puberty or abnormal thyroid function. If patients also experience other endocrine-related symptoms, such as irregular menstruation or abnormal weight changes, they can initially visit the endocrinology department to investigate potential endocrine factors before receiving targeted treatment.

Prior to visiting, patients can consult the hospital's official website or contact them via phone to understand the specific scope of each department's services and choose the appropriate department based on their symptoms and treatment needs. During treatment, maintaining clean and dry underarms, wearing loose and breathable clothing, and reducing bacterial growth are important measures to help alleviate odor issues.

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What are the best methods for permanently removing body odor?

There is no definitive optimal method for the permanent removal of axillary odor. The choice of treatment depends on the individual patient's condition. Common approaches for axillary odor removal include traditional surgery, minimally invasive surgery, laser therapy, botulinum toxin type A injections, and gold microneedle radiofrequency therapy, with varying effectiveness and suitable populations.

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How to completely eliminate body odor (bromhidrosis)

Axillary osmidrosis, commonly known as body odor, typically refers to bromhidrosis in the armpit area. In general, axillary bromhidrosis may be caused by genetic factors, excessive sweat secretion, local bacterial infection, endocrine disorders, dysfunction of apocrine sweat glands, and other reasons. It is recommended to seek medical attention promptly, identify the underlying cause, and then improve the condition through general treatment, medication, surgical treatment, or other methods under the guidance of a physician.

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How to completely eliminate body odor (bromhidrosis)

Under normal circumstances, axillary bromhidrosis may be caused by genetic factors, excessive sweat secretion, local bacterial infection, hyperhidrosis, hyperthyroidism, or other reasons. It is recommended to seek timely medical consultation, identify the underlying cause, and then proceed with treatment under a doctor's guidance through general treatments, medication, physical therapy, or surgical intervention. Daily care should include regular trimming of underarm hair to reduce bacterial adhesion.

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Why did I suddenly develop body odor when I never had it before?

Excessive secretion of thyroid hormones accelerates the body's metabolism, leading to increased sweat production. This results in greater underarm perspiration with altered composition, which, when broken down by bacteria, produces body odor (bromhidrosis). Symptoms may include palpitations and hand tremors. Treatment should involve the use of medications such as methimazole tablets, propylthiouracil tablets, and propranolol tablets under the guidance of a physician to regulate thyroid function.