Sweat Bromhidrosis: Decrease Among Young People, Increase Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults

Trends in the Number of Patients with Bromhidrosis Over the Past 5 Years

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] The number of patients receiving treatment for bromhidrosis, a condition causing foul sweat odor in areas such as the armpits, genitals, and soles of the feet, has steadily decreased over the past five years. However, while the number of patients among the younger population, which constitutes the majority, has declined, there has been an upward trend among those aged 60 and above.

According to an analysis by the National Health Insurance Service on patients treated for bromhidrosis over the past five years, there were 3,508 patients last year, down from 4,768 in 2015, representing an average annual decrease of 7.4%. The Service explained that the reduction in patients is not due to a decrease in prevalence itself but rather because methods to control sweat secretion and over-the-counter medications have become widely known, leading fewer people to visit hospitals.

Bromhidrosis is caused by apocrine glands among the sweat glands. Bacteria in the armpits, especially aerobic Corynebacterium, act on the secretions of the apocrine glands to produce ammonia and short-chain fatty acids that cause the foul odor. The condition can worsen in environments where bacteria easily proliferate, such as when one does not wash frequently or has diabetes or obesity.

By age group, about three out of four patients are aged 30 or younger. Last year, patients aged 30 or younger accounted for 73.9%, while those aged 40 and above made up 26.1%. Over the past five years, the average annual growth rate shows a 1.7% decrease each year for those aged 30 or younger, but a 5.8% increase for those aged 40 and above. In particular, patients aged 60 and above increased the most, from 149 to 179 during the same period. By gender, females outnumbered males by 1.24 times. Treatment tends to be sought more in winter, with 41% of all patients visiting during that season, rather than in summer.

Professor Kim Ji-eon of the Dermatology Department at National Health Insurance Ilsan Hospital explained, "The main cause of bromhidrosis, apocrine gland secretion, becomes active after puberty," adding, "This is when the highest number of bromhidrosis patients occur." She further stated, "Due to cultural and psychological factors and hormonal effects, women are more sensitive to body odor than men, which likely explains the overall higher number of female patients. For those aged 60 and above, hormonal changes after menopause appear to have an impact."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.