[Click! Health] How to Treat 'Axillary Osmidrosis' That Worsens in Summer?

Resident skin bacteria cause body odor during sweat decomposition
If symptoms are mild, use soap and ointment... Permanent hair removal helps
If severe, consider apocrine gland removal surgery

Axillary hyperhidrosis stock photo. [Photo by Asia Economy DB]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] One of the most concerning conditions during the hot and humid summer season is none other than 'axillary osmidrosis.' In severe cases, it can interfere with daily life, causing significant stress and discomfort to others, making it even more worrisome.

Axillary osmidrosis is a condition where bacteria residing on the skin break down sweat, causing what is commonly known as 'body odor.' Our bodies have two types of sweat glands: eccrine and apocrine glands. Eccrine glands, which are distributed throughout the body, produce sweat that is 99% water, clear and transparent, with little stickiness or odor. Hyperhidrosis occurs due to excessive secretion from the eccrine glands.

In contrast, apocrine glands are ten times larger than eccrine glands. They are located in areas such as the armpits, ears, eyelids, nipples, navel, and perineum, with about 95% concentrated in the armpits. The sweat secreted from these glands contains proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids, making it viscous and capable of yellowing white clothes. The sweat itself from the apocrine glands has no odor, but bacteria on the skin decompose the sweat, producing fatty acids and ammonia, which generate the characteristic 'body odor' of axillary osmidrosis.

If symptoms are mild, applying antiperspirants, using medicated soaps with antibacterial properties, and applying ointments can help. Wearing breathable clothing and using powders to keep the area dry are also effective methods. Since having more armpit hair can worsen the odor, hair removal to maintain cleanliness is recommended. Permanent hair removal can destroy not only the hair follicles but also the apocrine glands around them, making it effective for treating axillary osmidrosis odor. Other treatments include iontophoresis and using botulinum toxin injections to reduce sweat secretion in the armpits.

In severe cases, surgery can be considered. The main surgical methods are subcutaneous excision and liposuction. Subcutaneous excision involves making an incision along the armpit crease, lifting the skin to the depth of the subcutaneous fat layer, and removing the sweat glands by excising the fat layer containing the apocrine glands. Liposuction uses ultrasound or laser-assisted liposuction devices to remove the apocrine glands through a small incision of about 0.5 cm in the subcutaneous fat layer. Complete removal of apocrine glands by surgery is not always possible, and there is a possibility of recurrence as the glands can regenerate after surgery. However, surgical treatment is generally more effective than conservative or localized treatments, so surgery is recommended for severe axillary osmidrosis.

Surgical treatment is not recommended during adolescence. Symptoms may improve after puberty, and as growth continues post-surgery, sweat glands may regenerate, leading to recurrence. Additionally, if revision surgery is needed after adulthood, the risk of complications such as skin necrosis may increase due to operating on previously treated tissue.

Professor Min Kyung-hee of the Department of Plastic Surgery at Nowon Eulji University Hospital explained, “If you are worried about odor, do not hide it and visit a hospital for appropriate treatment. Axillary osmidrosis commonly occurs in young adults after puberty when apocrine glands enlarge and sweat secretion increases.” She added, “Recently, with faster growth rates in children, more adolescents are visiting clinics for axillary osmidrosis. Proper management and treatment are necessary to prevent stress in children.”

▲Body odor is affecting your social life.
▲You have been told by others that you smell.
▲After placing tissue paper in both armpits for 5 minutes, you notice a foul odor.
▲White clothes show yellow stains in the armpit area when checked at night.
▲Earwax is moist rather than dry.

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