I know you said that bromhidrosis is not likely to be caused by underarm bacteria, but is it possible that it could be caused by bacterial overgrowth? I ask because I visited a dermatologist and he prescribed me some antiseptic treatment along with topical antibiotics. He said if this doesn't work, I will have to consider methods to eliminate sweating in the underarm, such as this one or botox. He acknowledges that I do not have hyperhidrosis. Thank you.
I'm afraid it sounds as if your dermatologist might be a little confused.
Firstly, why would you have "bacterial overgrowth" if you wash and do not have Hyperhidrosis? To have "bacterial overgrowth" they would need to be somewhere - so unless you have some debris or dirt clinging to your skin, then where would these bacteria be?
If this is a really diagnosis, then your dermatologist can swab your arm-pits and find out what bacteria are "over growing" there and find out what they are sensitive to - and then can treat you.
Of course, if a swab is taken and you wash normally, it will show nothing more than normal skin flora - because there is no bacterial overgrowth!!!
You can try the topical antibiotics and antiseptic - do let me know if it works .... I suspect that once you are back to your normal washing routine the Bromhidrosis will be back as normal for you.
You do need a blood test to make sure you don't have TMAU or "fish odour syndrome".
Finally, and what worries me about your advice so far, is that if it is acknowledged that you don't have Hyperhidrosis - why would Botox even be considered???? This drug affects the nerves that control the Eccrine sweat glands ... The cause of Hyperhidrosis .... So Botox treatment in your case will have no effect.
It seems to be that you are being offered a load of things to "hope" one might work. This is the problem with Bromhidrosis -
Thank you for your fast reply. My doctor didn't explicitly mention a bacterial overgrowth. He did say that he thought there would be two methods to control the odor, reducing bacteria, or reducing sweating. He said we could try to reduce the bacteria in the underarm first through the use of antiseptics and antibiotics, but said I would need to use them indefinitely. He said if reducing bacteria in the underarm does not help, we will have to look at methods to reduce sweating in the underarm as a way to prevent odor.
I don't believe I have TMAU as I only have the odor in my underarms and according to Dr. Preti who is the leading TMAU researcher in the United States, the underarms are not likely to produce odors related to TMAU. However, as you said, it might be beneficial to have a TMAU test done. Here's the information from Dr. Preti if you would like to see it: http://www.monell.org/contact_us/tmau/
The "traditional" advice is certainly as you have been advised - however in our experience it rarely gives much relief to the patient!!
The usual cause of Bromhidrosis in someone with good cleanliness is that the sebuum (the "oil" from the Apocrine glands) smells. It is usually symmetrical - affecting both armpits about the same - making a bacterial cause very unlikely.
Certainly, if the sebuum or oil is spread further by moisture (sweat) then it will go further. However Botox stopping the water alone rarely helps.
That is why we have tried LSA - it removes a lot of the Apocrine Glands (certainly the big ones), any nerves that might control them - and also reduces any fluid sweating.
As in this blog before, I don't say it is a perfect solution - but it seems the be the best option for anyone who doesn't get relief from simple showering and deoderants.
Hi Mr. Whiteley,
ReplyDeleteI know you said that bromhidrosis is not likely to be caused by underarm bacteria, but is it possible that it could be caused by bacterial overgrowth? I ask because I visited a dermatologist and he prescribed me some antiseptic treatment along with topical antibiotics. He said if this doesn't work, I will have to consider methods to eliminate sweating in the underarm, such as this one or botox. He acknowledges that I do not have hyperhidrosis. Thank you.
Mike
Hi Mike,
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid it sounds as if your dermatologist might be a little confused.
Firstly, why would you have "bacterial overgrowth" if you wash and do not have Hyperhidrosis? To have "bacterial overgrowth" they would need to be somewhere - so unless you have some debris or dirt clinging to your skin, then where would these bacteria be?
If this is a really diagnosis, then your dermatologist can swab your arm-pits and find out what bacteria are "over growing" there and find out what they are sensitive to - and then can treat you.
Of course, if a swab is taken and you wash normally, it will show nothing more than normal skin flora - because there is no bacterial overgrowth!!!
You can try the topical antibiotics and antiseptic - do let me know if it works .... I suspect that once you are back to your normal washing routine the Bromhidrosis will be back as normal for you.
You do need a blood test to make sure you don't have TMAU or "fish odour syndrome".
Finally, and what worries me about your advice so far, is that if it is acknowledged that you don't have Hyperhidrosis - why would Botox even be considered???? This drug affects the nerves that control the Eccrine sweat glands ... The cause of Hyperhidrosis .... So Botox treatment in your case will have no effect.
It seems to be that you are being offered a load of things to "hope" one might work. This is the problem with Bromhidrosis -
Hi Mr. Whiteley,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your fast reply. My doctor didn't explicitly mention a bacterial overgrowth. He did say that he thought there would be two methods to control the odor, reducing bacteria, or reducing sweating. He said we could try to reduce the bacteria in the underarm first through the use of antiseptics and antibiotics, but said I would need to use them indefinitely. He said if reducing bacteria in the underarm does not help, we will have to look at methods to reduce sweating in the underarm as a way to prevent odor.
I don't believe I have TMAU as I only have the odor in my underarms and according to Dr. Preti who is the leading TMAU researcher in the United States, the underarms are not likely to produce odors related to TMAU. However, as you said, it might be beneficial to have a TMAU test done. Here's the information from Dr. Preti if you would like to see it: http://www.monell.org/contact_us/tmau/
Thank you.
Mike
Hi Mike,
ReplyDeleteThank you for that.
The "traditional" advice is certainly as you have been advised - however in our experience it rarely gives much relief to the patient!!
The usual cause of Bromhidrosis in someone with good cleanliness is that the sebuum (the "oil" from the Apocrine glands) smells. It is usually symmetrical - affecting both armpits about the same - making a bacterial cause very unlikely.
Certainly, if the sebuum or oil is spread further by moisture (sweat) then it will go further. However Botox stopping the water alone rarely helps.
That is why we have tried LSA - it removes a lot of the Apocrine Glands (certainly the big ones), any nerves that might control them - and also reduces any fluid sweating.
As in this blog before, I don't say it is a perfect solution - but it seems the be the best option for anyone who doesn't get relief from simple showering and deoderants.
With best wishs,
Mark