Why do armpits stink?

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor II, Senior Doctor Doan Du Dat - General Internal Medicine - Department of Medical Examination and Internal Medicine - Vinmec Ha Long International General Hospital

Although armpit odor does not affect health, it causes many discomforts, greatly affecting psychology and ability to communicate with people around. Especially in the hot season like today, underarm odor is even more serious. So why do armpits smell bad and how to fix it?

Problem “Why do armpits smell bad? ” related to the activity of sweat glands under the skin and the action of bacteria. The sweat glands on the body are divided into two types, small and large sweat glands. Small sweat glands are scattered throughout the body, responsible for eliminating waste products, including 99% water and 0.5% salt. The large sweat glands are mainly located in the subcutaneous layer, almost only distributed in the armpits, vulva and eyebrows, and have the role of excreting quite thick liquid, containing fat, protein and iron. These substances are secreted out, meet a favorable environment, are decomposed by bacteria, forming an unsaturated fatty acid with an unpleasant odor. Therefore, the problem of "what does armpit smell like" is the smell of this fatty acid.
The reason why the armpits have a bad smell is related to the increased sweating in the armpits, which is common in people who have a habit of eating spicy and greasy foods. These foods have a strong stimulating effect on sweat glands. This condition is also seen in people who are active (athletes, workers).
Why armpits have a bad smell also stems from poor hygiene habits. Increased sweat secretion along with poor hygiene easily leads to inflammation, bacteria on the surface of the skin have favorable conditions to grow and cause armpit odor. Some people, when they notice that they have bad armpits, use deodorants to temporarily block the odor. However, the abuse of sometimes improper deodorants (such as strong perfumes) is more likely to make the disease worse. In addition, some cases of underarm odor stem from abnormalities in the sweat glands and have a familial background.

Many people with underarm odor often seek to self-treat or follow the instructions of others. However, patients often do not achieve the desired results and in many cases make the disease worse. As a result, many people have had to live with the disease for a long time, become pessimistic, fall into a deadlock, limit contact with people but live alone and closed. Meanwhile, the fact that increased sweating in the armpit area is completely curable with the guidance of a doctor:
Folk methods: Treat symptoms with ginger, betel leaves, use alum to rub. rub into the armpit. However, this method often cannot solve the root cause of the odor but is only temporary. Drug treatment: Mainly based on the effect of reducing sweating. Some drugs act on the sympathetic nervous system, but these often come with many unwanted side effects. Botox injections are also effective measures, but usually only maintain results within 6-8 months and this is also a rather expensive treatment method. Laser treatment of underarm odor: A modern method, based on the protein coagulation mechanism. However, the laser is only highly effective for the components in the dermis, and the cost is also relatively high and must be repeated many times. On the other hand, the laser method also has certain advantages, such as fast treatment, no surgery, no bleeding and no scar. Treatment of underarm odor with endoscopic surgery: To treat the root cause of armpit odor, the doctor will consider appointing a surgical removal of the sweat glands. This is a relatively simple and low-cost method. The surgeon will localize the sweat glands in the armpit, then perform local anesthesia. Through the zoned area, the surgeon will make a small incision and then remove the entire sweat gland under the guidance of the endoscope. The aesthetics of endoscopic sweat gland surgery also depends on the skill, the medical facility treating the patient as well as the post-operative care. Like other types of surgery, sweat gland removal is also invasive, so it is strongly recommended that patients should visit and consult directly at specialized medical facilities. This will ensure more safety and aesthetics after surgery, avoid missing sweat glands and minimize complications such as skin damage or fluid accumulation after surgery. Need to clean the body daily, especially when sweating a lot, so change clothes often.

Underarm sweating and underarm sweating are two different conditions. However, by limiting the increase in perspiration, along with good personal hygiene in the intimate areas under the skin, the patient will almost completely solve the cause of the underarm odor and can get it back. confidence in life.