Bromhidrosis

Bromhidrosis refers to unpleasant body odour. In some patients, the odour is related to their natural scent (interaction between pheromones and local colonising bacteria), or is influenced by food and drink (eg garlic, alcohol).

Bromhidrosis commonly presents with perspiration. Advise the patient to wash daily with soap, remove underarm hair and use an antiperspirant regularly. If this is not sufficient, refer to a dermatologist for consideration of botulinum toxin A injectionsWu, 2019.

Rare metabolic conditions can also cause unpleasant body odour (eg trimethylaminuria, which causes a fishy smell).

Unpleasant odour of the feet may be caused by pitted keratolysis.