Wear loose clothing and breathable fabrics, such as cotton. Use a mild antiperspirant (deodorant) in your armpits or under your breasts to minimize sweating. Use a powder drying agent, such as talcum powder, on your affected area.
Applying baby powder to intertrigo-prone areas will help keep them dry and prevent friction. Apply baby powder to skin folds after showering and thoroughly drying off.
Sweat rash (intertrigo) symptoms start as a red rash in your skin folds that may itch, sting or burn. If a secondary infection (caused by candida yeast, other types of fungus or bacteria) develops, the sweat rash may become more inflamed and have a foul-smelling odour.
To treat intertrigo, your doctor may recommend short-term use of a topical steroid to reduce inflammation in the area. If the area is also infected, your doctor may prescribe an antifungal or antibiotic cream or ointment. Sometimes you need an oral medication.
Dry skin folds and other areas that trap moisture, such as armpits, groin, and under your breasts. Use plain baby powder to keep the area dry. Clean in-between showers. Place a barely damp warm washcloth in the affected folds for 20 minutes.
To control moisture, advise patients to avoid tight clothing; use pH-balanced liquid soap, cleansers, or disposable wipes; and pat skinfolds dry, rather than aggressively rubbing. Hair dryers set on cold also can be used to dry skinfolds.
The most common cause for a belly button smell is poor hygiene. All areas of the body need to be washed regularly to stay clean and healthy. Skin is home to trillions of bacteria, which develop naturally and are usually harmless. The belly button has folds of skin that provide a place for bacteria to grow.
Groin sweat contains fatty acids and proteins which feed bacteria. As the bacteria break down the nutrients in groin sweat, foul-smelling acids are left behind. Additionally, pubic hair traps heat and sweat, creating the perfect breeding environment for bacteria and more bad smells.
Mix equal amounts of clotrimazole 1% cream (or miconazole 1% cream) and hydrocortisone 1% cream and apply a thin layer to the affected area. People should do this twice a day until the rash is clear, which may take 3–8 weeks.
If left untreated, the rash can develop into cellulitis. [14] Furthermore, sepsis can result from hidden ulcers that develop in patients without supervision or obese individuals. Contact dermatitis can occur secondary to topical agents used to treat the rash.
Apocrine glands open up into your hair follicles. Hair follicles are the tube-like structure that keeps your hair in your skin. You can find apocrine glands in your groin and armpits. These glands produce sweat that can smell when it comes in contact with bacteria on your skin.
Hair is another place where bacteria like to hide. If you still smell a strong body odor after a shower, consider shaving the hair in your armpits, groin, and chest. The hair's surface is a perfect place for bacteria to call home, and it's harder to eliminate them from the hair than your bare skin.
Trimethylaminuria (TMAU) is an uncommon condition that causes an unpleasant, fishy smell. It's also called "fish odour syndrome". Sometimes it's caused by faulty genes that a person inherits from their parents, but this isn't always the case. There's currently no cure, but there are things that can help.
If you find that sweat and heat gather in between rolls on your body, washable tummy liners can be placed between folds in the skin to wick moisture and keep you comfortable.
Excess fat creates skin folds. These warm, dark crevices are the perfect environment for sweat and bacteria to mix and produce an odor.
Burning muscle tissue gives off an aroma similar to beef in a frying pan, and body fat smells like a side of fatty pork on the grill.
Sweating, which when unchecked can promote growth of bacterial and fungal germs, increases the risk of infection. Therefore, the use of antiperspirant sprays in these creased skin fold areas, as well as on hands and feet that perspire excessively, can be very helpful in minimizing such risk.
Superficial candidal skin infections appear as a red flat rash with sharp, scalloped edges. Smaller patches of similar-appearing rash, known as "satellite lesions" or "satellite pustules," are usually nearby. These rashes may be hot, itchy, or painful. Intertrigo appears as softened red skin in body fold areas.
Things that you can do at home for skin fold dermatitis include: Bathing with Hibiclens (Chlorhexidine) which is an antiseptic antimicrobial skin cleanser. Ask your pharmacist for Hibiclens, as this product is found behind the counter. You do not need a prescription to purchase it.
Inverse psoriasis and intertrigo are both conditions that cause an itchy, inflamed rash in areas where the skin folds, such as the groin, armpit, and abdomen. People can easily confuse inverse psoriasis with intertrigo, as the symptoms and areas affected are similar.
Intertrigo infected by bacteria should be treated with topical (eg, mupirocin) or oral antibiotics (eg, penicillin) along with low-potency topical steroids. Intertrigo infected by yeasts or dermatophytes should be treated with antifungal agents.
Compresses with Burow solution 1:40, dilute vinegar, or wet tea bags often are effective, especially if followed by fanning or cool blow-drying. Skin surfaces in deep folds can be kept separated with cotton or linen cloth; however, be sure to avoid tight, occlusive, or chafing clothing or dressings.