Noninvasive treatment of bromidrosis by frequency-doubled Q-switched Nd:YAG laser

Abstract

Axillary bromidrosis (osmidrosis) is a common and disgusting disorder in Asian communities. Current treatments are basically invasive resulting in varying degrees of success and complications. The objective of this study was to investigate the efficacy of frequency-doubled Q-switched Nd:YAG laser as a possible noninvasive technique for treating axillary bromidrosis. Sixty-four axillae of 32 patients were lased by a single session of green light energy at the fluence of 3.5 joules at a 4-mm spot size. The follow-up time was 6-18 months (mean 15). Twenty-six patients (81.2%) showed good to excellent results, 4 patients (12.5%) had fair results, and 2 (6.2%) patients had poor results. The only side effect was a temporary hyperpigmentation at the periphery of the treated area in a few patients with dark skin color. In conclusion, frequency-doubled Q-switched Nd:YAG laser is an effective noninvasive treatment for axillary bromidrosis.