title: Amelioration of body odor after intracutaneous axillary injection of botulinum toxin A.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Body odor is a ubiquitous phenomenon. It is commonly attributed to sweating and noted explicitly in the axillary area. Botulinum toxin A has recently been shown to be effective for axillary hyperhidrosis. Its effect on axillary odor, however, is unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen healthy volunteers were injected with botulinum toxin A (Dysport, 100 U dissolved in 0.9% sodium chloride solution) in one axilla and 0.9% sodium chloride solution in the other axilla in a randomized, double-blinded fashion. After 7 days, body odor was assessed by a T-shirt sniff test. A significant reduction of odor intensity was observed for the botulinum toxin A-treated side. The smell was also rated significantly less unpleasant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that botulinum toxin A can ameliorate or even improve body odor. The underlying mechanisms may include interference with skin microbes and denervation of apoeccrine sweat glands, but this remains to be further investigated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Ludwig-Maximilian-University, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heckmann
authors.forename: Bianca
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Teichmann
authors.forename: Bettina M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Pause
authors.forename: Gerd
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Plewig
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001365:Axilla; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004439:Eccrine Glands / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007271:Injections, Intradermal; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009812:Odorants; D013542:Sweat
chemical_list: D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A