title: Towards a bacterial treatment for armpit malodour.
abstract: Axillary malodour is a frustrating condition for many people. It can lead to significant discomforts and various psychological effects. The underarm microbiome plays a major role in axillary malodour formation. Not only the bacteria on the epidermis, but also and especially those living in the sweat glands, sweat pores and hair follicles play a pivotal role in malodour development. To treat underarm malodour, this viewpoint article envisions a bacterial treatment. Replacing the autochthonous malodour-causing microbiome with a non-odour-causing microbiome, through an armpit bacterial transplantation or direct application of probiotics/non-odour-causing bacteria, could resolve the condition. Selective steering of the microbiome with prebiotics, biochemicals or plant extracts can likewise greatly help in improving the underarm odour. Elimination/inhibition of the "bad bugs" and application/stimulation of the "good bugs" will be part of the future treatment for axillary body odour.
authors.affiliation: Center for Microbial Ecology and Technology (CMET), Ghent University, Gent, Belgium.|Department of Pediatrics and Computer Science & Engineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Callewaert
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Ghent University Hospital, Gent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lambert
authors.affiliation: Center for Microbial Ecology and Technology (CMET), Ghent University, Gent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Van de Wiele
mesh_terms: D051520:Antiperspirants / Q000494:pharmacology; D001365:Axilla / Q000382:microbiology*; D003836:Deodorants / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D064307:Microbiota / Q000187:drug effects; D009812:Odorants / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019936:Probiotics
chemical_list: D051520:Antiperspirants; D003836:Deodorants
keywords: armpit; body odour; microbiome; probiotics; transplantation