RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of bromhidrosis is a clinical one, but the definition of "normal" odor is a poorly defined term. In the Asian population, the presence of even a faint odor is considered diagnostic. For the more exact evaluation, it is vital to study more findings associated with bromhidrosis. Recently, several studies have suggested possibility that the activity of sebaceous gland may be increased in patients with bromhidrosis. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the differences of the seborrheic phenotypes and the measured serum level of facial skin surface between patients with bromhidrosis and the normal population. METHODS: Twenty patients who were diagnosed with bromhidrosis by nose smell test and age-matched twenty from the normal population were evaluated with regard to the presence of seborrheic skin phenotypes suggested by Ely. We also measured sebum level of facial skin by Sebumeter(R). RESULTS: The presence of some seborrheic skin phenotypes such as telangiectasia and square palm were increased significantly in the patients. In addition, objectively measured sebum of facial skin surface was relatively increased in the patients. CONCLUSION: We concluded that there is an association between apocrine bromhidrosis and seborrheic skin phenotype.