Why do I smell bad in the area where I used steroid cream?

Question

Hello doctor,

For nine months, I have been suffering because of a steroid cream called Betazol. Suddenly, when I get out, I instantly get a strong body odor without sweating. Sweating has become less than before, and it is only on the part where I used the cream. So that is proof, because I consulted many doctors and all of them refused that the steroid cream is the reason. While I have read online and experienced it. What is the solution, and how can I solve this problem?

Kindly help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

I am really sorry you have been going through this for nine months. It is extremely distressing when something affects your confidence, and doctors keep telling you it is not related. I hear you, and your experience does make clinical sense. Even though literature suggests that topical steroids have limited evidence of altering normal sweat gland function and causing bad odor, indirectly, strong topical steroids can cause changes in skin sweat glands, sebaceous glands, and the skin barrier. Steroids reduce immunity and can alter the normal bacteria on the skin, allowing overgrowth of odor-producing bacteria even without sweat. So yes, your experience is biologically possible, even if many doctors dismiss this link because it is not commonly studied. I will guide you to restore the skin barrier and microbiome so the odor reduces.

Completely stop Betamethasone cream. Use a ceramide-based moisturizer two times daily, like moisturizing cream. To reset your microorganism skin flora, use Clindamycin 1% lotion on the affected area at night for 14 days. For odor control, use aluminum chloride-based deodorants, read the label, and apply it to the affected area in the morning to reduce odor. Give it a try for three to four weeks; if it is steroid-induced, it will get better, or else you need to go for an alternate diagnosis.

I hope you are satisfied with my answer. For further queries, you can consult me at iCliniq.

Thank you.