Serious body odour issue

LegacyUser

Hi, I'm really hoping someone will be able to shed some light on this issue for me because it's beginning to interfere with my normal daily functioning.

I'm female, late 20's and have a body odour issue, specifically in relation to my arm pits. I'm a very clean person, I shower at least once a day, sometimes two. I also shave my arm pits daily. I apply Sure maximum protection (48 hr) anti-perspirant three to four times a day, I find this is the only one that gives me some protection at least as I have tried all other anti-perspirants and deodrants but they just dont work. I don't really have a problem with sweating, I just can't remove the bacteria that causes the smell!!! Within two to three hours after applying my anti-perspirant I can usually get a faint smell of body odour and then I go and re-apply but after an hour or two the problem re-appears. its not overpowering or anything like that but there's always a faint smell. And it always transfers onto my clothes. I was on holidays two weeks ago with my boyfriend and we were lying out for an hour in the sun. When we got back to hotel, he actually commented on the smell of sweat. I had taken a shower half an hour prior to going out in sun and had applied anti-perspirant. I've also used baking soda but I just find its so messy and obvious to everyone especially if i'm wearing a sleeveless top or dress. And at that, it doesn't even always eliminate the smell.

I'm at my wits end. nights out are a disaster because by end of night I know there's a slight smell of sweat coming from me - and it probably smells ALOT worse to other people and there's always a smell of BO off my clothes/dresses etc the next day. As I said its not overpowering and very stale but it's definitely there. I just don't know what to do. As I said I'm very meticulous with hygiene and applying anti-perspirant., deodrant and baking soda. I'm thinking of going to the doctor but was wondering can they prescribe some medication for me-does such a thing even exist??

Could someone please offer some advice or shed some light on the situation..I would really appreciate it. Thank you

LegacyUser

I'm the same OP. I use Driclor (you can get it in the chemist) The supermarket ones are useless to me.

Driclor stings a bit but it really will help a lot. I use it 3 times a week as well as normal deodorant.

Miss Fluff

You mention showering daily, sometimes twice. Are you actually washing your pits properly? Showering and properly washing can be two entirely different things.

Also, you don't mention how often you change your clothes. If you're not changing all your clothes regularly then they would smell of stale sweat.

If neither of the above apply then it could potentially be a medical problem and this is something that you should discuss with your GP. There are some deoderants that contain aluminium which should help. There's also the option of having botox in your pits to stop sweating. A GP would be able to best advise you however.

Diddler1977

OP - do you shave your under arm hair? Pits need to be hair free for antiperspirant to be effective.

What type of material are most of your clothes made of?

I find synthetic materials hold sweat smells.

Maybe soak sweaty patches on clothes with vinegar or baking soda paste before washing in the machine?

mikemac

Yes, you should shave

Get some good quality cotton blouses, polyester will have you sweating

I don't know if applying sudocream at night will do anything but the stuff is like WD40 , it's good for everything :P

I'd advise you see your GP. It could get to the bottom of things far sooner. You're aware of your problem so I'm sure you are washing properly and paying attention to not wrapping yourself up too tight in clothes and all that other stuff. You clearly don't have a hygiene issue so it could very well be medical.

Other than seeing your GP, I'd look into your diet. There are lots of things that can come out in your sweat when they've been metabolised by your body. The same way pee can smell weird if you've eaten certain things. Do a bit of Google researching and see if there's anything you're eating that could be the problem.

unreggd

It could be stress

I sometimes get a very strong BO if Im very stressed in work, etc

Also, you could be allergic to the deoderants you use. Do you use aerosol or a roll-on?

I switched to alcohol-free roll on a while back and they're amazing! Cheaper, last longer, stronger smell, and zero irritation

I am a friend

Have you tried using anti bacterial soap? Also maybe you cOuld try using anti bacterial wipes to clean the area before you reapply a specialised deodorant.

Have you asked a good friend if it's noticeable to others?

PapaQuebec

the same wrote: »

I'm the same OP. I use Driclor (you can get it in the chemist) The supermarket ones are useless to me.

Driclor stings a bit but it really will help a lot. I use it 3 times a week as well as normal deodorant.

I can't recommend this post highly enough!!!

I work in a small IT workshop (loads of PC's, monitors etc) and the heat can get fierce! I sweat profusely during the day and used to have to wash my underarms so frequently that I developed a rash from too-frequent use of anti-perspirant.
A GP friend recommended Driclor, First time I used it I didn't need ANY anti-perspirant for 10 days!!
I now use it once a week and it keeps me sweat-free. You can use a normal AP as well if you want a fragrance ( Driclor is unscented!)

KittyeeTrix

I found after the birth of my 4th child that due to hormone meltdown I needed to use Driclor for a while........
I cannot praise it's effectiveness enough:)

Acoshla

Diddler1977 wrote: »

OP - do you shave your under arm hair? Pits need to be hair free for antiperspirant to be effective.

mikemac wrote: »

Yes, you should shave

OP said she shaves her armpits daily.

foxinsox

Hi there OP.

It sounds like you are doing everything possible.

I would try Driclor as advised, If it doesn't improve then you should go to your GP.

I vaguely remember reading something about doctors (in cases causing severe problems) being able to inject botox into the armpit area and it freezes/suspends/paralyses (sp?) the area and all the sweat glands. Can't remember where I read it but I'm sure google might help.

Best of luck

LegacyUser

OP here. A huge thank you to all who posted replies.

I'm definitely going to try driclor,by the sounds of it it's pretty good. I'll also look into foods or drinks that make problem worse and adjust my diet if i need to. If that fails, I'll go to my gp.

Susannahmia

I sweat a lot too op, I find mitchum better than Sure. I add a few drops of tea tree oil to my body wash, its antiseptic. I usually use original source tea tree and mint shower gel and add extra tea tree oil.

Make sure to use a loofa etc and give your skin a really good wash.

Make sure you are completely dry before you get dressed or add deodorant, any bit of damp at all will increase bo.

Try to wear cotton if you can, it lets your skin breathe and you tend to sweat less.

The smell of your sweat can be very affected by your diet. The better your diet, (less additives etc) the better the smell of your sweat.

Driclor is another option, it gave me a horrible rash however and I found that changing my diet helped me the most.

Also my granny swore by applying milk of magnesia to your armpits after a shower. I know it sounds strange but I find it really works. Its worth a try anyways.

LegacyUser

I used to have this exact problem OP. I would scrub my armpits in the shower and within an hour could smell BO off myself again. I change my clothes every day and have a good diet. I was so embarassed that I probably seemed unhygienic and could have cried with frustration... I was convinced it must be a medical problem. My mother has the same issue so it's definitely something genetic with me.

By chance I picked up some Mitchum for women roll-on, I had been using a spray deodorant. I use it straight out of the shower every morning and now even at the end of the day there's no trace of BO. I then use Impulse if I need a spritz of something throughout the day. For cases like ours OP spray deodorants are useless, try the 48 hour Mitchum first and if that's not enough try the Driclor. all the best

LegacyUser

Try to avoid processed foods - particularly the 'pink' hams and salamis (They've loads of salts in 'em) and excessive amounts of red meat.

I've a similar problem in that I can't contain the salt I eat - I pee it out - so even if I don't wash for a week and exercise a lot, I hardly smell at all.

Spanish Eyes

Driclor users - if you itch after using, great tip, apply talcum powder almost immediately after you put the driclor on, and you won't itch or be irritated. It worked for me.

BTW I used Driclor for about two weeks nearly 7 years ago, and have never had to use it since. Magic stuff.

Good luck OP, it must be a tough time for you. Try the tips mentioned and hope all will work out.

jimmycrackcorm

Op, you should examine your diet as a possible cause.

calex71

I'm a bloke but can relate to the OP or at least I could .....

Had an issue with Bo even though I showered and scrubbed once a day then I had some blood tests done a while back for an issue unrelated and sure me being me I just checked every box on the form as well as what the doctor had checked.

Results cam back , I had really high cholesterol :eek:

So I had to see a dietician, she advised me on what avoid, cheese being the big one , but now 4 months later I am eating more fruits and veg and nearly zero crap other than a treat once a week and my BO is a thing of the past* :pac:

*at least I can't smell it off myself anymore

OP I would put money on it being diet related, see a GP and discuss with a dietician if the practice has one too. Mine did and it cost me nothing to visit her once the GP referred me

Lollipops23

OP I would echo what the other posters have said about seeing a doc.

However, something I heard years ago has stuck with me- your nose will always be in tune with your own body's scent more than others will be. You're probably picking up on it a lot more than other people would be (plus your proximity to your own armpits!). Your boyfriend could have been even smelling his own BO on hols, although we all sweat a lot more by the pool

Just something to consider...

stephen_k

What temperature are you washing your clothes at OP? I had this problem, showered everyday, changed my top everyday, by 11am I'd be stinking, increased the temp of the wash from 40 to 60, problem gone... Washing at 40 just wouldn't take the old BO smell from the clothes, so when I wore them again even after a short time my body heat would have the clothes reeking... (obviously this depends on whether the material can take the higher temp)

daisybelle2008

My friend had Botox....worked a treat..he is male and had it in one pit.

LegacyUser

Unlike the other posters I wouldn't recommend using Drilor or anything with Aluminium chloride in it for that matter especially not on an absorbant part of your body. If you are experiencing body odour that is persistent and beyond what you would call the norm then there may be a deeper bacterial overgrowth present in your body. I've been trying to tackle a body odour problem for some time now and one of the greatest helps has been colon cleanses. If there is compacted waste or yeast overgrowth in the gut then this can manifest as a foul body odour. I can eat something like chicken and have the smell of the chicken come out through my skin. I also know how callous and cruel people can be in their comments but most of this people are f**kin idiots.

Truley

My brother used to take wheat grass supplements and they were extremely effective. So much so that if he went a couple of days without taking them people would notice the smell coming back. Usually the best cure for BO is to deal with the root of the problem rather than masking it with harsh deodorants etc