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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be super puzzled why my elbow stinks

462 replies

samsamsamsamsamsam · 08/05/2019 20:57

what on earth...... I am clean. I am always clean. However for the past few days my right elbow (the crook of it) has been omitting a god awful stench. I can't wash it off. It is foul.

It smells like feet and rot and awfulness. There is no broken skin, it just looks like a normal elbow. WTF.

why is this happening? anyone got any ideas? soap isn't doing anything!

OP posts:
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6
MrsDilligaf · 08/05/2019 22:23

Of all the things I expected to be doing in bed tonight, sniffing DH's elbows was not one of them!!

StCharlotte · 08/05/2019 22:23

gilchrist168

Are you sure that you can tell your arse from your elbow?

Brilliant!

EffYouSeeKaye · 08/05/2019 22:22

Can you tie a little tree in there? Maybe in green apple or a nice pine?

mumwon · 08/05/2019 22:20

how do you smell your elbow (not doing it - just not double jointed enough to even attempt it)

AudacityOfHope · 08/05/2019 22:15

Do you think we can make Smellbow the OED's new word for 2019??? Grin

Gardai · 08/05/2019 22:15

Just a thought OP - do you keep washing the elbow with the same facecloth or soap - they should be the smelly ones ?

I smell of sweet fragrant biscuits too (sorry)

LittleRedSocks · 08/05/2019 22:14

Without seeing it, this sounds like a fungal infection. Nothing to do with you being unclean, it’s just a place that can be warmer than many other areas on your body, particularly if you don’t fully dry after showers, have lots of moisturiser etc. Clean it twice a day with cotton pads and saline (or cooled boiled water) and pat - don’t rub - dry. Expose it to air as much as possible too. Then see if you pharmacist can give you a mild antifungal (like Clomitrazole). Give it 7-10 days and if no improvement, book in with your GP. Is there any mild rash/redness?

emphasisofmatter · 08/05/2019 22:11

Has you DH not noticed you sniffing your smellbow and comparing whiffs to your other one? Can you straighten your arm outwards and see if he notices a waft?!

JeremyCorbynsCoat · 08/05/2019 22:10

My elbows just smell like skin

Original poster
samsamsamsamsamsam · 08/05/2019 22:10

One of mine smells lovely.

I absolutely can't smell the back of my knees! I do yoga, but I'm not THAT flexible.

I'll try tea tree oil. I have some of that.

'just wash' jeeeesus I've already explained that I'm not a soap dodger, that's why the stinkin' smellbow is so weird!

OP posts:
Schnitzelvonkrumb · 08/05/2019 22:09

I have smelled my elbows....but props to the pp who have smelled their belly button!

BigChocFrenzy · 08/05/2019 22:08

OP:
Did you have a bet that you'd get a load of women around the country to smell their elbows ?

Cos if so, you've won 😂

Bobbiepin · 08/05/2019 22:07

Just re-christen it Smellbow and learn to love it

Made me laugh so hard DH is giving me funny looks.

lotusbell · 08/05/2019 22:06

Mine smell of nothing. I'm disappointed!

RamsayBoltonsConscience · 08/05/2019 22:05

Try some thrush cream on the smellbow - I used to suffer from a smelly belly button 😳 but realised it must be some kind of fungal thing. A bit of Canestan on a cotton bud in there sorted it out very quickly.

howtotrainyourdragqueen · 08/05/2019 22:04

Yeast infection. Get some canesten cream and use for a week.

Same as when get it under folds of flesh I would guess.

Ticklingcheese · 08/05/2019 22:04

I'm i the only one who don't have hairy elbows, re. Ball resemblance 😂.

SinkGirl · 08/05/2019 22:04

(I mean, sure, that was a wrist, but will give it to you anyway)

Iwantacookie · 08/05/2019 22:03

I've got to know op how did you decide to sniff your elbow? Could you smell it and followed your nose or is this some thing we are supposed to do and I'm the weird one for not smelling them regularly?
Fwiw one of my elbows smells lovely the other smells ok.

SinkGirl · 08/05/2019 22:03

Essential you win the Internet today

EssentialHummus · 08/05/2019 22:02

Are you a a former police Detective Chief Inspector who has had a murderous scuffle with a forensics officer in a balaclava?

Figure8 · 08/05/2019 22:02

Mine smells lovely

I changed soaps this morning, and it's really fresh smelling.

Not bragging or anything

gilchrist168 · 08/05/2019 22:02

Are you sure that you can tell your arse from your elbow? Grin

SinkGirl · 08/05/2019 22:02

Asking DH to sniff my elbow would even break the top 10 of weird things I’ve asked him to do 😂

Seriously, try taking a Sudafed or similar and see it helps. I’ve had this sort of thing where I’m convinced the smell is coming from one place but actually it’s the tilt of my head in that direction causing nasty infected sinus goo to be detected. I bet you £10 that within 3 days you’ll have a full blown sinus infection and everything will smell like that (sorry!)

Cherrysherbet · 08/05/2019 22:01

So hands up who’s now sniffing the crook of their elbows.

Me!