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AIBU?

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Original poster

To be miserable about how badly i smell?

337 replies

fireworksinthesky3 · 06/12/2024 00:57

Hey

name changed but longtime poster

really hoping this post resonates with someone and I can get some advice or help 🤞

bit of an embarrassing problem but I smell really badly and don’t know what to do. I’ve tried everything I can possibly think of to fix it and it’s not helped. I’ve heard of things like fish odour syndrome but I don’t think it’s that because I don’t smell of fish- I just smell really musty/BO. It’s genuinely making me so depressed- I’m only 26 and I’m so embarrassed and miserable about it. I’ll post below everything I’ve tried

  • I shower every single day without fail, I tried showering twice a day but it made no difference whatsoever. At first I smell fine, then after a few hours I smell musty/BO/as if I haven’t even showered in days
  • I’ve tried every single combination of deoderant/antipersperant I could access. Mitchum was highly recommended but wasn’t any help disappointingly, in fact I think I smelled worse with it. Right now I’m using dove stick which is bearable but not great either. As I said above- fine at first, then after a few hours I smell again , badly enough to be noticeable by other people
  • I’ve tried every shower gel, scrub, body wash, lotion, soap (bar and liquid), even tried using dettol soap- no difference. I shave every 2nd day.
  • i wash my hair every 2-3 days, I change my bedding every week without fail
  • i wondered if it was possibly my clothes which smelled rather than me so I got rid of EVERYTHING, and started all over again (new underwear, new pjs, completely new clothes etc) but same problem literally no difference

the only thing I can think of that I haven’t tried is the Driclor range which I’m going to try and I’m praying it works. I’ve always had this problem- I remember being so embarrassed about it as a teenager. It’s definitely not something I’m just paranoid about either- I’ve asked my friends / family to be completely honest with me and they’ve agreed with me. I don’t have any hormonal problems and sweat like a normal person as far as I’m aware but for some reason I just smell so much quicker than the average person

does anyone have any tips or product recommendations I could try (in case driclor doesn’t work)?

sorry for the long post, I’m just so down about it x

OP posts:
Thread gallery
11
VimFuego101 · 06/12/2024 01:10

Could it be your washing machine not being clean? Maybe stagnant water trapped in the rubber seal?

BibbityBobbityToo · 06/12/2024 01:10

What are your go to meals, lots of spices or veg like asparagus or broccoli etc?

Do you do laundry at 40 degrees plus? Yes 30 is the new 40 environmentally but personally I don't think clothes clean as well despite what Persil say.

If it's your armpits, use a body scrub in there.

Do you buy fast fashion, e.g acrylic, polyester or stick to natural fibres?

Original poster
fireworksinthesky3 · 06/12/2024 01:09

BashfulClam · 06/12/2024 01:00

After showering, dry your armpit thoroughly then try rubbing some had sanitiser under your armpits. Also speak to your Dr if you haven’t already.

Thanks I’ll try this! I’m assuming you let the hand sanitizer dry in then put deodorant on top as normal?

thanks!

OP posts:
NantesElephant · 06/12/2024 01:08

Poor you. What’s your diet like? Wondering if anything you’re eating or not eating could be a factor?

Original poster
fireworksinthesky3 · 06/12/2024 01:08

Onthesideofthespiders · 06/12/2024 01:02

Some questions we might need the answers to.

Have you been to your GP?

How do you wash and dry your clothes?
What sort of fabrics do you wear most often? Synthetics? Cotton?

Have you tried glycolic acid on your underarms?

Thanks I’ll try and answer as best as I can

i haven’t specifically been to the GP for this although I mentioned it during a consultation for something unrelated and we ended up chatting about it, they said my hormone levels are normal and it’s not concerning medically because I’m not having issues with excess sweating, I think I sweat a normal amount it just seems to smell more than normal- they said it was likely lifestyle related

usually I wash it in the washing machine and dry either outside if it’s dry or the tumble drier if not

honestly as ridiculous as it sounds I’m not sure what the fabric is haha, just whatever the normal fabric used in river island/boohoo/new look etc as I usually just get my clothes at those kinds of shops

no I’ve never tried that before but I’m going to go and google it now! X

OP posts:
lovemycbf · 06/12/2024 01:07

Make sure to wash all laundry on 40 degrees and use powder not gel or pods ,I use surf powder and lenor conditioner and you can add laundry sanitiser.
Don't leave clothes in washing machine and hang clothes on hangers to dry
And regarding soap it has to be proper soap like imperial leather or Palmolive
Finally change your bra and wash it often

SnoopySantaPaws · 06/12/2024 01:04

Oh you poor thing, that must be so depressing!

try sticking to bar soap, with an olive oil base,

everyone's different, but Ibuse Dove roll on in the dark blue (original) the other varieties don't work for me.

have you had your hormone levels tested?

have you seen your GP recently.

its amazing what can change your small. I am diabetic & if my blood sugars are too high I get an old smell, but (to me anyway!!) it smells like biscuits baking. No matter what products I use!!

goid luck getting sorted (see your GP!!)

WaneyEdge · 06/12/2024 01:03

Could it be how you wash/dry your clothes? I’ve worked with a few people in the past who either haven’t washed on a high enough temperature and/or left clothes to dry naturally which has made them smell of damp, especially at this time of year. I tumble dry pretty much everything as it just takes too long and gets a horrible damp smell with UK weather!

Onthesideofthespiders · 06/12/2024 01:02

Some questions we might need the answers to.

Have you been to your GP?

How do you wash and dry your clothes?
What sort of fabrics do you wear most often? Synthetics? Cotton?

Have you tried glycolic acid on your underarms?

Original poster
fireworksinthesky3 · 06/12/2024 01:01

Meant to add as well- something I had read about which might help is underarm Botox through I’m not sure realistically how much that would help because it’s my entire body which smells rather than just my underarms, it’s something I would absolutely do though if it would possibly help the problem x

OP posts:
LittleGreenDragons · 06/12/2024 01:00

I remember you. What did the GP say?

BashfulClam · 06/12/2024 01:00

After showering, dry your armpit thoroughly then try rubbing some had sanitiser under your armpits. Also speak to your Dr if you haven’t already.

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