Stinky 13 year old

[Bountifulbarbie]

DS is 13. He claims to wash under his pits but I can smell him even 15 mins after he has a shower and is in a clean t shirt

He is defo having a hormone rush as has grown about a foot this year alone. Has anyone got any ideas for super shower gels that will work? He doesn't need an anti perspirant, he just needs something that will kill the bacteria and keep him fresh

Shield soap is good.

Driclor is horrible. I bought some and it brought me out in the most horrible stingy rash! Appreciate that might not be everyone's experience but I'm not sure something that strong is needed when a good wash would do.

My DS was the same, he wasn’t washing his pits properly, 100%. He also plays a lot of sport and at one point I realised he was using body spray not deodorant so I bought him 48hr deodorant. His dad (my ex) used to blatantly tell him he stinks and still does, which I think is a bit much, especially as he said it in front of his gf the other day (ds is 19 now). He does need to remember to wash under his pits with shower gel / flannel etc. If you smell when you come out of the shower there’s a problem - and usually they aren’t washing properly. I have to wash most of his clothes twice too. Hate to think how bad his Uni room smells, he stays at his gf’s room and uses his for storage I think.

DD 16 has never ever smelt, never once have I smelt BO on her. Probably as she sweats less but also washes properly and is more body conscious with sprays / lotions and potions etc

I have two teen DS , the one that did a big growth spurt absolutely stank . I kept hassling him to wash and he did . What works for him is a pure soap ( def not a shower gel ) and a decent unfragranced deodorant ( he has a man’s Sanex one ). Also make sure he’s not over dressing or sleeping in a too hot duvet . DS is growing at a much slower rate now and is a lot less pungent so it may pass !

DS that is growing gradually rather than spurting doesn’t have the same issue

Definitely noticing the correlation between the growth spurt and the stinkiness. Dd would occasionally smell during younger growth spurts but a good washing routine and deodorant sorted her immediately.

I ended up buying him Mitchum roll on as recommended (he was having rock face so I can attest that that is crap)

And on recommendation to buy soap, I have now bought him Shield (4bar pack from Asda). He said he really felt clean with it but noticed it seemed to strip all the oils from his skin but that Mitchum gave him something back afterwards

I can report that the combination of both is working already!! He just went to the gym and I stuck my nose right in his armpit afterwards and he doesn't smelll stale at all.

So success!! Thank you Mumsnet mind.

Benzoyl Peroxide works really well, but will bleach everything! White towels and undershirts going forward.

Also, don't underestimate how stinky a teenager can get shortly after a shower. The sweat starts pretty quickly. A high quality antiperspirant at night topped up with a deodorant in the morning will work wonders.

Definitely bar soap and a flannel, hard scrub.

My 12 year old boy has needed deodorant since 11 - please get him some

Antibacterial soap like dettol (savers or Amazon), dry thoroughly then rub in some hand sanitiser as it kills bacteria, I then add some medicated body powder (not talc) and then anti-perspirant. A capful of zoflora in the washing kills any smells too.