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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:
Thread gallery
6
MrsBadcrumble123 · 10/05/2019 17:50

Ok...am I anatomically challenged as I cannot sniff my elbows?!! Is there a special postiton for this? Please send instructional diagrams!!

Dontsayyouloveme · 10/05/2019 17:50

I reckon it smells just like when you’ve taken earrings out (that you rarely wear) and then a day or two later the holes get a bit bunged up and crusty, so you rub the crust off and smell your fingers and it’s fucking horrific 🤮🤮🤮🤮!

Am I even close?

HollowTalk · 10/05/2019 17:51

What exactly would you swab, though? There's nothing wrong with her skin.

exWifebeginsat40 · 10/05/2019 17:52

you need to get a Magic Tree thingy from the garage strapped on there. i believe they come with a handy piece of elastic which should be perfect for attaching to your arm.

GummyGoddess · 10/05/2019 17:53

@MrsBadcrumble123 Like this?

to be super puzzled why my elbow stinks
Casiloco · 10/05/2019 18:00

My DS developed a really bad smell when he was about 4.

Various GPs suggested everything from avoiding garlic in his food to a "natural aroma" - it wasn't natural or aromatic!!

The only GP to actually examine him (eventually!) discovered a piece of a ham sandwich lodged inside his nose up at the bridge. He stuffed it there as an experiment.

Removed, smell banished.

Could it be something like this? Have you been storing food items inside your arm skin?

Sorry, I know not helpful!

Lillibee4 · 10/05/2019 18:01

The skin doesn’t have to be broken. Her GP should give her a solution to bathe in

FelicisNox · 10/05/2019 18:03

Either you've carried something smelly that has rubbed off on you or you have a skin infection.... off to the GP with you!

FitMum87 · 10/05/2019 18:08

Placemarking as I am way to overly interested in smellbow

Melroses · 10/05/2019 18:11

Surgical spirit kills most things.

Sofagirl · 10/05/2019 18:11

I remember going through my childhood with red itchy sweat that came though the backs of my knees and on my inner arms at the crook of the elbow

It was all related to things I was eating and drinking (am allergic to milk) and my body was pushing it out as a toxin

Would it be related to something your ingesting?

Bad smells suggest something toxic or rotten. I know they say diseases and cancer can be ‘smelt’

Sorry don’t want to worry you!

Missingstreetlife · 10/05/2019 18:15

Tea tree is good antifungal antiseptic. If you lick back of your hand and let it air dry, that's what your breath smells like.
However, it may be small cyst under skin which is weeping imperceptibly. May resolve?

Brocks1981 · 10/05/2019 18:16

I would recommend Doctors, there may not be anything worrying but I had a similar problem in my right knee, it smelt like smelly cheese. But I ignored it until I began getting rednesd n pain n swelling, I ended up in hospital with a septic knee joint, it didnt seem to me like I had broken skin but the doctor said it can start from a pin prick. Defo qorth getting it checked, antibiotics can sort it early, but I only just caught mine before I lost my leg so i would nwvwr chance it now. Smells like thst could be a dign of infection or Gangrene.

Missingstreetlife · 10/05/2019 18:16

Unlikely place for cancer

SmellbowStrikes · 10/05/2019 18:17

Elbowlene,
Elbowlene,
Elbowlene,
Elbowlene...
I'm begging of you, please don't take my plan...

IHaveAnOutie · 10/05/2019 18:17

Great. Now we're all licking the back of our hands, as well as sniffing our smellbows!

LakieLady · 10/05/2019 18:19

I've just hurt my back trying to smell the back of my knee.

BuzzShitbagBobbly · 10/05/2019 18:21

This is exactly what Tim Berners-Lee hoped for when he invented the internet.

LakieLady · 10/05/2019 18:24

Do you think there might be a market for deodorant specially targeted at smellbows and stinknees?

DeadDoorpost · 10/05/2019 18:31

@Dontsayyouloveme I know what you mean! It's awful.

My elbows smell of skin? I can't really smell anything atm though with a half blocked nose.

flowergrrl77 · 10/05/2019 18:32

Yea.. I am late to the show... but I just wanna know the reason!!

wineandsunshine · 10/05/2019 18:36

Me too! Just LOL at the whole thread!

LittleLongDog · 10/05/2019 18:41

@MrsBadcrumble123 are you trying to sniff the inside or outside of your elbow?

OP is talking about the inside (crook?) which you should be able to smell. But the pointy outside is unlickable so probably also I smellable...

Marlboroandmalbec34 · 10/05/2019 18:50

Oh crap I just licked my hand 😂

QOD · 10/05/2019 18:53

My boobs are too big for me to get my nose close enough