To ask advice on sweating problem?

[Helppppp123]

Bit embarrassing so NC for this.

In a morning before work I have a thorough wash using dove soap, I then apply dove deodorant spray (I found dove one has the strongest and longest lasting scent) I drive to work with the windows down on my car but after about an hour at work I can smell my armpits I am so paranoid that people can smell me, I’m paranoid walking past people incase they can smell BO and i take perfume to the toilet to try and mask the smell. It’s not an overpowering smell but enough if I tilt my head down I can smell it.

Any advice or products to recommend? Bit skint so can’t afford massively expensive things, but sat wondering if the dove soap is maybe not helping as it has moisturiser in it could it be blocking my arm pits from ‘breathing’ so to speak?

I use driclor once a month and Mitchum for daily use. Mitchum is supposed to last 48 hours but never been brave enough to chance it.

Another vote for driclor. Magical stuff. Just be careful your pits are dry and not freshly shaved beforehand. I haven't had to use it in months now. Never get sweat patches now either.

Also agree that you need to use a normal bar of soap. Dove will leave a layer on your skin that anti p can't penetrate properly.

Maybe use something anti bacterial or else some white vinegar to wash your tops in case the smell is lingering on them.

I use driclor. I used to use Mitchum but that isn’t strong enough for me. I echo all the comments about don’t use it on freshly shaved skin. I find it can get painfully tingly when applied but the solution is to put a dry tissue in each armpit to mop up the excess liquid. Since I discovered that I’ve had no problems

I used to use the Sure cream one you’re meant to put on at night and it was okay for a bit but then I just sweated through it loads nowI find the Mitchum sticks rather than spray or roll on much more effective but I think you just have to try and find out what works. Have always found Dove deodorant rubbish though.

I get this but I barely sweat from my armpits (luckily for me it all comes out my head so I look like I've stepped out the shower on days like this!) but I find it is massively worse when I'm wearing certain clothes. Synthetic fabrics are the worst for it, and if I buy new clothes they need to be washed first otherwise the smell gets trapped in there. Swapping to a proper soap and using roll on as helped loads.

There's a Sure roll on in a blue tube that keeps me dry for 2 days even in reasonably warm weather. Try switching around brands and products because I find my skin gets used to certain products after a while, and something antiperspirant rather than deodorant.

driclor, perspirex or odaban....all contain aluminium which apparently makes the difference....blocks your sweat glands. It works. As others have said, apply last thing at night and try to get to sleep before the stinging kicks in. Of the three, I prefer odaban because it is a spray so can apply in lighter doses and therefore stings less. 2 or 3 sprays per armpit lasts me a fortnight....but have to do it nightly for the first week or so

I was finding this with Dove deodorant too, I switched to Sanex and now Sure, and they are both miles better, I don’t notice the BO smell at all. Dove just seems quite ineffective, I still use a bit of their grapefruit and lemongrass spray one though, I really like the smell.

There was a thread like this ages ago. Changed my washing routine completely.

Don’t use Dove it leaves a layer of gunk behind, it’s a cream bar rather than a soap. When I used Mitchum with Dove it felt like I was putting gunk on the roller rather than it sticking to my pits

I now use Simple soap and Mitchum and have noticed a massive difference

I had problems for years and years - one good thing about the menopause though it isn't a problem any more -

Great tips thanks all, gonna ditch the dove (I had a feeling the 1/4 moisturising cream won’t have been helping) get a proper soap, try an anti perspirant and will grab some of that driclour from boots.

Looked driclor up on Amazon and found a variety of products. Turns out one is one I bought a few months back but I lost the instructions. So I've washed my pits and applied it to there and under my boobs (which I also washed). It says it's to be applied like this, and at night, will last three to six days. But it doesn't say if you use anything else on top after your morning shower. However, I'll see how it goes.

I don't often shave my armpits because I find they create a nasty smelling sweat very quickly. Perhaps the British could drop the shaving of so much bodyhair on women, normalise it, because I find it more hygienic. And reckon others would. I try to tell myself it's my body and no one else gets a say but it would be great if others did this because I still feel very self conscious. However, the feeling of being cleaner in my pits trumps my embarrassment

Driclor is THE answer to excessive sweating. Full stop.

You can buy it at Boots, it’s in a section with the strong anti-perspirants.
It’s £6.80 for a small bottle, which should last about 6 weeks. Read the instructions carefully and use as directed.

The smell will be stuck into your clothes as well even if you think they’re clean after a wash, once they warm up on your body it comes back out. Natural fibres and add some bicarbonate of soda to your wash, a couple of washes with it should help this some man made fibres might be beyond rescuing. White vinegar instead of a fabric conditioner also helps once in a while.

@icanhearapindrop just be careful if driclor is making you itch, it could be an allergy that gets worse on repeated exposure, switch to something gentler. I know from bitter experience after trying to get my excessive sweaty armpits under control. I’m now allergic to any aluminium antiperspirant but still sweaty!

Another vote for Driclor. Stings like a bastard when you first use it but it works quickly!

Perspi guard is another good one

I was prescribed Driclor by the doctor about ten years ago - it solved the problem, and weirdly it just never came back.

As an aside, the doctor told me that the stinging is due to it reacting with any tiny hint of moisture on the skin, and recommended that I shower, dry myself, then lightly dust on bicarbonate of soda before applying it, which absorbs any wetness. You only need a TINY bit, otherwise it sticks in the roll-y bit and clogs it.

TK Maxx sell lovely soaps that I buy often as I tend to sweat and smell far less when I wash with proper bar soap. The best one I've found is Bliss blue soap; it smells amazing and I can still smell fresh at bedtime.

I also use Dettol fabric antibac liquid each time I wash clothes so there's never any residual bacteria left to create smells the next time they're worn.

Perspi-Guard is good for stopping the sweat; I use it a few times a week before bed and it always helps reduce it.

I agree with someone that said perspire ex brilliant stuff, you don’t sweat at all

Don’t personally like Mitchum. However my one tip while you’re trying out new brands... use both roll on and spray... put on the toll on (or better yet stick), let it dry, then use antiperspirant spray.

Dove maximum protection cream is the best thing I have tried.

Could it also be what you are eating? Do you eat a lot of smelly foods like onions, spices etc? These can come through the sweat making it more pungent, some people more than others depending on how they metabolise particular foods. Is there actually a huge amount of sweat or is it just very pungent?

Stupid question alert- is it good for your body to use deodorants/anti persperants that block your sweat glands completely?

Use proper soap.
Use Mitchum.
Wear cotton clothes.
Change all clothes every day.

Sweat itself is odourless but, as it dries, the bacteria in it create the smell. I carry those small bottles of antibacterial hand gel with me and apply it to my underarms if they get smelly. It works brilliantly.
I’ve only really experienced this since entering perimenopause and it’s a seemingly random problem, not something I deal with daily, but it can strike at any time and the antibac gel is a cheap, easy, effective solution when out and about.