To not wear antiperspirant to my job in healthcare?

[floatinglily]

I've tried all sorts, none of which work. I've tried Dove max protection and Triple Dry as well as many of the usual supermarket bought ones. I still end up smelling! I've used Lush deodorant before which doesn't stop me sweating but does get rid of the smell. I don't know what else to try.

WIBU to use the lush deodorant for work but potentially end up with sweat patches on hot / busy days?

Sorry if it’s been mention, you can get one for most supermarkets and the pharmacy, that you put on in the night before bed, and wash off in the morning. Use it for about 3 days, then you can reduce to 2-3 days a week. It’s about £10. But it really works! I suffered terribly with sweating, and this was a god send! Sorry I can’t remember the name, but if you go into any of the supermarket websites you will find it. It is only a small bottle, but don’t be alarmed as it does last a long time. Good luck.

Is it not your clothes that are holding a smell?

I dip armpits of uniforms in a cheap bottle of vodka before I wash them.

Here is the one I was referring too- it’s come down in price too!

If you can get it (it's out of fashion so not many shops stock it) I find Mum unscented works for me.

I use men's deodorant. Sure24hr or something like that

Not sure if it's been mentioned and I've missed it. Buy some Halo washing liquid too. It deals with the bacteria in clothing, originally designed for sportswear but works well on other clothing.

I use cheapy soap from Aldi, men's deodorant and all washing done on 40/60degs. Since doing all of the above I no longer smell at all

As someone above mentioned, I see sweat patches and I just think 🤷🏼‍♀️
I agree it's the smell that I would be bothered by, not sweat patches.

I think the important thing is not to smell. Sweat patches are not a great issue and to be expected in very hot weather. Dove did not stop me smelling. I thought it was rubbish.

Prefer pears to imperial leather.

Someone asked how do you know which is which. Bars like dove have beauty in the name. Proper soap is usually just called whatever soap bar iirc.

Google disposable underarm pads. They stick to your clothes and stop the wet patches. They'll protect. Or you can remove them half way through your shift to instantly freshen up.

If it’s a regular problem rather than just due to current high temperatures, consider seeing your GP. There are treatments over and above antiperspirant that can help with excessive sweating - Botox, for example, is actually licensed to treat sweating not face lines.

I had tried everything mentioned here and nothing worked. Even in winter I would have huge wet rings under my arms. It started when I went through puberty. I was teased at school as I would have wet patches on my shirts that went down to my waistband and across my chest and back.
I never went anywhere without a jacket or cardigan, I would pretend I was chilly and cover up.
When I was in my late 40s I finally found Perspi-Guard ( I used to buy it mail order now available on Amazon of course) and that’s all I have used since. Now I only need to use it once or twice a month. It has changed my life.

I was also going to suggest a scoop of soda crystals in with your wash but I see they've already been mentioned. They're dead cheap, but soften the water, make your detergent more efficient and are good for the inner workings of your machine too. Since I've started to use them regularly I'm convinced my clothes feel softer and ultra fresh. Ditto the use of anti bacterial sanitiser - most supermarkets have their own brand of this which is cheaper than the Dettol one.

I sweat really bad (can't get the deodorant marks/sweat marks out of clothes) I used Mitchum gel which works better than any other I've used. Also anti perspirant isn't supposed to stop you sweating completely, your body needs to sweat a little, it's supposed to reduce your sweating and stop the smell.

@floatinglily I suffer the same. I now put vinegar on the armpits of my clothes before washing them as it kills the bacteria and even after washing sometimes my clothes were not 100% clean but vinegar really does help and doesn’t discolour anything, wash bras as well as they can contain sweat. I also shower twice a day with antibacterial soap but that doesn’t stop the problem.

I have found that https://www.amazon.co.uk/SweatBlock-Antiperspirant-Hyperhidrosis-Prescription-Excessive/dp/B002PQ8BQM/ref=ascdff_B002PQ8BQM/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=310172312551&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1570740974774922724&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006474&hvtargid=pla-406644962815&psc=1
Work miracles to stop sweating but I have to use them more than once a week at first then nothing then go back when problem arises again.

If I’m having a bad smelly day I carry antibacterial wipes and just go to loo and use them too. Spray is a last resort for covering up quickly. If I have to use a deodorant I use the men’s silver Nivea one, it doesn’t stop me sweating but something stops me smelling for sure!

Use these gloves to wash armpits and surrounding areas, including undersides of arms. You can just scrape a bit of soap on and they lather up. I used to find that there was a lingering smell even after I had showered but these really help!

This works for me!
Wash clothes at 40 with Dettol laundry cleanser and bio washing detergent
Wash armpits with Dettol bar soap twice a day
Use Mitchum deodorant at night and again in morning

I used to start smelling halfway through the day but this routine keeps me smelling fresh even on the hottest days.

Dove soap has a moisturizer in it. I use imperial leather or a plain cheapie.

Soaps like *Imperial Leather, Wrights coal tar and Pears - buy soap and keep it for several months to harden as it lasts longer. Definitely white vinegar, definitely a hot wash, I used Mitchum as Sure reacted with sweat and actually damaged clothes. Cotton underwear is good as well.

*When it was very hot recently I used a bar of Imperial Leather and couldn't find it. A couple of days later as I went to mow the grass I found it in the grass, and it had teeth marks, my ndn's dog must have taken it from the side of the bath!

Before washing, soak your uniform in a quality grade vinegar. You could just spray neat vinegar on the arm areas. White vinegar does not smell as strongly as the stuff you use on chips. I use this stuff in my kitty litter trays and it is the only thing that kills the smell. Then hot wash, as others have suggested. I am allergic to most deodorant products, and find them ineffective. I use arm pit pads as they do a good job, and you can carry a few in a bag to change them discretely if you feel the need.

The clinical evidence suggests no conclusive cause/ effect link between deodorant use and breast cancer. However, for people with weak autoimmunity then there is some evidence to suggest health impacts. Aluminum used as a sweat inhibitor in these products should be avoided by people with poor kidney function, for example. Personally, deodorants with lanolin make me tear my skin off scratching the reaction.

My sweat used to stink to high heaven, and I presumed it was a mid-life hormonal change. However, since adopting a healthier vegetarian diet and reducing alcohol intake, its doesn't smell of roses...but it is more acceptable. Avoiding man made fabric also helps, although I appreciate your uniform is probably just that.

I agree with others it can also be your clothing, Dh's work shirts were sweaty smelling so when we got him new ones I started using Dettol laundry in the shirts wash. Made a massive difference.

So bar soap (not dove which is a beauty bar) we like Palmolive
Dettol laundry in wash - can be as low as 30 degrees
Mitchum deodorant

I quit shower gel about 2 years ago due to smelly pits later on in the day. Bar soap is fantastic.

Proper soap will not contain sodium laureth sulphate. Look at the ingredients. NB Pears is no longer soap, it’s a detergent bar - contains SLS.

I'm another in favour of the solid crystal deodorant. I was really skeptical, but DH bought some, so gave it a go and it really is brilliant. And I work outside in the fields! Lasts forever too!

A friend of mine reckons that you can get rid of the smelly bacteria with facial acid toner. So, if you have some, wipe it under your armpits between showering and adding deodorant or antiperspirant.
Only as a one-off, or very occasional thing, though.

And the dove don't work
It just makes it worse
And I know I'll smell that sweat again....