I stink

[soapysoapsoap1]

I’ve been really struggling with this and I don’t know what to do.

I used to shower once a day (a proper shower, not a quick wash) but I found that by the end of the day I smelled really badly, as if I haven’t showered. I’ve tried everything type of deodorant and antiperspirant, and I’ve tried every shower gel and scrub and wash and soap. I’ve also tried using no products at all. NOTHING makes a difference.

I usually shower twice a day because if I don’t, I smell so badly it’s noticeable and obviously I can’t have that. I’m not particularly sweaty (I do sweat but not an abnormally amount) I just smell. It’s a BO/musty smell and really horrible. if I shower before work I can actively smell myself later on.

ive even tried Mitchem, no difference

Am I just a total freak? This has been going on for a while and I’m too embarrassed to get a boyfriend because I can’t stay at someone’s house or hang out for too long without having a shower.

any help or advice would be really appreciated, thank you in advance x

see the doctor.
But while you are waiting try using hand sanitiser as a deodorant. it’s amazing; kills all the bacteria so there is no smell. and you can reapply during the day. see if that makes a difference.

Antibacterial soap op ! Tricky to find but dettol do one. Give it a week and I promise it will help.

I agree about clothes keeping the smell and releasing the trapped BO smell as the day goes on. Try wearing natural fibres and see if this helps.

@Principalit what a stupid comment.

Morning breath before cleaning teeth usually smells quite bad, so you're not alone there.

I feel like this too, I put hand sanitiser under arms before I shower and wash as normal.
I also use sure max protection cream deodrant. Might be worth a try.

I’ve actually had hormonal changes but my GP isnt concerned about it, my periods have almost (with the exception of maybe once or twice occasionally) stopped. The doctor said it could be from being skinny or playing sport but they weren’t too concerned and said it’s not problematic. I’m definitely not underweight or unhealthy and I eat more than the rest of my family but I’ve never really carried weight.

not sure if that’s a red herring, I wasn’t concerned about it (if anything I was over the moon, who wants periods after all!) but since a few posters mentioned hormonal causes I thought I would mention it.

I don’t notice the smell problem changes at all when my period is due/absent- I get crippling migraines at this time but the smell problem is the same as usual and no worse so like I said, maybe a red herring

I had similar but less extreme, in my case it was dairy/ lactose intolerance. I’d try cutting out dairy for a couple of weeks.

See your GP. I have known 2 people (both women but I don't know if that is significant) who had a really strong, unpleasant BO. Not sweaty, kind of metallic, but really overpowering.

They were both clean and well dressed. Unfortunately I don't know the outcome (one went to GP)

OP imo it's not normal for periods to just stop with BMI of 20. Would be good to get this looked into.

I smell pretty funky when I use a traditional deodorant - it’s as if they turn sour on me. I’ve changed to a salt deodorant, you can buy them on Amazon or in Holland and Barrett, and it’s a game changer. I’m no hippy-dippy, but this stuff is just the best. After 24hours I smell of “body” now, and not BO. My clothes can now go two days if I wish them to. And the salt deo lasts forever so you save money. Have noticed DD starting the hormonal change and BO appearing on her PE Days. Swapped her to a salt deo and she’s much less odorous god love her.

Highly recommend.

This sounds really hard OP, it must be really upsetting.

Does it smell of anything in particular. As others have said, there are certain medical conditions that can cause strong odours. E.g. www.nhs.uk/conditions/trimethylaminuria/

Good luck x

thank you so much for the suggestions.

I don’t want to seem like one of those posters who just bats everything suggested back, but I’ve actually already tried hand sanitizer/alcohol gel. I even tried fairy liquid. it made me smell like some lovely lemony plates at first (I actually liked the smell) and by lunchtime I could smell the mustiness and BO again.

it’s not horrendous but it’s definitely enough for others to smell it. It’s sort of like a vibe or aura, it just hangs onto me.

Wait - you are a healthy woman in her twenties and your periods have stopped?

And your GP isn't worried? That's bananas. Go back and push for a referral. You need to get properly checked.

Have you tried the Driclor roll ons?

The downside is that they can be really harsh on skin , I get a rash if i get too much on any areas that aren't the actual arm pit. The downside is that I can make it home from home without reeking, even in the heat wave.

Have you had it confirmed by others that you smell?
it’s just that I have a friend who is obsessed with the idea she smells and yet none of us can smell her.

though the fact that others have commented about your breath makes me think it’s hormonal.
Please see your gp. Smelling strange can be a symptom of quite a few things so best to get checked out for your health as much as because the smell isn’t pleasant.

Hadn't noticed that your periods have stopped, sorry. That is very concerning. As pp's have said, please push for further investigations/ referral for that too x

Ahh bless you!

Definitely hormonal and need GP. It isn't normal for your periods to stop with your bmi and age, and the migraines could also be related. Could be alsorts, get checked out.

Mitcham is shit. I always need Sure maximum, straight out the shower or else things get dodgy!

Good luck!

they've stopped but occasionally come back for a day or so, to remind me I’m not pregnant for 24 hours (not that there’s any risk of that, lol), then it’s back to no period. I had 2 days of bleeding recently and I’d be very very surprised if I had more than another 2 days of bleeding before Christmas 2023. They were always irregular but apart from a day or so they’ve practically stopped now. I don’t notice the smell is better or worse at all round about the time of my periods so I just assumed it was a red herring.

yeah the GP wasn’t concerned. They said it can happen in your 20s and if you’re skinny or sporty it can stop it.

You need to see the gp - if you're not being taken seriously by your current one, you need to see someone else- and be pushy.

Are you sure you do…I don’t mean to sound patronising, is it because you’re anxious about smelling? This happened to a friend of mine that was really paranoid about smelling bad and actually never did…
has anyone ever commented??

I would 100% be getting a second opinion regarding your periods.

Who has commented that you have body odour and your breath smells? Have they really (that would be unusual even if you do smell?)

Its definitely not normal for you to not have periods. Could you go to a different gp about that?

Buy this deodorant www.boots.com/sure-women-maximum-protection-confidence-anti-perspirant-deodorant-cream-45ml-10137030?

Apply thickly in the morning after your shower. It's the best I've tried - completely stops all odour

Many women complain of increased body odour around perimenopause, and with the info on your irregular/absent periods I'd want to make sure your GP does a hormone check. Premature menopause is one of several reasons for irregular periods though, but please bear it in mind. I had perimenopause symptoms from 37 and it took many years to figure it out. Wish I'd have known sooner to have protective hrt during those years.