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

My Pitt’s smell when u use deodorant. They stick to your underarm and never washes off trapping bacteria underneath it
ditch the deodorants ; use natural ones
shower using a puff or clean flannel and use a clean towel
get hormones checked too

I stopped using antiperspirant because I had read that it can make you smell, it took about 3 weeks to detox and I now use natural deodorants, it's made a huge difference to my smell

You need blood tests. Thyroid conditions can cause body odour. Sounds like there is something underlying going on. A friend of mine has to have Botox in her armpits to stop her smelling. That's an option?

@greenacrylicpaint this is what I was thinking! I can't understand how you can smell after a shower unless you're putting on dirty clothes!

Urine shouldn't be yellowy green in colour, periods shouldn't stop in your 20s with a health BMI and breath shouldn't smell with good dental hygiene. Have you been to the dentist recently to rule out any issues?

Also if your periods are irregular get your prolactin levels checked
mine did same and discovered I had a prolactinoma

I have a mild chronic fatigue diagnosis and can get smelly. PitRok is a crystal deodorant and it neutralises the bacteria. It doesn't have a scent. As long as you wash well it works brilliantly. Lasts ages. I can smell in the groin area as well, not my bits, but actually the groin and other than changing my clothes I don't have a solution to that.

Definitely see another GP though. Good luck 🤞

Peri menopausal? Someone I know had a similar problem and the Dr said it was due to this. She heard that washing underarms with a bicarbonate of soda paste ( leaving it on for 10 mins pre shower) 3 x p/w, using soap and changing deodorant helpful. And drinking more water.

I don’t understand it either! I shower at 8, put on fresh, clean clothes and underwear (sometimes brand new) and by lunchtime the BO has started and by the time I’m leaving work to go home I smell badly.

it’s the same overnight, I could NEVER get away with wearing pjs more than once. They absolutely stink by the morning, and my room smells after me being in it overnight. It’s completely clean, tidy and smells like candy floss (candles and sprays!) and by the morning it stinks. Even with the door and window open. I’ll let it air out during the day and it’s fine when I’m not in it, then when I go to sleep it’s the same the next morning. It’s me that’s the problem 😢

Following on from the above; More googling took me to this extremely long but fascinating paper on the condition. It is exceedingly jargon heavy but if you can bear to wade through and get to the conclusion, I noticed this sentence: "Vitamin B2 treatment drastically reduced the malodor and normalized the TMA/TMAO ratio in urine."

So, if this is the disorder you have, it appears there are treatments, but it does appear to be very very rare so you may have to get quite pushy about procuring the right appointments and treatments.

If you can get a private GP appointment that might be a start, they are £100 ish but you get plenty of time and actually get to talk at length rather than being ushered out in five minutes.

Really good luck x

Yeah I go to the dentist every 6 months and had X-rays done last time and they were really happy with my teeth and gums and tongue x

Gp, gp, gp, gp

Please op. None of what you've written is normal and you absolutely shouldn't accept your periods stopping- it's a sign something is wrong.

Hi op. I'm probably wide of the mark but I had 2 distinct stages of smelling bad all the time - one was anorexia and the other was severe anxiety.

I’ve read each and every comment and I’m extremely grateful for all the help, I really didn’t expect so much help. Thank you everyone.

I had never heard of armpit Botox (I can’t find the comment now but someone commented about it) but it sounds like it would help, after all no sweat = no BO, so I’ll definitely look into that because I’ve never tried that before!

Do you just shower or do you regularly bathe?
I seem to turn over surface skin more slowly than the average person so if I only shower daily shower for a week I start to notice that I don't smell or feel as fresh.

Since I've made a point of having a really good weekly soak with bubble bath (and a capful of dettol) followed by a good scrub with a scratchy towel, my skin has been much softer and I feel much fresher all week as my skin breathes.
It might be worth a try for you. Coincidentally this seemed to start for me when I stopped swimming regularly: it was as if my skin couldn't cope without a regular soak!

I’ll try and go to a private GP because I don’t think my regular one will be worried about it, the doctor I saw said it wasn’t unusual in your 20s and it’s only a problem if you’re trying to get pregnant. In fairness they did check my blood (I don’t know what for, my thyroid I think?) and they were happy with it so they said the only thing it could really be is luck that they’ve stopped, and maybe my weight and sports is affecting it x

Sounds like there may be something else going on so do agree with pp about going back to the drs. BUT for persistent BO I can really recommend a product called 'Odaban'. You put it on at night and it works within a week. I was always finding I was getting smelly within 10 mins of showering and using deodorant, certain clothes I just couldn't wear because they weren't breathable enough and I'd spend the day stinking - used this stuff and was able to wear those clothes with confidence - amazing. I actually haven't used it in years but I think it has even had a lasting effect!

^ don’t discount stress

my Mum is really unwell and I’ve been absolutely stinking for months. - we All think it’s adrenaline/stress or the increase in alcohol

I was also going to suggest seeing your GP, but having read your updates (that he isn't concerned that your periods have stopped), I think you need to see a different GP - register with a new practice if you have to. Also go to see the GP late in the day, or when you are smelling your worst, so at least they will smell what you smell and understand what you are talking about.

Do you think you might be really sensitive to smells and you don’t actually smell that bad? You have have someone you think will give you an honest answer if you asked them if you smell?

Also, has anyone else commented on the smell, e.g family, friends etc?

I remember this happening to me when I was 17. Just stopped out of nowhere so don't know what caused it, it doesn't sound like you have bad hygiene so would speak to your gp, I bet it's hormonal, crazy what hormones can do, I had the coil fitted last year and instantly had really oily greasy skin. Hope you get it figured out

Do you use shower gel? I can't use shower gels I get sweaty more quickly. I use pears soap and that's it.

I can hardly believe a gp dismissed your AWOL menstrual cycle and declared it was down to “luck” wtf?

List all the symptoms you mention on here and ask to see a different doctor at your practice before wasting all your money on soaps, deodorants, Botox and the like.

Youve been totally fobbed off

OP if the GP isn't helping, I would even try going down the naturopath route. Sometimes it's gut health etc like someone mentioned above lactose intolerance.