My bum crack smells!

[7000BT]

NC for obvious reasons!!

This is so disgusting and TMI so huge apologies in advance!

For years now my bum crack has had a horrible sort of fishy, putrid smell 😳

I had a baby a few years ago and got piles that I’ve never been able to fully get rid of but even when I had nearly got rid of them, the smell was still there. I think I must get quite sweaty as I get itchy and it’s when I’ve itched that I’ve noticed the smell 😳

I’ve just had a shower and scrubbed my anus and between my bum cheeks (only with aqueous cream as I can’t use scented stuff or I get thrush) stepped out of the shower. Ran my finger up the top of my bum crack and nope, smell still there 😳😳

This isn’t normal is it, I know I probably need to go to the GP but it’s so bloody embarrassing! I’d be mortified!

Has anyone else had this?

😂

Aqueous cream can be used as a soap substitute so why do you keep harping on about using soap?

Have you tried using Daktarin powder? It's for fungal infections (which sounds like your issue could be). We were recommended it for DD when she was a baby and had a similar issue but within the folds of her neck as she was a very chubby baby (please don't think I'm saying it's anything to do with your weight, I'm just explaining why we used it). The skin in the folds stank and no amount of washing / sudocreme etc was making the slightest difference.
Within days of using Daktarin it started to clear up and never came back.
It's about £5 for a tub and can be bought over the counter. It's worth a try whilst waiting for a GP appointment.
Really hope it clears up very soon.

Thrush doesnt tend to smell. But theres something that has a grey white vaginal discharge called gardnerella and it stinks like death. Its a bacterium. So antibiotics needed. Doc would want a swab which u could do yourself. Telephone consultation. It comes from your anus and sort of flourishes vaginally so may be this. Defo needs something to get rid tho.

@7000BT sounds weird, but also try drying with a hairdryer after a shower, makes sure all the crease of your bum is really dry. Sounds fungal to me, which means the area isn't getting properly dry, I had a fungal infection under one armpit once and canestan cream and the hairdryer sorted me right out!

Echoing previous posters you need to see a medical expert, you could have a pilonidal cyst or something (sorry unsure about spelling).

I would be very cautious about using creams and potions and lotions just bathe using basic 'Sanex' or unscented soap or maybe sea salt at the most.

Do people really not wash their bits with soap? I know not to wash inside the vagina but I still use a soapy flannel on the labia and pubic area. Is that a no no?

I wash my bum and vulva with aqueous cream. My arse crack dos not smell and I never get poo marks on my towels after washing.

No that's absolutely fine.

Yes, I wondered what it was doing there.

OP, just see the doctor if anti fungals etc don't work. Life is too short to have a tiny bit of embarrassment instead of bodily comfort.

Also make sure your knickers are 100% cotton and no polyester as polyester traps moisture which can breed bacteria leading to infections and bad odours

So I thought that acqeuous cream could be used as a soap substitute, it was recommended to me by my GP a few years ago after recurrent BV.

I have just ordered some chewable probiotics so thanks to those who suggested that. Im also going to order some medicated powder and try washing that area with soap for a few days and see if it makes a difference.

If it’s not any better in say a week, I’ll have to bother my GP with it (and want the ground to swallow me up as I’m doing so!)

I'm going to assume that everyone washes their bits at least gently or in passing whilst in the shower with some form of soap or shower gel or bath soap.

For that reason my personal assumption is the OP did not come here to ask her embarrassing question without having tried basic hygiene. Hence I doubt anyone with 9 years medical training needs to come and point out the blinding obvious and if they really are a GP suspect they're the sort that prescribes 'take a paracetamol' to everyone who just waited three weeks to see them for an urgent bothersome issue. I hope I'm wrong.

In answer to your question, personally I wash my whole body with gentle and as natural as possible soaps, including bum crack and labia folds (gently and briefly) and do not go inside my vagina with any type of cleaning products!

All good advice here OP. Just to add, I am super sensitive down and around there (pilonidol sinus when I was 19 as well) so am super paranoid about odours. I use a Superdrug branded sensitive wash (peachy coloured one) and it has always worked wonders, never get that horrid smell I would get with fragranced/fancy products, also doesn't have the Sanex price tag with it.

What an absolute load of shite that is. Millions of not billions of people wash their privates with soap. IF they experience irritation it would make sense to stop, and try an alternative. But you make out as though it's guaranteed everyone will suffer.

That's a really good tip. I have found coconut oil so useful for a variety of things.

@Daphnedu "GP's eat bums for breakfast" 🤣🤣🤣

😆 🤣 😂

Sebamed body wash is very good too. Lots of very good advice OP.

Don't be ashamed, our bodies take such a magnificent amount of strain pre and post birth.

@dementedpixie because it’s not as good as soap, and it clearly isn’t working for OP.

So do some people not was with soap? I know old school shower gels could not be used in private parts but not the kinda stuff now generally available

OP hadn’t tried soap. She’s going to now, but when she initially posted, she hadn’t tried it.

On the washing front, I have a gynae problem and have to avoid soap and normal shower gel. I use Aveeno Skin relief body wash, unscented, no colour, moisturising, but it does clean properly. Available from Amazon.

I don't believe a fishy smell would be due to a lack of soap, especially not straight after a hot shower.

@MumblesParty I love soap as much as the next person, but you know what? You aren't coming across brilliantly here