Perimenopausal Armpits

[decenteringmen]

Jesus fucking Christ.

In the last six months, ONE of my armpits has started to produce the most sour and pungent sweat, despite my best efforts. I usually leave my pit hair alone, and it grows to epic, EPIC proportions. I could braid the bloody stuff if I felt like it (I don't, I really can't be arsed). One armpit is absolutely FINE, but the left one is being pretty bloody obnoxious. I've now shaved them both. I've been using hibiscrub daily when showering to clear away any hideousness. I used to use Mitchum, but even that stopped working on my one awkward armpit. Since then I've tried Pitrok, Fussy, and several men's roll ons in the hopes that it might work, but nooOOooo. I change my bra and T-shirt twice a day. I am extremely clean and the idea of skipping a shower is revolting to me, sometimes I'm showering twice a day.

The heatwaves have been torture. Upon speaking to my doctor, she told me that this can happen when you're reaching the end of perimenopause (HURRY UP FFS), and I just have to deal with it. I'm on HRT patches at the highest strength (evorel) and have a Mirena installed because my periods are like Vesuvius without one.

I probably can't do much about it outside of bitching about it. I don't wear synthetic materials, only cotton because I know polyester etc can make things worse.

What in the ever loving fuck do I do now? I've considered weaponising my one armpit to demolish men, because frankly I'm fairly sure I could poison them with it. It is a biohazard at this point.

Please tell me I am not the only one with difficult armpits, and would it be entirely unreasonable to use my newfound but extremely unwanted superpower to knock them unconscious when they're being particularly annoying?

-Noxious armpit of Yorkshire.

Omg, poor you! I haven't suffered with this (yet?) but I do get literal niagra falls from both armpits every morning. I've always been a sweaty person, but thankfully no issues with sour smells so far.

The problem is that since it's only one armpit, that pretty much shows that this is not a cleanliness issue, or a diet issue, since surely both would be affected? I'm absolutely stumped! Did the doctor do a physical examination of the affected armpit? Could it be a cyst or blocked pores that are causing the issue?

Other than that I can only recommend Vichy 7 day antiperspirant cream, which I use when I'm at my worst.

Botox possibly an option?

I had similar and Vichy 72hr stress resist seemed to sort it out - the stench and the excessive sweating stopped. Was surprised! Maybe worth a try, cheaper than botox

I have had this on and off for years. I'm probably peri now but have had it since my 30s. I don't have a solution!

The only thing that helps me is using pitrock or another salt based deodorant (not the natural block ones with scent like Wild or Fussy). Using soap in the shower rather than shower gel. If a top ends up smelling badly I was it in Halo (antibacterial washing liquid) and it usually goes. If not, the top is binned as once it smells it's a bit of a vicious circle.

Which pit is it!? Mine is my right and I wondered if I was applying the deodorant poorly with my left hand! Can't be though. Urgh.

Are you on hrt op?

Ok so what causes the smell is bacteria.

Honest to god - before you go to bed, put a capful of old school brown dettol in a basin of warm water. Sluice pits thoroughly with it then let them air dry. Use a strong antiperspirant in the morning.

I had a phase of weirdly awful BO when pregnant and this was the only thing that worked. It would last 3- 5 days then I'd do it again.

If it is like rotting onions... been there... mine went away about 14 months after my last period, so not too far past menopause. Could not totally get rid of the smell, and I have some tops which were ruined, but thank god it went.

She’s literally said she is in her post.

I had this. Its stopped thank the lord.
I used real soap. Mitcham. Antibacterial hand gel a couple of times in the day. It will stop promise!

I agree about the clothes washing! It's essential that any garment that get sweaty be either sprayed with an antibacterial before washing, or get washed in an antibac detergent.

I once helped a co-worker get himself out of the bad smelling clothes cycle. Your shirts might smell ok before you put them on, but the heat of your body can reactivate the bacteria and smell, until you give them a good soak in disinfectant.

Antibac hand gel is a good, practical solution 👍

What a thing to ask someone menopausal, who probably has the rage almost constantly, when she has stated this clearly already in her OP

You're going to set her armpit off with a question like that.

Oops, I'd better up mine, then 😅

Omg I have exactly this! I didn't think to associate it with peri. But it's only happened over the last couple years.

I feel both my pits smell worse than they used to, but one is awful! Gets stinky much quicker and needs more scrubbing and deodorant?! I did break my shoulder 3 years ago which means I don't have as much movement in that arm.

Mine smells a bit like rotting onions?! Gross.

So hoping someone here has a clue what's going on! 🤣

We use Trust deoderant, it was recommended on here and is really good.

This makes me laugh only for the reason as a foreigner it is a very common subject of conversation about how crap UK deodorants are and we all stock up when we go home.

I use Secret solid baby powder scent and it works really well. You can get it online and from Amazon.

My left armpit also went rogue for a while. What worked for me was actually acnecide facial wash (on my armpit obviously, not my face!!)

This happens to me a few days before my period. After showering I rub in hand sanitiser then anti perspirant. It seems to help!

Botox! It’s an absolute godsend

I've just been doing some googling and exfoliating agents like salicylic acid can help to slough off dead skin cells that help to harbour the oils and bacteria that cause the smell. This is an active ingredient in acne washes (alongside antibacterials). So it definitely sounds like this would work.

I had this exact problem in both armpits and mumsnet saved me having to quit my job and live on a remote mountain! The advice I received was to only use roll-on deodorant (never spray) and to only wash with anti bacterial soap like dettol (never showergel!)

Both together cured the BO but it did take a couple of weeks to fully work.

I’ve had issues with this on and off- since way before peri.

Have you tried Driclor? That is the only stuff that worked for me. It is HARDCORE though- if your armpits are even slightly damp when you apply it, it stings/burns like a mofo. Brilliant stuff though- it made a huge difference for me. I haven’t needed it for years now and I just use the Dove solid deodorants which work very well for me most of the time.

Do other people say it smells?

Apparently our sense of smell gets more sensitive too during peri

So it might not be as awful as you think it is

My pits went nuts in peri. Out went the Wild natural deodorant and in came the nuclear option Mitchum. Problem solved.

🤣 she can take it up with me if she likes, but I'll literally have forgotten what the beef is like 5 seconds later..