Tell me about your armpit cleansing routine...

[MoreSmellyPits]

please .

I shower once a day, I use antiperspirant, I wear virtually exclusively cotton.

My BO is terrible, even coming out of the shower and drying myself I can smell it.
I know it is bacteria that make sweat actually smeall, so is there anything else I can do? Is my skin itself smelly??

Any advice greatly appreciated.

[wiltingfast]

I think it is extremely odd to feel you smell after a shower. You should really mention it to your doctor.

I shower once a week and never use deodorant (they make me itchy). I do wash in between btw just not a full on shower.

Fwiw my husband smells just after a shower. No idea why. It doesn't last but he's not right for 10 or 20m. He has psorsias and so I suspect he is light on soap use but as it doesn't last I haven't really pursued it. Makes the towels stinky though too.

[goodasitgets]

I found the dettol soap in Asda - some in with normal soaps and one in the baby aisle
I started using it because I was sweating more, but only use it under my arms. Am not an antibacterial fan, but it's working. Shower gel alone wasn't and I also have a habit of cysts under my arm which it's helping

[Apileofballyhoo]

I wouldn't leave any underarm hair there at all OP. I went through a sweaty phase (anxiety) recently enough and I found it hard to get rid of BO and could still smell it even after a shower (pre getting dressed so not from my clothes). I found exfoliating gloves for washing under my arms helped (used an emollient so as not to murder my skin), shaving every day or every other day, and really washing the inside of my upper arm and my side helped. It was because I was sweating excessively, I suppose the smelly bacteria weren't just concentrated underarm. I noticed also when I shaved it was better.

[Rules]

MissBoPeep it is possible to smell after having a shower under your armpits if you don't wash thoroughly enough. Deodorants can remain on your pits if you don't wash thoroughly as can BO.

[itwillgetbettersoon]

I think you are not washing properly. I find if I just use soap I still smell. I actually scrub using a face cloth or one of those net things. If I don't scrub with a cloth and just use my hands to wash then I find I still smell. Never use to but I think as deodorants have got stronger they are harder to wash off so trap the smell.

[alemci]

i'm off to gp.I washed and then applied anti perspirant. wet patches on top but do not smell. had job interview and kept jacket on while in hot room, awful and embarrass i

[NotAsTired]

Using a body scrub in the shower really helps - coconut body scrub by body shop is a good one.

[bettybleep]

www.nhs.uk/conditions/Hyperhidrosis/Pages/Introduction.aspx

Some of the comments at the bottom of the page may be of interest

[Notcontent]

As others have said, I find that antiperspirant creates a residue which kind of traps the smell. So just a quick wash with a bit of soap doesn't work for me - I really have to scrub that area.

[SundaySimmons]

I rarely sweat, especially under my arms but I bought a sure anti/perspirant/deodorant last year without realising that many of them are now 48 hours and are not 24 hours protection.

I have been through a very upsetting relationship break down and split during this time and have developed painful spots and lumps under my armpits. I put it down to the stress I have suffered over my ex and I splitting by.

However, I have now experimented and find that it is the 48 hour sprays that are causing the problem.

I have switched to Sanex Dermo Pro Hydrate Depilated Skin 24h Anti Perspirant Deodorant me do not have a rash after use and the lumps and spots are decreasing.

I bought my daughter a sure 48 hour one in a black coloured bottle and tested the spray on one of my armpits. During the night I woke up because I plus feel it burning, the next day I had a burn like graze and hard lumps/blind spots under the skin that I had to burst to get some relief.

I am not generally allergic to products but am quite concerned about these long lasting deodorants/anti perspirants and what they contain.

I am sticking to the 24 hour one which is a bit daft really as I wouldn't go that long without having a shower or a bath!

I am interested in the rock ones and I think I did see once that Lush make a powder?
Anyone use that?

[SundaySimmons]

Lush here

www.lush.co.uk/product/5823/The-Greeench---75g

www.lush.co.uk/product/396/T%27eo---90g


www.lush.co.uk/product/5800/The-Guv%27ner---80gg

Men's

www.lush.co.uk/product/5800/The-Guv%27ner---80g

Because Lush is so cheap these may be worth buying before spending money on more expensive items.

[closetcat]

Australian Body Care do a teatree oil skin wash which is brilliant - if a tad tingly in places!! QVC have a 2 x 1litre offer at £30 plus p&p normally 1 litre is about £25

[alemci]

yes I found Sanex the peach coloured one very good in the past. I used to get itchy under my arm pits as well

I am going to have a shower now and try the sanex roll on.

the other one which didn't seem to work well was the mitchum stick one in powder fresh which was meant to be 48 hr.

It may be that I was doing a job interview yesterday and just thinking about what I had to do i.e. supervise 25 year 11's i didn't know and was given the wrong work to prepare.

today much calmer so I will let you know if it is nerve related.

[SundaySimmons]

Now I have experienced a bad reaction, if I ever became prone to sweating I would rather apply a weaker one (washing each time) more frequently than apply something that prevents me from sweating for .48 hours or longer.

Interesting to read about different foods adding to the problem of Bo or excessive sweating.

[alemci]

the roll on dryclear or whatever really helped me, 2 nights on then a 2 day break. no more wet patches under arms.

[cerealqueen]

I use a massage sponge - you get them in boots/superdrug, they are normal one side, white /scrubby on the other and use it with dettol/coal tar or tea tree oil soap.

I sometimes go anti-perspirant free if at home and not going out just to give my skin a rest. I think you may be suffering from build up of products - they are so strong these days they are hard to wash off so they don't work anymore.

[DanglingChillis]

Go to the doctor. Dh doesn't shave his armpits and doesn't use deodorant, he showers daily and only smells when he's been on his bike when it's hot outside (and he's got very sweaty). I don't think he smells bad then, just a bit musky.

During Armpits for August I stopped shaving and haven't started again. Neither DH nor I have noticed any difference in how I smell, I've just asked him what my armpits smell of and he said 'clean clothes'.

We both just use normal soap when we have our daily shower, clothes get washed in Fairy. So you shouldn't smell if you are washing yourself and your clothes regularly.

[sweetsoulsister]

I would try adding supergreens to your diet (find it at a health food store, powder or capsules).

[alemci]

Sorry it was some medical thing with chemicals that you roll on but it has really helped. I only started using it Sunday night. I am in my 40's so I think mine may be linked to hormones and it only occurred in the last year or so.

It was really embarrassing as if I thought about it, it would happen and when I was working it is too embarassing.

It didn't smell but it was visible hence me going to GP.

[Moresmellypits]

Hello!!
OP here - I thought I'd report back.

Well, I could not find any Dettol soap but am delighted and to say that Dettol Surface Wipes work

I used a wipe twice after a shower and the smell is gone! Totally gone .

Now I am not recommending that everybody (I have dry, but not particularly sensitive skin) does this, but it worked for me.

I don't think that I have hyperhidrosis because I don't sweat particularly much and now the smell is gone, I am doing nothing else about it.
Would love to know why/how it started in first place??

[princessalbert]

I have a teenage DS, who used to smell pretty bad, even after showering and using antiperspirant.

It turned out that he wasn't washing all around the armpit area. Up onto the shoulders etc. He must have had sweaty bacteria there, and not just in a small underarm area. He is much nicer to be near now :)

I sweat and smell too -but as I tend to shower twice a day usually I keep it at bay . It must be a family thing :)

However DH (not DS' dad) never smells. He doesn't have a shower every day either. He just doesn't smell. Lucky man.

[princessalbert]

Oh, and as for soap - we like the Wright's Coal Tar soap. That seems to shift everything :)

[Loopyloulu]

OP you are using antiseptic kitchen/ loo wipes on your own skin?

Not wise.

One thing to consider- do you eat a lot of garlic, onions or spices? The smell from these does come out through pores and in sweat.

Is there any chance you have body dysmorphia? I mean, I really cannot see how your armpits smell if you wash using soap, twice a day. Are you not confusing a normal bodily clean smell with sweat?

Now I assume all you can smell is Dettol!

Finally- phew- are your clothes clean? There's no point washing and using anti perspirant if your clothes need washing.

[lilaloves]

Is the shower too hot maybe?