Help from anyone else whiffy of armpit...

[JessiCake]

Please tell me how you counteract this problem!!

I don't have BO or anything, but I'm tired of being so... MUSTY in the armpit region.

It's only bloody 9.45am, I showered (thoroughly!) at 7am, applied liberal deodorant. I've done nothing more energetic than school drop-off since, and now I'm sitting at my desk sniffing my armpits which are, as usual, distinctly musty and strong-smelling.

They were fresh as a daisy 2 hours ago!!

So what can I do? I use Vaseline Intensive Care deodorant - time for a change? I used to use a v powerful sort of stick one but only for evenings out or when I was wearing posh, hand-wash clothes. I don't really want to use something that strong every day, but there might be something in between that and my (obviously rubbish) Vaseline one?

And shower gel. I use a Korres one, lemony scent, sometimes a jasmine scent. As I say, I am fresh as a daisy from the shower but should I maybe be using something more heavy-duty in the shower?

It's just such a pain, all my clothes end up with musty pits after (barely) one wear. I've got the new trick of using anti-bacterial stuff in the washing machine so things come out fresh even at low temperatures, so my clothes aren't musty when I put them on.

I guess it's posisbly partly the deodorant itself that smells a bit but I don't know what to do about the musty, ever-so-slightly sweaty (though NOT a sour BO!) smell from my armpits themselves.

Very embarrassed and hoping someone can help!

I don't use shower gels in the shower anymore. Only soap. And I can last a day without any form of deodorant or roll-on.

Wow HateSummer (I hate summer too btw), which soap are you using?

Thanks everyone, I think I'm just being a masisve idiot and using the wrong deodorant and shower gel instead of soap.

Will try Mitchum and the Sure one. And will report back, I'm sure you'll all be thrilled to hear

Thank you!

i posted earlier, but just remember that the last time I used a regular anti-perspirant/deodorant it made me smell awful.

It was a dove roll-on - not the super lasting type - but it made me smell really odd. I had to have another shower after a while to get rid of it.

Perhaps my body got used to not using a scented anti perspirant ? Was weird . I threw it away.

I suffered really bad with this for years, I ended up having Botox in my armpits mine was quite extreme tho followed with massive sweat patches within half hour so I know it's not an option for everyone, not everyone agrees but after many talks with my doctor about side effects blocking glands etc he reassured me it only lasts a few months so I went ahead with it and within 6 months although it wore off, my armpits stayed relatively normal now aslong as I exfoliate when I wash! Just a suggestion for anyone who has tried everything else!

Oh my god what - YES! My friend had this and she said it changed her life. She is such a glamourpuss but lordy did she get sweaty dinner plates - often at the worst times (presentations, public speaking).

She had a couple of Botox injections into her pits and problem solved.

I use a roll on (Sure) and a spray. Some deodorants work well, others don't. Try and find one that works for you.

I use the spray it has a dark blue lid, and use the dove original shower cream, the other dove fragrances are lovely too.

@TheLegendofbeans .. sorry I'm new I don't know how to tag? Lol! But I'm glad it worked for her too it can be a blessing and I bet she doesn't regret it!! It can cause so much anxiety and embarrassment! X

If these suggestions don't work and you get the prescription one from the gp that you use once a week and is very strong then I need to warn you that it will turn your pits green if you were to put it on before a wedding with fake tan......

The sure cream did change my life though after years of sweat patches I can wear grey clothes without patches AND smell nice 👍🏽

Any kind of soap really as long as it's not the creamy type like Dove. So something like Imperial Leather (old school!) or Palmolive used with scrubby gloves really gets rid of dead skin cells in the underarms. Right now we're using the Aldi soap and that's quite good too. I recommend using exfoliating gloves and then moisturising with a normal body cream after the shower.

The Body shop do a lovely body exfoliater it's called British Rose, There's a Body butter in the same scent and when used together the smell on the skin is lovely.
I haven't had any problems with the Dove shower cremes, Just don't use too much of it
The Sanctuary body exfoliaters are lovely too.

Triple Dry Roll-on. Put it on after a shower, before bed. I use a normal deodorant in the morning too. My sweating days are over.

I'm a sweaty fucker as well.
I have tried driclor, but it was so very painful that it woke me at night. I now use the sure Maximum protection 48 hr one. it cost A FIVER, which I am outraged about, but it is the best thing I've tried. I use Ace on armpits of clothes before I wash them. Agree with using a bar of soap in the shower as well.

I've had this problem - started when I became perimenopausal and became a right sweaty Betty!

Tips I've found that worked (all gleaned from Mumsnet):

• spray some white vinegar onto the armpits of clothing before washing
• use -bacterial soap on your armpits in the shower (I've been using CIDAL)
• Sure Maximum Protection deodorant stick

Re: Driclor - I have used this in the past but, to put it bluntly, it stings like fuck and then makes my armpits itch unbearably.

Re: price of Maximum Protection ...... its currently £3 in Wilkos (rather than £5)

Ah the thing is with Driclor, you cant use it after you have shaved your armpits. It says not to on the bottle.

Ive made that mistake.. OUCH But since been using it fine now without that issue for years.

Strangely anti-perspirants containing aluminium (most of those available at boots/superdrug/supermarkets etc) make me more whiffy so I always use an alumiunium free deodorant. Currently using Soft & Gentle Pure which I get from Poundland and is excellent. That reminds me I must stock up before supplies run out! Others that have worked well for me are Arm & Hammer www.amazon.co.uk/Arm-Hammer-Essentials-Natural-Deodorant/dp/B001CI6RQK?tag=mumsnetforum-21 and an Aloe Vera one from Forever Living.

Hi OP, I could have written your post 6 months ago. Used to hack me right off that I would shower + deo and within 2 hours my clothes would start smelling of BO. The smell did not wash either. What changed my life was Crystal mineral stick deodorant. I do not smell any more, my clothes do not stink anymore. I have got complete confidence putting on an expensive blouse in that is will not have yellow marks on it or deo smears.

I have been absolutely through every deodorant on the shelf and none did it for me. Perspirex or Dryclor are very powerful and will stop you getting damp underarms or any smell, but they made my skin red raw.

Crystal deo unlike any other product is completely natural - crystallised mineral salts, but it is fantastic! You need to use it correctly for it to work though. Apply only to freshly cleaned wet skin and rub the stick on very very generously. If it is in the middle of summer and you are perspiring more than normal, you might need to reapply twice a day. Normally though, it lasts 24 hours comfortably.

As an aside, the stick hardly ever goes down, so would not need to buy a new one for ages (only rub on clean skin, as it can absorb smells and thus get manky). I have had my Crystal for 6 months now and it does not look at all to have gone down. So will last years!

Just - I tried this before and found I was still stinky, but actual BO rather than deo BO. Is there a period of time you need to endure before it starts to work?

The best way is to use deodorant at night and then again in morning. I shower in the evening

Hi Over, it started working straight away for me. I was very sceptical about all the claims, as my problem was rather bad. I go to the gym and sweat loads, but I never smell. And my pits are now silky soft, as they do not get in contact with any irritants.

The reason why it may not be working is the skin is not completely clean. Any slight residue, and it is not going to work. Works strictly as prevention, not overriding or masking the smell present.

I found I must wash my pits with soap (ordinary liquid soap here), then rub the stick on one side while the skin is still very wet and count to ten, then the other side - count to ten. Repeat for another two lots of ten, depending how active your day's gonna be. I am sitting here at 2pm, just sniffed the fabric under my arms and there is no hint of BO. I could not imagine it was possible.

Incidentally, the problem of smelly tops has disappeared, I do not do any vinegar spritzing/ detergent pre-treatment now. Tops just go in a light wash.

Yes, to white vinegar on clothes before you wash them and a bar of soap not shower gel. IMO shower gel is a big con. A bar of soap does a far better job. So probably not just a deodorant problem here, work on the other things. If clothes are too far gone just throw them otherwise that smell will always come back

I make my own deodorant but it might not be strong enough if you sweat a lot... it is supposed to make you sweat less after a few weeks of use. I'll leave my recipe in case anyone finds it useful:

4 tbsps arrowroot/cornflour
4 tbsps bicarbonate of soda
6-8 tbsps solid coconut oil
Drops of tea tree oil/other essential oil to create a mild scent
Mix together in a jar to make a cream

I use perspirex (sensitive -the original stings like crazy but it is worth carrying on). Its meant to last 3-5 days, for me it lasts 2 and I stick a normal deodorant on in the morning too! But it does work and it's the first thing I've found that does. Wish I'd known about it as a teen.

Forgot to say - because I've stopped sweating under my arms as the rest still waterfalls my clothing is no longer stained or smelling musty. Yay!