How can i get rid of persistent BO smell?

[Gofastboatsmojito]

I fractured my arm recently along with a shoulder dislocation. I've luckily been signed off work for two weeks resting etc and had a number of long hot baths, which have been great for soaking my grazes and relaxing.

However on my injured side my armpit is really smelly! I'm not really able to lift my arm much so my underarm isn't getting much fresh air or chance to dry out.

I've been in the bath 90 minutes and washed my armpit thoroughly, going over significantly more than the armpit area with:
Soap 4 times
Scented shower gel
Shampoo
Conditioner
A chunk of a bath bomb for extra abrasion.

Each time I'm spending at least two minutes soaping and scratching gently, and I've shaved on one of the soap washes.

It still smells of BO! DH agrees.

Will i ever stop smelling or is it smell-stained into my skin?

Thanks

I'm not sure if this is derm-approved but I sometimes use an exfoliating acid on my underarms to help keep body odour at bay. I use a gentle one - The Ordinary Lactic acid 5% - two or three times a week.

I think shaving regularly helps too.

I find I have noticeable odour after certain foods (usually spicy) so that might be something to look out for.

I love these Salux cloths for body exfoliation (never on the face):

https://uk.muji.eu/products/nylon-body-towel-28x90cm-8853?gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIlLeErfrshgMVmZhQBh09iw4tEAQYASABEgKVNPD_BwE

Are you sure it’s not the smell of your cast? They tend to stink.

Ensure your soap is anti bacterial and swipe on glycolic acid once your skin is dry, then deo.

Get an antibacterial wash like Hibiscrub and use that. The smell is caused by bacteria so I found that using an antibacterial wash like this really helped. I also had major shoulder surgery and had a similar issue until this was suggested by a nurse

Casts will smell.

If it is actually your armpit - Dettol antibacterial soap or another soap that actually cleans not a shower gel or similar.

Mitchums or driclor deodorant.

It's probably the cast, have you got it wet? They stink.

Wash with hibiscrub or an antibacterial wash
Wipe with glycolic acid
Maybe stuff a flannel/cotton wool in after to dry it?

I don't have a cast! Just a fairly immobile arm hanging down with moisture collecting in the underarm.

I'll look into hibiscrub, thanks. Not heard of that before.

Definitely try an antibacterial wash, I'd be careful with hibiscrub on the regular though as it can be very harsh on the skin (it's a medical scrub basically, no skincare just stripping bacteria away).

You could try exfoliating too.

But also injured body parts can do odd things as your body tries to cope/heal, I manage someone who had a shoulder op recently so also has an immobile/limited mobility arm and there's all sorts of weird and wonderful things going on as her body heals itself.

Hand Sanitizer!

My DD is a camper so can often be a few days away with no proper shower and she swears by it.

Agree!

Especially spray sanitiser, though gel is also good. I find This Deonica one particularly good.

I've used a detol wipe before. 😳 my theory is that my hands are OK with them.

Sometimes I get out the shower all clean, forgot to spray immediately, dry my hair and after that one armpit smells! Not like heavy BO just a definite difference

Just one though! Weird.

Detol bathroom wipe and spray sure and it's cured

I use hand gel when mine gets a bit out of hand and deodorant doesn't keep it under control. I know it's not my soap or deodorant as it's only my right armpit that sometimes gets smelly, and I only need to use the sanitiser a couple of times to be free of it for a while. Think I have the same problem as you - I don't air that side out enough. Make sure it's a day after you've shaved though ;)

It might be worth changing your clothes wash to something like Halo Sports Wash for the duration, as well. Hope you're better soon.

I'm surprised you say that, as I use it for Psoriasis flares on the doctor's recommendation to avoid infection - I find it very gentle.

What wouldn't be gentle, but I think could be used occasionally to help this one area, would be the same ingredient to address a particular colony of bacteria/fungus would be a cotton pad soaked with chlorhexidine mouthwash, the active ingredient in Hibiscrub, wiped once over the area.

Thanks vipers for the support and suggestions! I'll see what I can get my hands on before I have to go into the office mid next week. I don't mind being a bit whiffy for husband and children, but for colleagues it feels a bit off

You need to use bar soap

Your bodies healing, it probably has upped activity in that area.

Fwiw, I've used liberal hand sanitiser on gym tops that are reaching the end of their washable life and I havent realised before I've packed it. Does the job quite well for that. Id probably say it would for the actual pits.

Ditch the shower gel and use an old fashioned bar of proper soap like imperial leather or Cold tar soap and try Mitchum deodorant

See OP - I usually wash with soap and gave myself four separate (long, slow, including scratching!) soapy washes in my last bath and they didn't solve it so I think there is more going on than a bar can solve.
This is some persistent smell and I want to clear it before I use deodorant. I'm not a fan of fragrance over the top of BO smell. Not really a fan of deodorant tbh, I only really use it when I'm out in polite company these days, I think it's healthier to let my underarms do their thing. Just annoying that since my injury their thing is smelly!

It sounds like you've got a particular skin bacteria that's colonised the area - soap isn't up to the job. So the Hibiscrub and application of chlorhexedine is going to do more. Makes sense that a normal bacteria is going to be able to grow more when you can barely move your arm.

Any dark patches in the skin would suggest a short course of an antibiotic as well.

Would using dress shields help? Sort of a pantyliner for your armpit, it sticks to your clothes and absorbs sweat.

Get one of those cheap exfoliating gloves and have a good scrub of it with soap on. Works wonders.

I saw this TT post recommending this product for stinky pits and immediately thought of your op

vm.tiktok.com/ZGegomsAS/

Weird but if you have children or a dp who isn’t smelly then get them to use a cloth to soak up some fresh sweat and apply that.

Honestly it works. Your microbiome might just be fucked if you have been ill and been given antibiotics or antibacterial wash or something, and in the hospital you got colonised with nasty bacteria instead.

Are you sure you don't have a fungal infection? I've had that UNDER my boobs before and it STINKS (sexy I know 😬)