Teenage dd sweating and school uniform

[thenewaveragebear1983]

I'd be interested in some advice on this. My teen dd (nearly 14) has a bit of an issue with body odour. Or rather, I have an issue with it because she doesn't seem to notice it. She wears a white shirt to school and a blazer, and after school they both absolutely reek of body odour. I have now just washed the blazer but I think the shirts will have to be binned as the smell is 'in the fabric' and I cannot get it out. As soon as her body heat warms the fabric this very strong smell permeates.

I have removed any polyester shirts from her wardrobe leaving only the 100% cotton, but her blazer is polyester and they have to wear them all the time. She also walks 40 minutes to school and back, wearing the blazer.

I really struggle to get her to shower regularly, she will not do it without being told (she has never in 14 years autonomously gone for a shower), but she does have one at least every other day. I always make sure she has deodorant on before she leaves for school, but it doesn't seem to help. She is at a new high school since September and I worry that other kids are going to say she smells.

Any advice for a) deodorants that might be more effective and help reduce the sweating and b) how to get the sweat smell out of the clothes?? Especially the blazer?

Perspi guard. It's amazing. I have used this for years instead of deodorant as I thought it was the smell of the sweaty deodorant that was worse than just the sweat, IYSWIM. (I buy from Amazon or ebay)
Use it as directed, so wash armpits then put on at night and massage in just before going to bed and it will last about 5 days. No sweat. Make sure arm pits are fully dry though otherwise it will sting! It is honestly a game changer.

Also- I find those Lenor unstoppable granule things that you put in the washer help clothes smell nice for ages.

Good luck- hope this helps!

My dds have their own bathroom and I replaced all the shower gel with cidal soap. It's made a difference.

I had similar problems as a teenager and kept my arms clamped to my sides all day and jumper on and blazer. Of course that made the sweating worse. I eventually switched to Mitchum 48hr deodorant stick which helped a lot. And I grew out of it, being a teenager sucks!

I have similar hair (Arab/Indian afro instead of African though) - it really needs to be combed after spritzing with oil/leave in conditioner. Go to your local afro-carribbean shop and they’ll tell you about the products to use - I personally comb through with jojoba oil every day.

Also, does she shave her armpits? If not then probably best to start if the hair is similar to that of her head (like mine is). I think the BO will go with daily shaving and baths.

Oh wide tooth comb not normal.

Would white vinegar damage the colour though? It's a dark navy blazer.

I have tried to suggest she walks in her coat and puts her blazer on at school, which worked for 1 day until she left her coat in her locker and had to wear her blazer.

Believe no, I am Caucasian, she is mixed race so we have very different hair. Her father (my ex P) has dreadlocks and his mother and sister have hair pieces woven in so she has no one in her family who can really help her maintain her hair. We've tried things like curly girl and other methods for curly hair but she just doesn't have any interest. I always used to comb her hair daily but with two younger dc plus trying to encourage her to take some responsibility, I suggested she should be responsible for doing it. She is nearly 14 after all. Since start of term I have given it a thorough comb through twice and she does it daily.

I want to help her because I am concerned she will get picked on if she smells. But she will go upstairs to get ready and not even consider having a wash/shower. Or intend to have a shower and then forget and then it's 10.00 and bedtime. I do think the clothes are exacerbating the problem. And yes perhaps they are tight fitted and maybe going up a size could help.

Thanks everyone for your help

Second the vinegar. Oldest son has this problem and I would soak shirt armpit areas in white vinegar, his shirts were a dark grey/brownish colour and it didn't stain or discolour the shirts, but did get rid of the smell 100% when washing and other methods didn't!

Thanks lean, I will look for perspi guard. And also Mitchum, I have heard that mentioned a lot.
*
Raving*, yes she uses morrocan oil (cheap version from boots or super drug) or Argan oil. We have used so many products over the years, but they sit very heavily in her hair. It's not true Afro hair as its not as tightly curled, she has loose curls but it's incredibly dry.

Driclor. I used to be really sweaty and this works.

Sounds like mine. Try jojoba in a spray.

Ate blouses short/cap sleeved? If so her armpits will be in contact with the horrid polyester blazer lining making it more sweaty.

Would you be able to afford a second blazer so they could be washed more often?

As someone else said Cidal soap (antibacterial) used on the arm pits in the shower is great.
That together with squirting white vinegar onto the armpits of clothes and letting it absorb for 10 mins or so before putting in the machine will help loads.

Her blouses are long sleeves, although she had a few short sleeve given to her by her cousin- these are the polyester ones and think they might be the main culprit. Just while writing that makes me think maybe it's not even her sweat smell!?? Perhaps the blouses were already sweaty. I am definitely going to throw away.

We could buy another blazer, but I'd prefer not to as they are £50 each. I will try these methods first as there's been so many suggestions.

I had a really embarrassing sweating problem at school. Nothing helped, had to keep my jumper on even in summer because I could literally feel the sweat running down my arms and hitting my shirt underneath. New things out since then thankfully!

Cream antipersperant/deodorants are the only thing that works for me - sure maximum protection is the best imo. If she won't shower every day try buying her some nice new facecloths and a good body wash so she can at least wash under her arms etc in the mornings. I use Australian Body Care tea tree wash in the shower but if you are in a rush, or have slept in, it does the job for a quick sink wash too. You get used to the tea tree smell after a few washes and it doesn't linger at all anyway.

Does she shower at night? If she sweats during the night as well then she will be much better showering in the morning.

This is a lifesaver - total game changer for me!

Definitely check with dr first though. Stops sweating of armpits completely, important to follow the instructions though...

www.pharmacyfirst.co.uk/anhydrol-forte-roll-on-60ml-anh51.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI25Lt57He1gIVFBQbCh2h1ghWEAQYAiABEgLsovD_BwE

Does she shave? Would she be willing to if not? From what you've said it doesn't sound like it but might be worth having a chat because hair will trap moisture and smells.
If you won't remove phones etc, then how about bribery?
Does she have a clean shirt and underwear every day? Is her blazer hung up to dry/air in the evening?
She really does need to shower every day.

The Afro hair dressers in my area are really cheap, much less expensive than European hairdressers. Perhaps you could take her to the hairdressers to get plaits etc every couple of weeks or as much as she needs it? Afro hair is difficult to brush so my sons get theirs plaited all the time, their hair is quite long.

Also a girly day out buying perfume and having her foundation colour matched at the Mac counter (obviously not to wear everyday she is far too young) might encourage her to take pleasure in grooming and self care. It can also be a sign of low level depression, I neglect myself when I'm low.

This thread really worries me as there was a girl at my school with odour issues. She was a very nice girl but oblivious to the issue. With hindsight, I wish I'd said something as a friend. What ended up happening was some very unpleasant pupils gave her a nickname and teased her about it. She ended up moving schools. Please don't let this happen to your daughter. You have tried to be nice and encouraging about showering. It sounds like tough love is the only thing that will work now.

I don't like the idea if removing privileges/wifi etc but I have been trying to encourage her to be more hygienic for years

We tell D's that he can't have the treats if the basics aren't done first. Basics are hygiene, healthy eating, school and homework and everything else first in round them. I do remember actually having to tell him to go in the shower right now. Now he's a gym and sports fanatic he's in the shower 3 times a day

I had this problem (and to some extent still do).
How often is her blazer being washed? One problem(?) I had was that my blazer was washed weekly so I sort of got into the mindset that I was going to smell anyway (as my blazer was never truly clean-smelling) so what was the point in showering daily and having to deal with wet hair when I was going to smell anyway IYSWIM. Also, if I was fresh at the start of the day I'd be smelly at the end of the day so what was the point (although I did like to be fresh and clean I just couldn't keep it up).
I was always amazed at the girls who smelt nice all the time as I just couldn't achieve it, ever. Even now I'm a deodorant addict.
I'm not saying you're a bad mum at all btw! Just saying that it may be slightly a self esteem thing and she doesn't think she can do anything about it so why try?
Maybe some new antiperspirant that doesn't have a strong smell plus some nice perfume (my current fave is actually Primark - doesn't last long but smells nice!) to boost her confidence and maybe make her pay more attention to how she smells?

With her hair, is she using enough conditioner? I have dry, curly hair and if I don't condition enough it becomes a mess that I can't even get my fingers through. Make sure she's using enough and not washing it completely out (she should be able to easily finger comb it when wet). Also, mousse is my friend when I need to have it down - put it in when they hair is still really wet even though it seems like you're wasting it. This can also be "reactivated" by wetting the hair for second day hair and will keep it a bit better if it gets wet throughout the day even if it does end up a bit crazy.

Sorry for the long post, I don't know if any of it will help or if it's relevant!

I'm mixed race and I would still urge you to help her.

At that age I sort of gave up with my hair and lost interest because, quite frankly, I hated it. My mum saw it as a chore (she is Caucasian) and that passed on to me.

If she is using products with silicone in; they will dry her hair out. I wouldn't use Moroccan oil etc on my hair. I'd use pure food grade coconut oil. Wash her hair once a week, condition and comb when wet then plait it up. Take a little coconut oil and run through her hair. Make sure it's wrapped up for bed otherwise it'll get frizzy. She could experiment with plaiting styles eg at the front of her hair and a bun at the back.

As a mixed race teen, it was incredibly hard growing up with hair which never did what my friends did, I couldn't wash and go but luckily I had family to help me.

White vinegar on armpits before the wash and I use a capful of purple dettol or some napisan (wilko) in the shirt wash.

Soap is better than shower gel cidal from home bargains or a lush one.

Dove or sure maximum protection is very very good and it is a cream. look for offers as full price is £5.00

www.boots.com/dove-maximum-protection-go-fresh-pomegranate-anti-perspirant-cream-45ml-10137033?cm_mmc=bmm--Google+Boots+PLAs--BAU--C=%28GB%3AWhoop%21%29+Boots+Shopping+-+Category+-+Toiletries%28GB%3AWhoop%21%29+Boots+Shopping+-+Category+-+Toiletries&gclid=Cj0KCQjw9uHOBRDtARIsALtCa94nku4Z0-EOZGoiSrKtnsxrZBwx1IvAAuT4ZxDKkSkt6kcmwm2KEokaAlReEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Currently on offer in boots

Puddlesy- no as far as I know she doesn't shave. By that I mean I have a 'communal' supply of things like Tampax, pads, deodorant, razors etc which I have said she can use if she needs them, but as far as I know she hasn't. She is a bit alternative and lives in black skinny jeans, hoodies, etc so I don't actually see much of her skin to notice! *

Titania* that's a lovely idea but I guarantee there is nothing she would hate more than having her hair braided. She despises the hair dresser, hates the mirrors and the attention and the chit chat- the whole process of going to the hairdresser fills her with horror!

Monty yes, tough love I think, although administering tough love is especially draining when it makes zero difference. It makes me feel horrible because she will literally go without anything and still won't be motivated to do whatever it is. I think being tough and seeing a result is great, but honestly I have removed privileges before for weeks and it made literally no difference.

For a 14 year old to need a star chart to brush hair and teeth etc seems so demeaning, but we have tried, although in a more grown up way. She doesn't get pocket money anyway, as such, so no reward; and she does 't seem to have developed that intrinsic reward system of 'feeling fresh' being a good thing. It's bizarre really, I have never encountered it in anyone- I genuinely worry that when she grows up she will be like one those people in Kim and Aggies show who just live with filth all around them.

I always ensure she has enough clean uniform, PE kit, I change her bedclothes regularly etc. Short of literally standing over her watching her dress I can't guarantee she actually wears clean clothes but I would hope she does. Same as I cannot really ensure she washes properly, I have to trust her word don't I? It's so hard. I highly suspect some type of austistic spectrum type condition, although I don't believe she is autistic, but from previous reading and posting on here it seems like maybe it's a trait of asd or similar disorders?

Thanks everyone again, it's really encouraging and I have a list of things to try now so hopefully we can improve if not solve the problem