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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Original poster

Body odour

29 replies

AHungryCaterpillar · 13/04/2022 15:11

I know it’s normal for teens to experience BO and need to bath/ shower daily but my daughter honestly has baths daily, uses deodorant but still smells really bad of BO, in the mornings the smell is awful, her clothes all smell of BO, even though she’s bathing daily and using deodorant. Is this normal? She can smell throughout the day as well and my mum said it’s not normal and she needs to see a dr. Any advice? Or is it normal for teens? (She’s 11 so not quite a teen yet)

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 13/04/2022 15:14

Is it antiperspirant rather than deodorant?
Maybe she could try washing with soap rather than shower gel

Original poster
AHungryCaterpillar · 13/04/2022 15:16

She uses all kinds, I’ve tried them all. Only thing is she doesn’t like roll one. We don’t usually use soap though (prefer show gel) so I will get some if that will be better. I’m worried about bullying at school as the smell is very strong.

OP posts:
pepsirolla · 13/04/2022 15:21

Unlikely but might be worth speaking to a doctor. A manager I worked with was a lovely lady but she had Trimethylaminuria, fish odour syndrome, probably not that but might be worth ruling out. In my experience some early teens go through a bad bo phase then grow out of it

LifeInAHamsterWheel · 13/04/2022 15:27

I'd second the soap suggestion, shower gel leaves a film on the skin which can create a barrier against effective anti-perspirant. Soap's better for the environment anyway!

I'd also make sure when washing her clothes to use a laundry cleanser. I use this Dettol one (or a Supermarket own-brand version when it's available) although I've heard people use white vinegar too. I swear by the Dettol though, it completely gets rid of any smells from my teens clothes including sports gear etc that can get very stinky.

Body odour
Cuddlywaterfall · 13/04/2022 17:42

Make sure she is scrubbing her pits with soap, rather than just letting soapy water run over her. Her school shirts need a hot wash with laundry cleanser PP linked above. Also lots of the non iron shirts seem to retain the sweaty smell. 100% cotton if you can get it is better. Her shirts /t shirts might need to be binned if they have absorbed too much sweat/bacteria. They may smell ok until they heat up then the whiff appears!
I had to bum a lot of exH'a stuff when we got together for this reason

Cuddlywaterfall · 13/04/2022 17:43

Argh Bin not bum Hmm

Felicity42 · 13/04/2022 21:05

Has she tried the Mitchum antiperspirant?

Original poster
AHungryCaterpillar · 13/04/2022 22:09

Thanks for the advice, I’m going to try all the suggestions and get the laundry cleanser! Not going to lie the smell on her clothes is horrific and it’s ruining nice clothes that end up having to be binned because they smell so bad. She comes out of school and can smell it straight away. I’m guessing antiperspirants is better than deodorant then? We haven’t tried the Mitchum one so I will get some.

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 13/04/2022 22:13

Deodorant only masks smells. Antiperspirant helps stop the sweating and helps prevent smells. I dont rate mitchum. I like the sure maximum cream that comes in a box.

Original poster
AHungryCaterpillar · 13/04/2022 22:14

Well that would make a lot of sense then, for some reason I thought deodorant was meant to be the better one 🤦🏻 So that’s normally what I pick up when I go to the shop. Hoping to notice a change now I know.

OP posts:
Sunshineandrainbow · 13/04/2022 22:15

I have an issue and deal with it with tea tree skin wash in the shower.
Sure Max protection anti pers is amazing.

Emmelina · 13/04/2022 22:18

Along with the above, make sure she knows to keep rolling it until she feels her underarms are actually wet. One of mine was in the habit of a quick swipe under each and the ball hadn’t even had the chance to pick up the stuff she was that quick.

whatnumber · 13/04/2022 22:19

When you start a new routine with soap and anti perspirant deodorant can you start fresh with new schools shirts too?
If sweat is already baked in it's hard to get out and she'll be smelling from clothes and maybe not even her own armpits!
Sainsbury’s do a sports wash called halo that I like. Add in the detail mentioned above and hot wash and it should keep new tops clean.
Could she shower more than once a day? Definitely morning and night. My DS sometimes showers three times a day!

dementedpixie · 13/04/2022 22:20

@AHungryCaterpillar

Well that would make a lot of sense then, for some reason I thought deodorant was meant to be the better one 🤦🏻 So that’s normally what I pick up when I go to the shop. Hoping to notice a change now I know.
They might say antiperspirant deodorant or may just say deodorant. You want the antiperspirant version
whatnumber · 13/04/2022 22:20

Also she could take a travel size anti pers spray to school incase she wants to use it during the day if she feels worried.

JunhaLamra · 13/04/2022 22:21

Completely normal preteen/teen phase.

Mother of two teen boys here. Ds1 started to smell in year 4. Uses Mitchum deodorant, Ds2 isn't as bad and I think he uses Sure. But both have bar soap each for pit washing,they use a body puff to really scrub, then if they want to use shower gel on the rest of their bodies they can. You want as pure a soap as possible, no Dove cleansing bar stuff.

Dettol cleanser is a game changer. Some of your DD's clothes may not be brought back to freshness but if you start washing with it they should stay fresh. There is a pit spray for clothes by Dr Beckmann, I use this on Ds2's school shirts to stop the arm pits yellowing.

FannyFifer · 13/04/2022 22:22

I will second the sure deodorant mentioned above.

Body odour
SpringHasSprungYay · 13/04/2022 22:22

@JunhaLamra

Completely normal preteen/teen phase.

Mother of two teen boys here. Ds1 started to smell in year 4. Uses Mitchum deodorant, Ds2 isn't as bad and I think he uses Sure. But both have bar soap each for pit washing,they use a body puff to really scrub, then if they want to use shower gel on the rest of their bodies they can. You want as pure a soap as possible, no Dove cleansing bar stuff.

Dettol cleanser is a game changer. Some of your DD's clothes may not be brought back to freshness but if you start washing with it they should stay fresh. There is a pit spray for clothes by Dr Beckmann, I use this on Ds2's school shirts to stop the arm pits yellowing.

Taking notes 🧼🧴🧽
LifeInAHamsterWheel · 13/04/2022 22:30

and I'll 3rd that Sure anti perspirant! Not only is it really effective but it's lovely to use. I hate the wet/sticky feeling of a roll-on and this is a dream that just sinks in. Smells nice too and really does the job.

Good luck OP I'm sure if you implement these small changes you'll see/smell a big improvement! I hope it's not something your DD is too conscious of or gets teased about. But these steps should have it sorted quickly.

LifeInAHamsterWheel · 13/04/2022 22:31

A cream that sinks in, not a dream, sorry!

Hohofortherobbers · 13/04/2022 22:35

Shield soap, scrub the armpits daily. Sure max 24hr dry ROLL ON, she will have to get used to roll on. Soak stinky clothes in a bucket of bicarb and washing powder before washing hot 60 degrees with original Ariel washing powder. Line dry in the sunshine for freshness. Good luck. You won't have to keep soaking the clothes for long.

ffscovid · 13/04/2022 22:36

Is she washing properly to remove the stale sweat? Bar soap is usually more effective than shower gel but she needs to really lather up and scrub in armpits, groin, under breasts (if applicable) etc.
Likewise, clothes and undies must be changed fresh each day and a decent bio washing power used to remove the sweat or else they'll just start smelling as soon as she puts them on.

Haggisfish3 · 13/04/2022 22:40

I have e to wash dd clothes at 60 degrees with non bio to get rid of the smell. And I also make sure she washes properly and have been trimming her underarm hair to reduce smell, as well as anti perspirant.

balzamico · 14/04/2022 04:20

Yet another vote here for the Sure product. I had issues when I started the menopause, the Sure product is lovely.
Also do just check that she's using it after washing , my dd was bathing at night then putting on anti persistent in the morning by which time it was sometimes too late.
Your poor dd, I hope you get it sorted
X

fizzypop100 · 14/04/2022 16:29

We switched DS's deodorant to Triple Day and he's never had BO since then! Brilliant stuff. Also, clean clothes and shower every day

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