What to do About Armpit Odor
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RE: What to do About Armpit Odor
Well, I just thought Id add my little snippets of info. I have had smelly armpits for a few years now and even after showering and washing thoroughly I still had an odor! When i used different deodorants the problem got very very much worse - awful!
My doctor prescribed me with antibiotics to curb my spots (separate issue!) but I immediately noticed that my odor disappeared. I was also given a roll on antibiotic for spots and found that that too worked. But I wasn't happy doing that forever and stopped - it eventually came back. But it got me thinking.
I started using antibacterial hand wash under my arms. When I get out the shower now the smell has gone. I shave under my arms as I find that even short hair makes it really bad. I use a deodorant crystal too but make sure I clean it regularly with antibacterial soap else the problem returns.
Im very careful about which materials I wear. Cant get away with most man made fibres. I also only wear a t-shirt/blouse etc for one day only. Any more than that and the world becomes a lonely place. Problem solved now - thank goodness. Good luck all
Post by Me!
RE: What to do About Armpit Odor
You need to consult with a dermatologist, there is a pill you can take that will solve your problem. In fact you can go a full day without deodorant or antiperspirant. I know this can be a very embarrassing moment and I feel you pain but I am sure a dermatologist can help.
Post by Icanhelp10
RE: What to do About Armpit Odor
Okay, my suggestion; as I've seen topic related to this, and I always check in to see if there is something a little easier than, what I'm currently doing to prevent excessive armpit sweat and odor. Unfortunately, I always hear the same thing...
Now before attempting this, please check with your doctor, to make sure you do not have thyroid problems. Usually that is one of the LEADING causes of armpit sweating. Followed by odor.
Here is the method I use, and you all will probably find it crazy. But it REALLY works. I have botox done under my armpits, once a year. Please take note this does not cure the problem. It stops the problem, for a year though.
Botox under the armpits is semi painful, but for someone like me, who sweats A LOT. I'll live with the pain. I can wear grey shirts, and wont see the stain of sweat. And odor?-- NONE!
This costs me around 1500 a year to maintain, but seriously, seek medical opinions before doing this. It may work for me, but I went to my doctor, and consulted him MANY times over, before taking this route. :)
Hope this helped.
Post by Sinnie25
RE: What to do About Armpit Odor
I too had suffered from armpit odor but i noticed that putting some rubbing alcohol on it helps.. Now, right after shower, I out some ethyl alcohol on it. I also bring a small sprayer at work and reapplied again during lunchtime
Post By Anne (Guest Post)
RE: What to do About Armpit Odor
I suffer from smelly armpits too and I hate it like the rest of you. I've tried so many antiperspirants and deodorants. Just recently when I would buy one it worked for about 2 weeks and the smell would come back, so then I would buy another deodorant/antiperspirant and it would work for about 2 weeks. And well this was a routine. So then I found out about the Clinical Strength antiperspirant and well I was amazed of what it did for me. It worked so well!! Now I believe I have used 3 of those and well I cant say I'm happy with it. It has stopped working for me. I am disappointed. I don't know what to do. I think that the problem is that this clinical strength product creates, what a someone here mentioned, a "film". I noticed this because my armpits have some residue even after I scrub well, not too hard though because then that will cause dark armpits, this is some what sticky.
I've tried to exfoliate with sugar and well it kinda works. This "film" is really hard to get rid of. So for those of you thinking of trying the new clinical strength antiperspirants consider this. Moreover, something that might help some people is putting lime on the armpit and immediately putting baking soda. However this is not a good idea if you are going to wear white clothing because it will stain your clothes.
Post By tinker (Guest Post)
RE: What to do About Armpit Odor
I too had terrible arm pit sweat when I had a thyroid imbalance. You might check with your doctor and have your thyroid level checked. I used to be fine as far as keeping body odor and sweat under control. My thyroid levels changed and I felt like a sponge being wrung out every day. I even wore tank tops in the winter. I got my thyroid levels back to the right ones and I am back to a normal sweat level. Just something else to check. Good luck.
Post By Barb (Guest Post)
RE: What to do About Armpit Odor
Speak to your doctor-believe it or not there are prescription deodorants for hard to combat body odor. Could it be a soiled clothing that is actually the culprit. BO is almost impossible to get out of clothing.
Post By Diana (Guest Post)
RE: What to do About Armpit Odor
I too had the probem of not being able use deodorant. Mainly because it appeared that I was allergic to most of it as it always started horrible itching problems. I now alternate between baking soda and unscented baby powder which seems to work just as well as deodorant -- plus the benefit of being a lot cheaper
Post by Kathryen
RE: What to do About Armpit Odor
Definitely shave, as hair traps smells.
Post By nancy (Guest Post)
RE: What to do About Armpit Odor
I find if I don't eat spicy food I have no problem with B O. I do use vinegar & deodorant. It works for me.
Post By K W (Guest Post)
RE: What to do About Armpit Odor
Reading everyone's tips and this just occurred to me. If you use a deodorant stick or roller, won't you get some bacteria on it, which eventually will make it ineffective? Maybe keep alcohols pad on hand and rub deodorant on the pad and then on yourself, or if the pad type is still available, use that. I think it's like double dipping to use the same thing in the area you were trying to remove bacteria from.
Post by PIKKA
RE: What to do About Armpit Odor
If you are a stay at home mom I'm going to suggest this.
Stop using deodorant. Get plain soap like ivory with no scent and wash with fresh washcloth 3-5 times a day. It sounds like your body isn't processing something fast enough. Do you smoke or drink a lot of any one beverage: coke, coffee, tea? Take off your bra and massage under your armspits and then all the way down to your wrists. Pull on your fingers, and shake your wrist. Put one hand under you elbow and shake your lower arm. Repeat about 3 times. Do this morning and night.
This gets your lymph glands moving liquid and waste out of your body. You may pee more. Drink water before and after you do this. Just water. Do this for a week and see if it helps. You will have to keep washing a lot to be able to notice a decrease.
The idea is to establish a baseline of what your body does on it's own. This exercise is recommended by some doctors to
decrease possibilities of breast cancer as well,since the lymph glands help clean our body of toxins just like the kidney's and liver.
This will relieve swollen hands. Do something similar for swollen ankles by massaging lymph nodes in groin and behind knees.
Post by PIKKA
RE: What to do About Armpit Odor
The new Clinical Strength deodorants cost a fortune but last quite a while and definitely do the trick. I've had no problems since switching (Secret Clinical is my fave).
Post By Enter your name. (Guest Post)
RE: What to do About Armpit Odor
Here's your solution. After showering, spray armpits with Thai crystal deodorant mist. It's aluminum free, non-staining, contains no alcohol and eliminates body and foot odor. I've been using it for years, successfully. You can get it at Health Food stores.
Post By Lulu (Guest Post)
RE: What to do About Armpit Odor
I have 7 things that have REALLY worked for me. You'll need to do all of the top 5 for sure:
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1) Rubbing Alcohol kills germs & germs cause odor... Splash rubbing alcohol on your pits whenever you notice armpit odor or when you start sweat really badly in the summer. I keep a bottle in my car & some at work so I can splash it on then I'll ad a coat of my Toms Apricot deodorant (see below)... It's quick, easy & refreshing!
2) Take a Zinc supplement. Zinc helps stop body odor. (Don't over-do it!)
http://www.ehow.com/how_2119712_take-zinc-treat-body-odor.html
3) Exfoliate your pits once or twice a week (no more) This will remove any dead skin cells. I use plain sugar & rub this onto moist skin while in the shower or bath.
4) Bleach your T-shirts & try to wear bleached light colored shirts or white T-shirts when your at home or working around the home & even wear bleached white T-shirts under your regular shirts at work as much as possible (this is how I got rid of all of my husbands very bad foot odor. I bleached his socks each time I washed them!) It's the bleach that kills the germs, but it's also because the color white has no dye in it to irritate your skin. Foot Doctors will tell you to wear white socks if your feet sweat or smell. If you buy V-neck T-shirts you won't see them under your clothes.
5) Stop using antiperspirant & only use deodorant. (I recommend "Toms" brand. It's sold at health food stores) They have unscented, but I like the Apricot one! ...It smells good & really works because of a special kind of moss & an herb it has in it. (The reason I say to stop the antiperspirant is because a lot of times antiperspirants can do the opposite of what they're supposed to do: Your body rebels & you actually sweat MORE! Ever since I quit using them, I actually sweat LESS!)
6) Buy & use (instead of regular antiperspirant) a "Deodorant Crystal" you can find these crystals for your pits at any health food store. The potassium c crystals also come in a roll-on it's the something only liquid.
7) If you really sweat a lot & some of the things above don't work for you, you can mix half bentonite clay (from a health food store) & half baking soda together then mix well & put on your armpits with a powder puff or a shaker jar when ever you start to sweat or right after your shower if your're wearing a white T-shirt or a light colored top.. (a little goes a long way) But, NEVER, ever use corn starch! Corn Starch is a food & it can cause fungus to grow because fungus likes corn & other starches! Fungus is very hard to get rid of & it likes to grow in warm moist places, like feet, armpits pits, etc. Some people will tell you to put cornstarch in your shoes, but I've read it can make athletes foot worse because the athletes foot fungus likes it!
* For me, I sweat lots more when I don't shave my pits... For me, the hair seems to collect bacteria, but then again I have exceptionally hairy pits! ...But everyone is different, you'll need to find out which works for you, shaved, or not.
Post by Cyinda
RE: What to do About Armpit Odor
This goes against a lot of advise that I have read here, but what worked for me is I STOPPED SHAVING THE HAIR!! It is there for a purpose people!! It wicks the perspiration away from the skin during the day. Of course you have to still keep your underarms clean with whatever -- . When I went through menopause I would get awful hot flashes (call them power surges or whatever you want to --they would last for hours. My underarms would get slippery with wetness. I let the hair grow back, and I am much more comfortable!
Post by Karenhope
RE: What to do About Armpit Odor
I happened to find this page and it has really enlightened me. I have an odor problem from a diff area and it is so embarrassing! But as far as underarm odor is concerned, I thought that regular bathing and deodorant was all that was needed...I guess not. When I read the great lengths some of you go to, to try to prevent odor, I am going to be a lot more understanding of an occasional odor problem. Thanks for sharing and helping me to become more tolerant.
Post By ginnee (Guest Post)
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