Yeah, not nice. I rub and rub and rub with soap in the shower and I can still smell the sweat residue. Very pungeant. And I have to change my clothes sometimes two, three times a day. And also, it can happen that my clothes come out of the washing machine on 40 degrees and I can still smell the sweat in the armpits of the clothes too. Yeah, I do use deodorant obviously. I own about three bottles right now, and keep one in my hand bag at all times. I use it all the time. Not working.
What now? I don't want to stink!!!!
Sweat, on its own, is pretty much odorless. Sometimes, however, bacteria start building up on the skin, and they mix with our sweat - especially the one produced by our apocrine glands - which exist primarily in areas that are naturally hairy, such as armpits and groins. These bacteria break down the acids in our sweat, producing a bad odor. Anyone who has reached puberty can produce body odor, as this is when the apocrine sweat glands develop.
Body odor is a really awkward thing to have, isn't it?
Washing the armpits - as well as the whole body - with soap and water usually helps to get rid of bad smell. Using deodorants and antiperspirants can be useful too. However, showering sometimes is not enough. Many people experience bad armpit odor even right after taking a shower.
What does it mean when your armpits always stink even after you bathe put deodorant on?
This could be a signal that something else might be going on. As one of the participants in the discussion wrote:
If you have tried out numerous over the counter deodorants and tried other anti-perspiring strategies as well and you still find that you have very smelly armpits — whereas you did not have that problem before — you should look for the medical cause behind this.
For most people with this problem who discussed it, it can start pretty early on, since they start puberty. Most participants in the discussion described the smell as very pungent that can be prominent even after a couple of minutes after taking a shower, or despite using a deodorant.
Most people noticed this problem after some kind of activity, for example, at the gym. They usually got really sweaty, which is normal after a workout but they might also get an impression that their sweat smells worse than other people's. Wearing the same T-shirt for more than a day was out of the question. Even when they started to bathe twice or even three times a day, rubbing and scrubbing their armpits profusely, that didn't help them get rid of the bad odor. Many people switched between different cosmetic products or opted for aluminum deodorants or aluminum-free natural deodorants. However, using the deodorant may just make things worse, i.e. it would smell like deodorant mixed with sweat, so many have chosen not to use deodorant at all. Some people with the armpit odor problem changed the diet or tried a detox, such as the one with apple cider vinegar.
Sometimes, the problem was reported to be more noticeable if the clothes have been washed on 40 degrees and the armpit sweat smell remains in the clothes. Wearing polyester also makes things worse, as participants in this discussion noticed.
Usually when I wear polyester, I sweat pretty bad.
The bad smell in the armpits may be occasionally connected to the odor in the other parts of the body, such as genital/groin odor, however, it is usually a problem on its own.
What do experts say?
Causes for bad armpit smell
Body odors are often caused by three things: diet, stress, and underlying medical conditions. So these should be the first things to look upon. The armpit odor is usually a result of bacterial overgrowth. Stress also plays a significant role, because when stressed we sweat more, and prolonged stress could lead to a hormonal imbalance that could be a culprit for bad odor. Things that can make you smell really bad are also using the wrong deodorant and especially overusing it, wearing synthetic fibers, and having vitamin deficiencies or being on a low carb diet. What we eat can cause a bad smell. For example, spicy foods, cruciferous vegetables, like broccoli and cabbage which are high in sulfur, alcohol, red meat, etc. People who have tried out numerous products and anti-perspiring strategies but still found that they have very smelly armpits — whereas they did not have that problem before — should look for the medical cause behind this problem. Sometimes profuse sweating and armpit smell can be linked to some underlying condition. While sweating is normal, some people sweat more than usual. This condition is called hyperhidrosis. Excessive sweating could lead to more prominent armpit odor. Anxiety disorders, such as social anxiety that can be a result of hyperhidrosis can make worse by increasing "stress sweat" enormously. Trimethylaminuria (TMAU) is a genetic disorder that inhibits your body's enzymes from breaking down trimethtylamine (TMA), a fishy-smelling compound found in choline-rich foods, such as milk, eggs, saltwater fish, and legumes. Because your body is unable to digest TMA, the excess is released through your sweat, breath, and urine, and causes you to stink. Celiac disease is another health problem that reported to cause a bad armpit smell.
Treatments for bad armpit odor
Since the bacterial overgrowth is the most common cause for bad armpit smell, the treatment with antibiotics could provide relief. Your doctor may tell you to apply Neosporin, an antibiotic cream usually used for little cuts and scrapes or very minor skin infections, things that don't require systemic antibiotics. Microwave thermolysis is a revolutionary FDA-approved treatment for patients suffering from excessive sweating. Botox is another very effective treatment for excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis). Botox stops the signal that makes you sweat and it's meant to keep your armpits dry for over six months at a time. However, Botox can ultimately cause secondary sweating in other locations like the palms, in which case iontophoresis may be suggested. It is a medical treatment for excessive sweating that's widely used for people who've got the sweating on their feet and the palms of their hands. Very severe hyperhidrosis may need to be treated with permanent surgical removal of the sweat glands by a plastic surgeon.
Using products that contain aluminum
Many people opt for deodorants that contain aluminum when try to gt rid of bad odor. In fact, it is hard to avoid aluminum in cosmetic products nowadays. Majority of deodorants today have aluminum as active ingredients. The experts, however, DON'T recommend using deodorants and other cosmetic products that contain aluminum because they are toxic to the skin, they can block sweat glands, lead to skin irritation and most importantly they can lead to breast cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.
Another problem with aluminum chloride is that it helps reduce sweating by blocking sweat glands. In this case, our bodies may see the aluminum in the antiperspirant as an invading toxin. And how does the body release toxins? By sweating. So, instead of getting rid of the bad smell, using aluminum deodorant may lead to a vicious cycle of attacking sweating with antiperspirant and the body counter attacking the aluminum with sweating. The higher the aluminum percentage of the antiperspirant the worse it may be.
Links:
Discussion highlights
User's Suggestions & Judgments
- Just shave your armpits
- I know that both drinking lots of alcohol and lots of coffee can make your armpits smell much worse than they would if you didn't do those things.
- I am using baking soda, believe it or not.
- I've also heard that it is possible to mix the baking soda with some corn starch.
- I'm female and have been using men's deodorant, which works a touch better than female deodorants, especially if you look for the sports ones.
- Hey, this is like the third time I have heard about people using vinegar and baking soda under their armpits.
- Use an ANTIBACTERIAL wash instead of any regular shower gel or soap.
- Body odor is caused by bacteria, and an antibacterial wash will kill many of those, which should reduce your body odor to the point where you smell fresh after your shower.
- Use an antiperspirant instead of a deodorant.
- Deodorants only mask the smell but antiperspirants stop sweating.
- If you are still smelly, mix one teaspoon of 3% hydrogen peroxide with one cup of water.
- In addition or instead, using a hand sanitizer on your armpits may also help.
- Try miraDry treatment.
- Ask your doctor!
- I use apple cider vinegar and it cuts the smell immediately and last more than 24hrs
- If you eat a lot of fatty food and meat you tend to smell more.
- Try changing your eating habits.
- Also, use a cleanser with a neutral pH.
- Shave or remove hair because when you sweat, the hair will be the breeding ground for bacteria.
- Try to avoid commercial deodorants (homemade might be better like coconut oil with lemon).
- I saw someone suggest a peroxide and water mix for the armpits.
- Apply Neosporin in place of deodorant
- I agree men's deodorants are more effective, too.
- Hi, a natural way to help with stinky pits, use diluted Apple cider vinegar and water to detox your underarms.
- Mix one tablespoon each of baking soda and lemon juice.
- I tried the suggestion of Neosporin and it is AMAZING!
- Hydrogen peroxide is the only thing you need.
- For example if I eat onions I smell it in all places that sweat and even my hands when they're wet.
- Perhaps a dermatologist could help figure out the cause of the issues you're having.
- Doesn't sound like a very pleasant thing to go through to be honest, but twice a year sounds doable and by the sounds if it it's gonna make your life a whole lot better.
- Hiya,Iontophoresis is a medical treatment for excessive sweats that's widely used for people who've got the sweating on their feet and the palms of their hands.
- It is done sometimes though, so perhaps something to ask your doctor about?Botox is another very effective treatment for excessive sweating and the one I'd be looking into seriously if I was you.
- Botox actually stops the signal that makes you sweat and it's meant to keep your armpits dry for over six months at a time.
- It is time to approach your doctor with questions about this.
- I have heard that botox is one of the best treatments for hyperhidrosis even though it can ultimately cause secondary sweating in other locations like the hand palms of forehead, but if you are desperate that might be worth it and I would absolutely consider it for myself.
- Have you tried special prescription antiperspirants, which might help reduce the bacterial load?
- I saw a deodorant advertised as being against stress sweating and I thought "wow that sounds interesting" so I got it.
- shave them properly!
- Having nothing to lose, I tried vinegar under my arms anyway.
- I put it on right after showing and then let it air dry.
- Once my pits were dry, I followed up with baking soda.
- The only thing I have to say to you is to look at WHAT is actually causing your sweat to stink so much;
- things that can make you smell really bad are being very stressed, using the wrong deodorant and especially OVERUSING IT (try one of those natural mineral ones instead), wearing synthetic fibers, and even having vitamin deficiencies or being on a low carb diet.
- So I'd see what could be causing your stinky sweat by eliminating one of the things on that list you do at a time.
- If one stops you smelling bad, then there's your culprit.
- And I have to change my clothes sometimes two, three times a day.
- Yeah, I do use deodorant obviously.
- Add to that the fact that stress makes you sweat more, and that you are probably more likely to turn to coffee to get through a long day at work, and then have a beer or four to relax after you get home, and you've got an answer to suddenly stinky armpits.
- I let it stay there for a little while and then wipe it off with a dry cloth.
- I do it by grinding the baking soda to a really fine powder, and then I slightly wet my armpits and put the baking powder dust under my arms.
- And put a few drops of essential oil in there.
- Something fresh like lemon.
- Or orange.
- Then you do the same procedure.
- Try this:1.
- 2.
- 3.
- This is a great way to eliminate body odor.
- Lemons cut a lemon in half wipe your arm pits b for you shower also wipe sweat and body oil from armpit b for you wash wash off lemon juice or will burn after.
- You should go to the pharmacy and ask for deodorants with aluminum chloride( Helps block sweat glands) Some deodorants they sell are no more sweat, driclor, certain dri these all help with excessive sweating not like normal deodorants.
- If this doesnt help ask your pharmacy what deodorants they have that are effective against sweating dw
- Antiperspirant!
- But heavy exercise or time in a sauna can sweat out the odors faster than not.
- That said the only neosporin I have right now is the cream looking formula not the clear salve looking one.
- I started using a natural deodorant and that seemed to actually help a bit.
- this is a good thing.so much better than antibiotic soap and creams.anti biotics will make you resistant to them if used indiscrimanatley
- Thus I make a solution of peroxide and water (before applying campho phenique) to dry out the virus.
- Lo and behold, my armpits don't smell like body odor anymore!
- So I highly recommend trying a peroxide (1 part) and water (2 part) mix.
- Someone on one of these forums suggested hand sanitizer.
- To my surprise, it has actually worked.
- I think its the old deodorsnt that doesnt really wash completely off.
- I leave a ziploc of thick sliced lemons in my fridge.
- About 3 times a week i wash with soap, take a piece in the shower, dip in the baking soda and scrub.
- After mu shower i make sure they are completely dry b4 adding doedorant.
- I buy the most expensive deodorant (xtra dry).
- Anything smelling on your skin's surface is just a message from your body telling you something's off - maybe it's your follicles, your sweat glands, your dead skin cells which sit atop your armpits.
- My top actual deodorant sticks are: - ROC deodorant - Clarins' men's (specifically) deodorant.
- I've tried exfoliating with Soap & Glory's "Flake Away" (~$20 in Canada) and found that helped.
- I agree with some comments here re: antibiotic ointments, but I can tell you hand sanitizer truly is not effective whatsoever.
- I don't think cleanliness is your issue here, but a doctor's advice may calm your mind and help you stop being anxious about this.
- I did change my deodorant many times and they aren't doing anything so you should maybe see a doctor if it gets worst
- I found that by detoxing my underarms and changing my diet did wonders.
- I stopped using store brand antiperspirants and deodorants as well and have a homemade deodorant that works so incredibly well.
- Detox for underarms1 T bentonite clay1 T apple cider vinegar 1-2 T of water to get desired consistency Apply for up to 20 minutes then rinse
- Just either spray on or with cotton pads leave on a couple of minutes and rinse, you may want to do this on a regular basis, once or twice a week.
- Aluminum is used to clog the pores to prevent sweat but I suggest using natural deodorants with no aluminum.
- Next I am going to try the baking soda in top.
- I remembered my eldest daughter telling me about vinegar, she uses all natural products, and it worked!
- when u take a shower put body soap on ur whole body first after u wash everything try putting head and shoulders mint on ur armpit even though u shaved it kind of worked like it reduced the amout of stinky smell
- try putting mint shampoo on armpits ans washing them while taking shower
- It's a white cream you put on cuts and scratches before covering it with a band-aid.
- It's in the band-aid aisle.
- You can probably find a store brand cheaper.
- Don't confuse it with "bacitracin ointment" which is also an antibiotic for minor cuts, but it's a greasy clear petroleum-jelly (Vaseline) based product.
- I am not suggesting that you suffer from celiac disease, but it is possible something you are eating could be contributing to the problem.
- Diet change might be something you could try.
- I make a liquid I add to bath water that last 24 hr I had this problem too until I did this if you are not sensitive to cologne it works great 20 min bath and no more odor
- This can also happens if you did underarms lazer hair removal !
- This sounds crazy but after showering I wet a paper towel with rice vinegar and dab under my arms within minutes the smell is gone.
- I have strong armpit smell too I used lemon juice it works perfect just dab it in with a cotton ball .
- Baking soda was the first thing that worked :D You only need a small amount, & can use it as a mouth deoderiser, as well.
- It neutralises the ph and kills germs outright.
- I've had a similar situation for many years and recently tried gently scrubbing my armpits with soap then applying some baking soda.
- I've also started buying looser arm tops which don't cling to my armpits, and that has helped too.
- I've also noticed that when I apply deoderant/antipersperant, it seems to work best if I wait till I'm totally dry first.
- Try a sport wash (e.g., Sport Suds or Hex) for your laundry or a no filler wash like Norwex, as well as a sanitizer (Lysol makes a great laundry sanitizer).
- Bacteria and funk get trapped in your clothes by fillers in some laundry detergents.
- they are reactivated when you put them on.
- You may have to wash a few times to get all the old filler out of the clothing.
- Apply it to your underarms and other body parts where you sweat excessively.
- Thx For the help I came here to look for the same thing i'm 13 and i'm going through the same thing I was and evrything and I have Neosporin at my house im going to try it.
- Just applied hydrogen peroxide to wash cloth and cleaned armpit.
- Perhaps you can look at your diet to help.
- Use Alum.
- after shower when your armpits are wet.
- rub it gently.
- try it for a week
- Start consuming those and it will go away.
- Do not apply dedorant as it will not help.
- I’ve tried so may deodorants and the only one that works for me is: geodeo brand.
- I also find that when I wear natural fibre clothing, I don’t have the issue.
- About once a year I need to shave my armpits and rub them with straight peroxide and air dry completely.
- Full disclosure: my armpits don't smell like roses now that I use this zinc deodorant.
- It has zinc in it.
- You lack of vitamins B and Zinc.
- FDA approved for hyperhidrosis, non-invasive, uses microwaves.
- I have heard that botox is one of the best treatments for hyperhidrosis even though it can ultimately cause secondary sweating in other locations like the hand palms of forehead, but if you are desperate that might be worth it and I would absolutely consider it for myself.
- He said that the operation to removed the sweat glands, which he does with south eastern patients that request it allot costs around the same!
- Try miraDry treatment.
- Hello Botox didnt help my armpits from not smelling.
- Maybe we should do underarms botox injections which i don't really like.
- This can also happens if you did underarms lazer hair removal !
Medicine used to suppress armpit smell
- He told me to apply Neosporin.
- Neosporin is an antibiotic cream usually used for little cuts and scrapes or very minor skin infections, things that don't require systemic antibiotics.
- I tried the suggestion of Neosporin and it is AMAZING!
Natural treatments
- Hey, this is like the third time I have heard about people using vinegar and baking soda under their armpits.
- I stopped using store brand antiperspirants and deodorants as well and have a homemade deodorant that works so incredibly well.
Related Claims & Medical Studies
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Majority of deodorants today have aluminum as active ingredients, and they can lead to breast cancer.
https://ec.europa.eu/health/scientific_committees/consumer_safety/docs/sccs_o_153.pdf
https://www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/DevelopmentApprovalProcess/DevelopmentResources/Over-the-CounterOTCDrugs/StatusofOTCRulemakings/ucm110774.pdf
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16045991
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14639125
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2797685/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6075842/
In conclusion
Bad armpit smell that persist even after showering and applying deodorant is an annoying problem for many. The cause behind it is in most cases benign, meaning that the body odor is a result of stress or what we eat. However, although rarely, in some cases bad odor that won't go away can be a sign of underlying condition, so it is important to discuss any unusual change in your body chemistry with your doctor.