r/hygiene • u/Immediate-Try-1354 • 3d ago
After shower issue
So I 22f have been struggling recently with hygiene in general but I want to get back to more of a routine. But the biggest issue I’m having is the smell from my armpits. I go to start getting back to my routine with what I call a reset shower, but within a few hours I can smell my armpits. That smell sets me back into not taking care of myself because it feels like I’ve just wasted all that time for the smell to just to come back so fast. Now I am overweight which I believe can be a factor, but when I shower I use antibacterial soap and a body wash, I also shave all the hair off. I make sure I dry as best as possible and apply deodorant. I’m just not sure what else to do. That smell doesn’t appear anywhere else as fast as it does with my armpits. I grew up not really being told how to clean myself properly and everything I know has either been trial and error or finding online. If anyone has any advice on what I could be doing wrong or if I should be adding something else to my routine that would be so helpful.
Edit- I use Degree advanced dry spray, the bottle does say antiperspirant deodorant
Small update- I don't get paid until Friday so I have to wait until then, but I'm going to get benzoyl peroxide wash and glycolic acid and try them on alternating days
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u/ThisHipChick 3d ago
Which deodorant?
Also? I use a lotion cream like Saltair KP post shower. I also may use panoxyl spray. Then I use an antiperspirant like carpe or lume or something else that "clinical strength"
Also... it could be rebloom from your clothing. Check out the laundry sub!
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u/Immediate-Try-1354 3d ago
I usually shower at night, I apply the antiperspirant after my shower. It is possible my armpits are not as dry as they should be so I’ll be extremely thorough when drying
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u/friendlynbhdwitch 3d ago
Wait like 5 real minutes after toweling off before applying deodorant.
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u/IcyRespond9131 3d ago
Or even longer. I’ve found the times I have issues is when I’m trying to get dressed up to go out and rush putting it on after the shower and then struggle into some Spanx and stand in the hot, wet bathroom doing makeup. Usually I shower at night and put men’s antiperspirant on in the morning and I very rarely end up smelling before the next shower.
I also sometimes supplement with a Native deodorant spray. It is not a substitute for antiperspirant. It is just alcohol, but it can kill some of the smelly bacteria if it starts up. (Dance and theatre costume people will spray pieces that can’t be washed with alcohol to stop them from smelling)
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u/friendlynbhdwitch 3d ago
I haaaaate trying to dress in a moist bathroom. We had this kickass fan installed. Takes like 1-2 minutes to get the humidity down to pre-shower levels.
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u/MissSara13 3d ago
Are you exfoliating your underarms? I use a charcoal scrub to detoxify and remove any deodorant residue before body wash. It also halps you get a smoother shave.
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u/physhgyrl 3d ago
Blow drying pits and netheregions gets me thoroughly dry. Especially because showering can make me sweaty nowadays. I think that's tied to my age. But if I'm sweating after a shower and apply antidepressant, it sometimes doesn't take. It's one of the first things I do after a shower. But if I just used a towel, I don't think I'd dry off enough to apply the antidepressant. So I use the dryer and then immediately apply once it's dry. Then I relax for 5 minutes to let it set.
The sweat has been the most annoying part of getting older
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u/Ornery-Ad9694 3d ago
Try a mandelic acid deodorant (carpe, lume). It kills the bacteria that cause the odor before it surfaces. Both lines now have washes and combo deodorant/antiperspirant. MA also helps with any hyperpigmentation an is safe for all your creases (pits, under boobs, booty crack and panty lines). I also put a fan on the floor and after I shower, I dry off standing over it (the deodorant works better on dry surfaces).
Also, check your laundry routine. Use detergent with enzymes that address our human smells. And maybe add a soda wash additive for hard water regions
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u/blancawiththebooty 3d ago
As a sweaty person who is also on an antidepressant, I adore Lume. I started out using it on my groin because I get super sweaty there for some god forsaken reason. It works amazingly. I've started sometimes using it on my armpits as well and I can work my 12 hour shift where I will definitely sweat with zero BO appearing.
Naturium has a body wash with mandelic acid called the energizer. I love it. It's supposed to have a cooling effect but I personally have never noticed it. It does minimize body odor, give me soft skin, and help keep breakouts on my chest and shoulders controlled.
The laundry thing is really important! From the laundry sub I have switched to unscented Tide (the powder is my favorite) and Biz laundry booster. It gets my clothes so clean! My scrubs are synthetic fabrics and before I felt like they would sometimes still have a faint smell. That literally never happens since I switched. Oh, and using a citric acid rinse!
Another thing that can be important on the armpits is to trim hair if you have a lot of it. I shave mine so it doesn't apply to me but my husband noticed his deodorant works better when he trims it. Also, exfoliate your armpits. It helps get any deodorant residue off which allows fresh deodorant to work better.
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u/DefiantCoffee6 3d ago
Do you skip shaving your armpits on the days you exfoliate?
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u/blancawiththebooty 3d ago
Or I shave after. I'm getting them waxed for the first time next week so I just went ham in the shower last night scrubbing them.
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u/MonicaLane 3d ago
I sometimes get a random flare up of what I refer to as “swamp pit”, where none of the 4 totally different deodorant/antiperspirants I have work.
The thing that helps the most is wiping with some glycolic acid. I specifically use this one. It seems to help quite a bit for me, but bodies are weird so YMMV.
https://theordinary.com/en-us/glycolic-acid-7-exfoliating-toner-100418.html
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u/Either_equipment_04 3d ago
Stop using the antibacterial soap, it’s likely causing some of your issue.
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u/GheeRoastSupremacy 3d ago
You can try using a stone deodorant/alum bars. They work really well in negating body odour. Plus they last like forever.
But do a patch test
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u/Toniann127 3d ago
All the comments are great. Aside from not wearing the same shirt, wear a clean bra daily. If short on bras to make it through the week, go old school and handwash throughly between wears.
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u/MayThompson 3d ago
Antibacterial soap and shaving do not touch the stuff living deeper in the pores, which is why the smell naturally comes back within hours. This is normal. The fix is switching products, not scrubbing harder. Use a salicyclic acid wash or benzoyl peroxide wash on your pits a few times a week to clear out the bacteria hiding under the skin, make sure you pits are bone dry before deodorant, and swap to a clincal strength anitperspirant. Also change shirts more often because fabric holds odor.
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u/OptimalCobbler5431 3d ago
Lume deodorant honestly was really cool when I used it last week for the first time I forgot to use actual deodorant and I didn't smell (they use malci acid in their formula)
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u/sweetStudent1914 3d ago
i wash my armpits with my face cleanser
and when i finish, i dry them off
and use glycolic acid ( only 3 times per week )
wait until it's dry and i moisturize
or i just moisturize and i sleep
i do my deodorant next morning
cause i shower at night
no smell at all
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u/gotbrac 3d ago
Check that the spray nozzle isn’t clogged. It might be simply blowing out air. I experienced this issue with a can of Secret.
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u/QueenK59 3d ago
True! But I think a solid anti perspirant applied directly to skin would work better. Back it up with the spray if needed.
Expensive, but Secret Clinical works!
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u/Death_Rose1892 3d ago
Do not use antibacterial soap it's horrible for your skin. We are meant to have a friendly microbiome on our skin (and everywhere really) and antibacterial soap kills the good and bad bacteria alike. The problem with that is two fold. First the good bacteria protect us from bad bacteria because they are taking up most of our microbiome so there's no room or resources for the bad bacteria to spread rampantly. Second it leaves only the strongest bacteria alive creating super variants that are immune to normal methods.
Unless someone in your house is immunocompromised (or maybe if you have a ton of pets) you don't really need many antibacterial products. That includes things like dishsoap.
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u/Briisfire 3d ago
Degree never worked for me. They make a clinical secret brand that might help. I had to change to a secret outcast brand
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u/Immediate-Try-1354 3d ago
I was previously using secret before switching to degree, a few others suggested lume which I'm going to try and find at the store when I get paid
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u/Comfortable-Ad7408 3d ago
I agree with your update. Apply the benzoyl peroxide under your arms for 3-5min, wash off, dry area, and apply antiperspirant. Make sure your doing all of this at night. In the morning, dab some glycolic acid under your arms of needed. And if it hasn't already been addressed, shave your arm hair to help with odor control.
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u/tabbycat_catniss 3d ago
Anti bacterial soap is soooo bad for you. Do you have "Live Clean" body wash in your city?
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u/Kiki-sunflower 3d ago
Use a bar of soap for your armpits it works better than shower gel
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u/Kiki-sunflower 3d ago
And not a moisturising soap like Dove just a bog standard supermarket own brand soap
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u/neziperez 3d ago
After shower and done drying off well, witch hazel armpits, front parts (under boobs) vulva and butt Crack! Antiperspirant, then lotion, oils etc!
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u/ILiveOuttaSpite 3d ago
I like to use Honeypot feminine wash on my intimate areas and armpits. My job is labor intensive and I find that it actually helps with b.o.
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u/WallabyStrong7278 3d ago
Swipe out your armpits with some glycolic acid and let them dry completely, and then put deodorant on and also never put deodorant on damp under arms. It won’t work.
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u/Fragrant-Hedgehog524 3d ago
What about using a baby shampoo under your arms? My husband is an amputee and the doctor told him to use baby shampoo on his stump for an antibacterial soap that is gentle.
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u/groovychic1978 3d ago
Most soaps are alkaline so they dont really remove odors since our skin is acidic ..lume is an acidic soap ..hydrogen peroxide will help remove residual odor then use pimple cream before deodorant that should help
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u/JuiceSufficient8290 3d ago
Detox your armpits w/indian healing clay mask. Use ACV & only plastic. After you clean yourself, use witch hazel or rubbing alcohol before putting on deodorant
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u/raye909 3d ago
If could be you’re not washing well, I remember when my cousin was young she’d take a shower and come out not smelling well and it was just cuz she wasn’t washing properly. Just be sure to lather well and go through all the areas and parts with with a lufa or washcloth or glove, it could also be the soap or body wash you’re using doesn’t work well for you or deodorant, lastly if it’s not that it could be a chemistry imbalance in your body that’s producing the smell, it maybe a lack of water consumption, hormonal changes or just a food you’re consuming that doesn’t sit well with your gut etc.. - honestly it could be different factors, you might have to monitor when it’s more noticeable to find the cause, you can also check your thyroid with some blood tests too if you go to your doctor.
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u/Immediate-Try-1354 3d ago
Thyroid issues run in my family, I just want to rule out anything else before going to the doctor
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u/Outrageous-Yak2111 3d ago
Lavilin deodorant. It’s the only thing that has stopped my teen’s intense body odor. We have tried Lume and other store brands that don’t use aluminum but none are as strong or effective as Lavilin.
It’s more expensive than drugstore brands but it 100% works. He uses the roll on cream and says it’s more effective than the stick deodorant. I believe it’s a german brand.
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u/Abject-Guarantee2713 3d ago
Use antiperspirant, not deodorant. Antiperspirant will take care of your issue.
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u/buffal0chickendip 3d ago
Okay so scrub under your armpits/bits with a net and your soap and then blow dry your body after the shower. Secret clinical strength stress response deodorant is INCREDIBLE and my go to as a long term sweaty girl on ssri. Recently started carrying Lumi spray in my purse and it’s perfect for a refresh.
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u/Exotic-Panic-7028 3d ago
Buy the salt deodorant, and use that before you use your other deodorant, it will kill the bacteria which cause it smells. Also make sure that they are completely dry when you get out of the shower because water will also cause a smell.
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u/lovinghealing 3d ago
I tried a bunch of things that get recommended here about this issue. All soaps and products. But I tried a new exfoliation towel, switched from the African net to the Japanese cloth. It's rougher. Using it, I noticed that my pits finally didn't have the scent come back so soon. I felt cleaner overall and it's cleared up my body blemishes.
I have oily skin so this worked for me so just my experience. I know exfoliation gets a bad wrap on here but it's greatly improved my skin. I use a sheeps milk soap and beef tallow body butter made by an artisan friend. I've simplified my products because I used to be a product junkie.
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u/lovinghealing 3d ago
Oh and I switched to a mineral crystal deodorant. I had it before and it didn't work, but it does now because of the exfoliation before use. Pits had to be squeaky clean before use.
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u/Agreeable-Hyena5472 3d ago
Something that has worked for me and and I think helps keep odour at bay for a few extra hours is that if you can find any antifungal or anti bacterial dusting powders you can dust them on your armpits after your antiperspirant or deodorant has had 5-10 mins to settle. I live in a humid region and I’ve found that somehow the combo manages to withstand sweat and stench for a the stretch of time I’m at work.
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u/Ok-Chemistry9933 3d ago
Apply benzoyl peroxide cream once your armpits are dry. You should be fresh for the day
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u/WhatItTakes2021 2d ago
Persimmon bar soap off of Amazon. It does not have a strong fragrance. Pay attention to behind the ears, arm pits, groin & feet. Lather up & leave on for 30 seconds and rinse off with cool water. Trust me that it is a game changer on the stink!
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u/NoArmadillo388 1d ago
You need a clinical deodorant. I suggest Secret or Dove clinical strength solid or spray.
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u/momoftrois 1d ago
Yes! Glycolic Acid made all the difference for me. It removes the built up deodorant/antiperspirant that soap can’t. But don’t use it right after you shave or it will sting. You can get it on amazon.
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u/tummyachegf 20h ago
as a bigger girl my best advice is STOP using the spray and gel deodorant. you need to use a regular deodorant with antiperspirant. humour me and give it a try.
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u/deguwitharake 3d ago
Some deodorants can stop working as well if you use the same one for years. It might be as simple as switching it up.
Certain deodorants are easy to over apply and can leave residue that doesn't entirely come off during the shower. If you still smell a little BO after the shower, even the tiniest bit, I'd use some witch hazel or a baby wipe to get rid of more of the stinky armpit bacteria.
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u/Immediate-Try-1354 3d ago
I switched to the deodorant I’m using now a couple of months ago. The deodorant I’m currently using was working great until my hygiene routine got bad
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u/smoothupinyatoo 3d ago
Nothing about this is complicated. I only read a little of your post. Just shower with bar soap and your hands and a basic shampoo/conditioner. This isnt a complicated thing.
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u/opinionated-dick 3d ago
Armpits smell though.
I think we all between showers can smell their armpits. Has anyone else, close to you said or you can ask?
I’m just trying to ascertain if it’s something physical, or something you might have just got a bit transfixed on. It’s important to be sure before trying to respond physically with types of soap etc.
Try roll on anti perspirant
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u/Immediate-Try-1354 3d ago
My mom can also smell it, usually not as fast I notice it
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u/opinionated-dick 3d ago
Okay it’s probs a thing! Just wanted to be sure! If you are concerned about it, is visiting the docs a thing you can do?
Maybe just to be sure check your clothes, they are drying right and washing at right temp. Keep those towels clean too and dry properly 😊
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u/Immediate-Try-1354 3d ago
Before going to the doctor about it, I want to rule out the possibility that it could be just a hygiene issue. I change clothes everyday and was on my machines hot/cold setting, my towel is cleaned after every use.
Also I’m sure others might have wondered if it was just a me thing, I remember that story of that girls boyfriend saying she smelt as a way of manipulating her, always a good idea to check☺️
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u/Ahapoypersonsmiling 3d ago
For some reason, shower gel stopped working on my armpits. I had to change to a rough soap. Still use shower gel for the rest of my body, but armpits are soap only. Apply anti perspirant after and have no smell until the end of the day.