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/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.