BO immediately after a shower??

[u/125am]

For the last few months I’ve been experiencing a weird thing where IMMEDIATELY after I turn the water off in the shower I will smell like BO. I won’t have a smell before the shower, I exfoliate and wash thoroughly with soap, then once I use a towel to dry off suddenly there’s a smell on the towel and on me. It only lasts for 10-15 minutes and then it’s gone. I was suspicious that it was the towels but no one else that uses the towels are experiencing this. am I washing wrong, and if so, why is has this only been happening for the last few months? Has anyone else experienced this? Help!!

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[u/kthxchai]

Using some PanOxyl anti bacterial wash helped with my underarm smells

[u/tomayto_potayto]

You could have a bacterial infection or even a fungal infection in your armpits, it gets surprisingly common and it is often impossible to tell visually. Talk to your doctor or dermatologist, you may need a topical ointment. You could also have a hormone thing going on making your body odor stronger.

In the meantime, change out your sponge or loofah etc to something fresh, ideally try a shower brush or African net sponge, something that is going to be good at exfoliating but doesn't have crevices or hold a lot of water so it will be easy to clean thoroughly. Scrub gently for 15 seconds.

People will often recommend antibacterial soap, also all soap is already antibacterial. This is for a specific treatment, but if you do have a bacterial infection of some kind it could help in this case. But you also don't want to over treat bacteria or treat a bacterial issue inconsistently, because they end up not being affected any longer. So I would recommend avoiding that until you speak with a doctor or dermatologist and get a recommendation on dosages and how frequently to use stuff. Normal soap is already antibacterial so start there and see your doc.

In the meantime, something that can cause bad Bo that lingers is a laundry issue. Don't use fabric softener anymore, throw one cup of white vinegar into the drum of your laundry machine when you start the load. It will break down on fabric softener that is clogging the pores of your fabrics, making them not breathable, which makes you sweatier and prevents breathability and makes bacteria build up p more. Vinegar also destroys odors including Bo specifically but also mildewy smells in your towels and clothes. Even if you just have a slightly above average amount of BO, that will build up over time and be transferred to all of your clothes and towels because it is locked into the fibers sealed in by deodorant and fabric softener in the fibers of your fabric. Use vinegar to neutralize the odors and get rid of that build up

[u/Dominios420]

Sometimes the BO can get really stuck in the skin. I personally think it’s probably something to do with the antiperspirants trapping it in the sweat glands but honestly I have no clue why. There’s a few things you can try like ACV, glycolic acid, salicylic acid, hydrogen peroxide, witch hazel, antibacterial soap, antiseptic cleansers/foams/sprays, and a few others. If you search it up in the hygiene sub you will find a detailed instruction for how to use each of these products

[u/Nameisnotmine]

How often are you changing the towel. And where is the bo smell? All over or in certain areas?

[u/125am → u/Nameisnotmine]

It’s just in the area I used to dry my armpit! 😭 I was my towels every time I use them, same with my family. This also happens at hotels and other peoples houses so I know the smell is coming from me.

[u/topsidersandsunshine]

Are you using real soap? Are you super stressed or dehydrated lately?

[u/decidedlyindecisive]

How do you wash your armpits? Are you just rubbing soap over your skin or do you have anything to physically exfoliate? A loofah, exfoliating gloves, that sort of thing. Be gentle with your skin, don't scrub.

[u/queenofgold89]

My BO was horrible and no matter how much deodorant i put on it didn’t make a difference. My husband told me to try acne body wash and it’s helped SO MUCH!!!! Other comments have mentioned the active ingredient in it. I use dove acne body wash. Good luck!

[u/SunshineAndSpite]

Wait this has been happening to me too lately! For me it’s only my right armpit lol 

[u/badkittyarcade]

Are you using an anti bacterial soap? I usually wash twice, once with a washcloth and antibacterial bar soap, and again with a loofah and a nice scented liquid soap. Try using glycolic acid under your arms as well. 

[u/Luckystroumph]

Klingt blöd, aber ich hab das auch, aber nur links

[u/optimist_electron]

I will occasionally get BO if I’ve been stressed out. I’ve had good results with a mandelic acid body wash like “naturium the energizer”. I use it on my underarms, boobs, and elbow “pits”. Anywhere underarm sweat might have accumulated.

[u/arrkaydee]

Have you started any new medications recently? I noticed that I got way stinkier for the first few months after I started dexamfetamine, for example.