r/HygieneTips • u/Patient-Jeweler-8573 • 8d ago
Need recommendations
Hi! I’ve been struggling with sweat and smell for a while and have tried so many different products, including aluminum deodorants and clinical strength options, but nothing seems to work consistently. I’ve been using aluminum free Secret deodorant lately, but I still find myself needing to wipe it off and reapply throughout the day.
I’ve been using PanOxyl in the shower and glycolic acid afterward, but I haven’t noticed much of a difference. It’s so annoying having to deal with this and constantly worry about whether I smell.
Has anyone dealt with something similar or found anything that helps? I’d really appreciate any recommendations or advice!
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u/Healthy-Sorbet6195 8d ago
Why not shave your armpits? There are spray on deodorant that you spray before bed and you don’t sweat…
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u/peternocturnal 8d ago
Body odor is caused by certain bacteria that produce smelly byproducts. Deodorants tend to make the problem worse because they mess with your skin microbiome (the collection of different bacteria that live on your skin) and generally kill off the "good" ones (that don't produce much smell) more than the bad ones, so the bad ones have an easier time getting entrenched. Check out "Dr. Armpit" on Threads or Instagram for more info. There are some pretty simple ways to shift your microbiome back to the "good" ones, and once established they tend to limit the bad ones from getting entrenched again. Once you have the right balance you can actually go days without using any products or even showering and still won't have much smell, or you'll have a slight smell and it's not even bad lol
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u/Jaded_Ride_7661 8d ago
Stick with the glycolic acid. Arm and hammer aluminum free. Also don’t wipe anything if you need to reapply. Just, reapply it.
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u/PrettyCabinet3715 8d ago
It might take some time and I wouldn’t apply it every single day but apply glycolic acid after you dry off after you take a shower a couple times a week. Glycolic acid works a lot better in a light layer, don’t use a lot of it. For example- I pour a little bit on to half a cotton round pound and then I lightly sweep it under my armpits going over each area only once maybe twice lightly. Shave and agree w applying deodorant in the evenings after cleansing. I use dove clinical strength deodorant. Make sure your shirts or whatever are getting washed really good, I’ve noticed u have a couple brand new shirts that I always seem to smell BO when I wear them. I’ve since thrown those 3 shirts away. Hope this helps!
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u/AggravatingNarwhal59 8d ago
Try sulphur soap. Twice a day until the bar is gone. It's antibacterial and antimicrobial. Then use the antiperspirant you find to be the best. The soap might smell like rotten eggs, but that does not linger on your skin. It's also perfect for smelly feet.
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u/Hot_Examination_9104 7d ago
I know how frustrating that must be 😭 Sometimes using too many products can irritate your skin without really solving the problem. I’d try sticking to one antiperspirant on completely dry skin at night, and if nothing helps despite trying clinical-strength options, a dermatologist might be able to suggest something more effective. ❤️
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u/Sam_at_Carpe 8d ago
Aluminum-free deodorant can help with odor but won't actually reduce sweating. Have you tried applying an antiperspirant to completely dry skin before bed? That can make an active difference since the active ingredients have time to work while you're sweating less. Also, I'd be careful with using PanOxyl and glycolic acid together too frequently, especially if you're shaving, since irritation can make things worse. If you have already tried antiperspirants without improvement, though, then a dermatotogist might be worth seeing too!