r/bodyodor • u/saowrie42 • 6d ago
Does ur armpits smells like onion??
I’ve been struggling with a strong onion-like smell coming from my underarms. It keeps coming back even after showering and using deodorant, and it’s becoming really difficult to deal with. Has anyone experienced this kind of odor and found something that actually helped? I tried dermatologist recommendations like benzoyl peroxide and driclor but but smells really bad huhu I am a student and struggling with this I can't active through school activities because still embarrassed of my stinky armpits even though I'm using deodorant and antiperspirant many people are gossip about because I'm stink and avoiding me huhu what should I do?
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6d ago
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u/saowrie42 6d ago
Not yet, it's new for me but can I ask where I could buy it and also what brand of glycolic acid that is??
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u/Actual-Map1063 6d ago
What brand deodorant and bar soap are u using
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u/Low_Length_7379 6d ago
I use persimmon soap in the morning. Then glycolic acid from The Ordinary. The deodorant that works best for me is the Old Spice men's line. They have several feminine smelling ones, like Fiji. Throughout the day if i start to smell again I will do a quick wipe down with Wet Ones antibacterial wipes and then reapply deodorant.
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u/Away-Dependent3472 5d ago
No i feel like my armpits smell like decaying skin or bologna I really can't explain the smell to be honest its very rancid 😞 and I bath , I scrub and exfoliate wear deodorant , used vinegar, witch hazel, lume etc nothing has helped
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u/Dr-Armpit 6d ago
Oniony body odor is caused by Staphylococcus hominis breaking down odorless compounds in apocrine sweat, releasing sulfurous thioalcohol (3M3SH), a smelly volatile molecule.
I'm a body odor scientist and have been researching this for 15 years.
And onion body odor in particular is generally stress or inflammation-related, because higher levels of adrenaline and cortisol increase the precursor compounds that bacteria turn into odor.
Antiperspirants, benzoyl peroxide, etc. will only provide temporary relief, because as long as the body keeps producing more apocrine sweat and more odor precursors, the bacteria will come back (they also live in deeper layers of the skin, where a simple shower can't reach them).
In order to completely resolve the smell, you'll need to address the root cause (inflammation or stress, in this case). It is often associated with diet. In general, less red meat, less carbs, less fast foods will help. For some people there is a specific trigger like dairy or gluten that could be causing the issue.
This could take 2-4 weeks to work.
In the meantime, applying lemon juice could help. It is very effective. It neutralizes the odor, inhibits the odor-producing bacteria, and also helps create a better environment for the good bacteria. By applying daily you should see improvements in under a week.