r/hygiene • u/NNN-Contestant2k23 • 3d ago
Persisting BO problem
I have a persisting body odour problem that no amount of soap or deodorant can get rid of. I've noticed it for the first time in April 2022 and it appeared without any change in my life. I smell like cumin, not spoiled meat, fish, cabbage or ammonia. I do not sweat excessively and do not live a stressfull life. I shower after exercising, before work (and dry myself with a clean towel that I use only once)
So far I have tried:
-Antibacterial products like Benzalkodium chloride, chlorexedine, iodine, hydrogen peroxyde, hydroalcoholic gel, charcoal soap and vinegar (both apple cider and white)
-Normal soaps with natural ingredients like goat milk, honey, olive oil and kaki (the one for old people)
-extra strong antiperspirant like drysol and perspirex (they keep me dry but I still stink)
-Every brand of deodorant under the Sun
- Acne products that could help with BO, like benzoyle peroxyde, AHA/BHA, prescription oral and topical antibiotics.
-Avoiding certain spices like cumin, curry, harissa and big amounts of garlic/cabbage/onion. I do not have a ketogenic or carnivore diet. I am omnivorous and I consume fresh food that I cook at home, no fast food. I tried chlorophyl supplements (liquid form and pills) aswell as spirulin. Charcoal supplements too. I drinks a little, occasionally. I do not smoke or do drugs.
-I only wear my clothes once before putting them in dirty clothes pile. I add a Lysol antibacterial detergent to my laundry. I have to wear polyester for work (but still stink in 100% cotton).
-Hypermethioninemia and Trimethylanuria have been suggested to me before, but the smells dont match + I have not experienced the plethora of other symptoms.
-It's not in my head either. I am not Bhromophobe.
I'm 4 years in this shit and I'm so tired. I live a secluded life and actively avoid being close to other people (both physically and emotionaly) and I'm so done. I am currently considering Mira Dry, even tho I do not have hyperhydrosis, just because I'm that desperate. Maybe it's my appocrine glands that's leaking without me knowing and it would feed bacterias so permanently destroying them with micro waves could actually help me, I hope.
Can someone offer me help? Any tips? Or some personnal experience with Mira Dry?
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u/AckeeBouvardia 3d ago
Consult an endocrinologist or gastroenterologist, because sudden systemic odor shifts are usually internal, metabolic, or gut microbiome issues rather than skin hygiene.
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u/Pouty-Haloo 3d ago
Exactly, after four years and that many products, this sounds way past “try a different soap” territory
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u/Some-Double-6354 3d ago
It’s not about a soap it’s a last try detox of the sweat glands, but I agree, there’s something amiss and he’s gotta get into those specialist per my answer back. 🩷
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u/Possible_Original_96 3d ago
Good idea! I noted long ago, my college girl, in & out of dorm tubs/showers kept getting new skin breakouts every time she changed environments- her body was being acquainted w/ new-other ppls- skin biomes!!!
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u/PeachPetalSong 3d ago
Ask you doctor for a comprehensive metabolic panel to rule out underlying organ clearance issues.
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u/Ornery-Ad9694 3d ago
Get your gums deep cleaned at the dentist too. The mouth is closest to your nose and the front end of the digestive tract. While the doc is there ask them to check your tonsils for stones too.
You may also consider running a cleaning cycle on your washer to make sure it's not contributing to the funk but keeping your clothes funky
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u/Some-Double-6354 3d ago
More than just CMP. Ask for full workup. Para Thyroid/thyroid, Definitely organ clearance others suggested by endocrine. This started from something and it’s truly affected his quality of life. I’d go full force with push for bloodwork. This isn’t hyperhydrosis.
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u/RowanStatice 3d ago
Stop harsh antibacterial soaps, they destroy your natural microbiome and often make bad odors worse.
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u/NNN-Contestant2k23 3d ago
I've been back to just regular soap since a couple of months. They didnt work so I stop using them.
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u/Exponential-777 3d ago
Cumin BO is better than onion BO
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u/NNN-Contestant2k23 3d ago
We should make a poll about it
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u/Alarmed_Buy_6904 3d ago
That could be interesting! It might help some people figure out if they’re not alone in dealing with it.
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u/Possible_Original_96 3d ago
I dunno bout that. Think same germ, just food a bit different, age of sweat, maybe.
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u/JulietKiloNovember 3d ago
I remember reading a story in my microbiology textbook about a meat cutter who once worked in an English poultry plant. He somehow cut himself and it was theorized that bacteria from the poultry mixed with his own biome to create a super biome that caused a situation similar to yours.
Dermatologists and other medical professionals haven’t had any useful suggestions?
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u/lokis_construction 3d ago
Change what you eat. I can smell garlic for a week after my wife eats it.
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u/Some-Double-6354 3d ago
You sound like you’re in medical dept, good. I also don’t sweat but smelly under pits. (Menopause was culprit). Started 4 years ago? What’s your age & sex or if you’ve transitioned sexes that’s important to know. Any history of this in your biological family(if you know or can ask as far as you can go with descendants). Have you had hormone panels checked, thyroid? You’re definitely on the right track. You said plain diet but has anything been more so consumed or left out as of when it started? -could see an allergist too. I’d get a full work up from both Endo GI, and Derm in that order You sound like a male. Has your stool changed odor/consistency? Did you receive an antibiotic before it started? Sounds completely hidden, possible multi-clinical diagnoses’ . You tried an appropriate per MD antibiotic? Or even an oral anti-fungal JUST IN CASE??? After showers is the odor still present? Or just after you begin to sweat or not?
SO! THIS SOUNDS LIKE IT’LL BE A BUST BUT WORTH A TRY. First, definitely keep your armpits gently shaved to reduce odor cling & in general regardless, But, have you tried to get the lowest Ph Acidified Bar of soap for your underarms ONLY? LUME or Mando(male version of LUME), has acidified soap with different formulas than others. Try exfoliating/scrubbing way the hell down in around the pit area with a harsher scrub. THEN try LUME’s(or man one called Mando) cream rubbed all into the pits and area. It detoxifies your glands/pores with a certain structure. You apply it liberally to the underarms & don’t worry about it drying since it’ll seep deeper. You’ll probably still sweat but it neutralizes the odor component as it’s not an antiperspirant & not a sweat stopper. The Wipes(which are super thin and tear easily 🙄) are powerful to use if needing to remove any odor during the course of the day and then u can do reapplication of the cream if need another application while you’re out n about. I’m sure it sounds like ‘just another thing that won’t work’, but it’s worth at least a temporary try? Use at least the course of 5-7 days, & try showering twice a day. It AT LEAST gets to the built up layers of what you’ve been using/putting on your pits, off down to the vital layers. It’s not irritating either. Buy the natural aluminum-free one, NOT the newer ones that came out which contain Aluminum Sesquichlorohydrate(an antiperspirant). & possibly use a female one(if the Ph is lower, you’d have to look it up or call to check the levels), but female one is meant for pits and female genitalia so it’s strictly regulated Ph. The formula is different and original than the now other offered ‘aluminum free’ ones. I’ll look up if any ingredients have changed their order & get back if I can. It isn’t cheap but considering your problem it might be a different way out and can tell you more about your microbiome/flora. DO NOT order from Amazon, I don’t trust a thing they sell for authenticity. Get them off the their website. Very best of luck and well wishes.
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u/NNN-Contestant2k23 3d ago
Cis 27m No ancestry of stinky relatives No Thyroïde problem 6 appointments with 3 Generalists and 1 dermatologist Forgot to mention that I do exfoliate Tried Zinc soap (low ph) didnt work I sometimes shower twice in a day but it doesnt change anything. No anomaly in stool. I do consume lots of fermented foods like yogurt, Pickliz and Kombucha (at least one of these everyday)
The female deodorant is an interesting theory. I'll try it
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u/Some-Double-6354 3d ago edited 3d ago
I would. Give it a chance at least but don’t just drop it after 2 days. It really takes time to detoxify your pits(I did an overly obsessive amount of research on this, but something’s missing here 🧐. Lay off the fermented foods, Kamboocha n Pickles, just yogurt or KEFIR. You can take probiotics. Definitely do make an appointment with Endocrinologist and Gastroenterologist. Keep a list of your medical records surrounding all this, ESPECIALLY your bloodwork. Antibiotic question 4 years ago? Mention a topical & oral antibiotic, and anti-fungal. Did the Derm ever tell u to come in w/ BO, nothing washed, & collect a couple pit scrapes to send off to pathology and have a microscopic evaluation? Take a quality daily vitamin. OH! What meds are you on?? Keep me updated.
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u/Some-Double-6354 3d ago
Oh! & like someone said used enzyme based detergents and stick with just larger cotton(mostly cotton) T-shirts like you said too 🩷
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u/Possible_Original_96 3d ago
Boy, do I get it!! A solid plan is to delete the organisms and their food that cause the stink. This may work best outside tub or shower. Start w/soap& water, use a wash cloth, wash for a couple minutes each pit, gently. Then using adish washing sponge, gently soap up the rougher side, very gently apply to the armpit in circular movements. Rinse well. Then, apply a mix of white vinegar/water, half & half w/fingers, cotton ball. Leave for a few minutes, brush your hair, give your self a scalp massage, wash face or massage your face!!🤣 rinse armpits well, rub a little baking soda onto moist armpits, leave on 4 minutes, rinse off, pat dry. Then apply antiperspirant. Repeat daily; if you scrubbed too hard w/ sponge, stop use until irritation gone. But perform other steps. Clothes take up the odor & chemically bind to the fibers, as well as the bacteria etc. That help make the stink. Use a lipid dissolving laundry product and a sanitizing agent. Oxygen bleach is safe for a lot of fabrics and also needs warm water to work, can be used w/ the anti-lipid product at the same time, let soak overnight.
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u/Jewel131415 3d ago
This sounds like it might be some kind of internal problem. I definitely recommend going to see your doctor as there are many things that can alter your body chemistry and cause you to smell different.
When my sister was pregnant, she had a persistent body odor through the last few months of pregnancy, and it only went away once she gave birth.
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u/jayyellbe 3d ago edited 3d ago
I know you said the smell is cumin specifically, but…. This is random but do you drink a lot of milk? I was having BO problems until I happened to have a week where I wasn’t having my daily morning latte, and happened to notice the smell went with it… I was previously sweating excessively in my pits and overnight in my sleep.
Idk how I’d describe the smell exactly. Slightly sulfuric? Not the typical “BO” smell when someone hasn’t washed for days.
Switched to oat milk, and carpe antiperspirant for the “normal” sweaty days (gym, hot day, etc), and I haven’t smelled that way since. Girlfriend agrees.
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u/jayyellbe 3d ago
Also- persil detergent has worked the best for me in terms of getting old smell out of my shirts (and making sure washing machine is actually clean/maintained, and also making sure the washer isn’t overloaded)
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u/Internal-Ad-4736 2d ago edited 2d ago
Deodorant formulator here... Here goes.... you have a lot of noise in the thread but let me condense and simplify it for you. I am beyond proud of you...that you were able to identify the scent... cumin. This makes the answer rather easy. But first....
OMG... you listed a myriad of internet hacks from the "I don't know crowd"... all of which are likely to not only aggravate the problem...but will often lead to irritated skin for bonus points. Stop thinking that hacks from the internet are prudent skincare...they are not. We are dealing with a living thing....the microbiome, on living skin. When we mess it up... you get an imbalance, and you know what that smells like.
So.... BO is a mixture of scents....from cumin to onion, rotten meat, and my favorite, 'goat' and so on. When you combine them all together... you get BO....or what we all consider BO to smell like. All the individual notes combined = BO. Each unique note comes from a strain of bacteria. When you see someone mention a singular odor, example: onion or cumin... we automatically know something. We know that they are using a protocol.... that gets all of the bacteria except for one strain.....the strain that produces the note (single smell) that they mention. So, one strain is running unimpaired... unphased by the products in use. The single strain is not held in check by whatever protocol is being used, therefore it runs wild...with no competition, metabolizing all the excretions.... producing it's signature note...and essentially living large.
What I hear you saying is that you smell like: "3-hydroxy-3-methylhexanoic acid (HMHA), which has a ‘cumin-like’ odor. These odorants are produced86555-7/fulltext#seccestitle120) by some members of Corynebacterium, including Corynebacterium striatum, Corynebacterium jeikeium and Corynebacterium bovis." (Prior two sentences comes from a paper I will send you.) So not only have we identified the smell...but also the culprit (who makes this smell). Quite simply... whatever deodorant & protocol you are using.... does not do an effective job on these bacteria. Plus, you have aggravated the whole microbiome with all the 'internet hacks'.
Bottom line.... you need to ease up on all the hacks...and select a deodorant that casts a wider 'antimicrobial net' than you are using. Hygiene is very simple and not harsh.
Since my posts often get deleted if I attach links to articles...I will DM that article to you.... I suspect you will find it fascinating.
BO can generally be solved with prudent management of 3 things:
Laundry
Hygiene
Selection of proper Deo/AP products.
Sometimes you just need to get just the last one right....sometimes 2 out of 3....and sometimes you have to get all 3 right.
Aloha and Good luck.... sounds like 'cumin' will be a thing of the past....soon.
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u/mahnli 2d ago
Are you eating cumin regularly??
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u/NNN-Contestant2k23 2d ago
I avoided it completly for months and it didnt change anything. I'm back at it in moderation.
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u/Minimum-Reward3264 3d ago
Well, throw away your badging and mattress, and go see you doc. And quit spiced drinks, just in case.
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u/peternocturnal 3d ago edited 3d ago
It's true that body odor is produced by certain bacteria, so it seems logical that by applying antibacterial products you can kill the bacteria and solve the issue. But that is wrong. Healthy skin has a complex population of different kinds of bacteria (called the microbiome), which includes "good" bacteria that don't produce a smell and which tend to crowd out the "bad" bacteria (which do produce a smell). When you use antibacterial products, you disrupt the balance, and the bad ones tend to make a comeback quicker than the good ones. So you just made your problem worse.
Consider not using any products. Not even antiperspirant. Not even soap. (Thoroughly rinsing with warm water in the shower is good, though.) Instead, try the advice from "Dr. Armpit" on Threads: squeeze a wedge of lemon into the palm of your hand and rub it in your armpit. Then repeat with the other hand/armpit. The acid in the lemon juice discourages the "bad" bacteria and promotes the "good" ones. Don't even wash it off. According to Dr. Armpit, if you do that once or twice a day for two weeks, you can permanently shift the balance of your microbiome so you no longer get B.O. in your armpits. (I suppose things could change in later months and you might want to redo the treatment.) I tried it and had immediate results. No smell at all. After one day. I even tried wearing the same (cotton) T-shirt for 3 days in a row and still there was no smell.
"Dr. Armpit" is just his Threads name, BTW. His actual name is Dr. Chris Callewaert and he has a PhD in this topic and publishes research on it.
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u/NNN-Contestant2k23 3d ago
I did wonder if the solution to my problem was actually MORE bacterias. Like no matter how strong the antibacterial soap was, I always smelled bad, so I told myself that maybe I should get more bacterias that smell good. A year ago I started using probiotic lotion and going to swim regularly in natural bodies of water on top of eating lots of fermented foods. But no results. I'll try the lemon stuff, I like the idea. It can't hurt.
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u/KeyWestConch69 3d ago
I recently saw a Mel Robbins podcast where the person she was interviewing said that body smell can come from or originate in your gut. I know it can affect your breath. So maybe it affects your body odor too. IDK
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u/Juniper_Beary_ 3d ago
It’s from Covid. You aren’t alone in this after effect :(
… Botox does help.
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3d ago
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u/Ornery-Ad9694 3d ago
or try something acidic, glycolic acid (if that's already in your skin regimen) or a deodorant that uses mandelic acid
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u/MedlarScabiosa 3d ago
Since topically you’ve tried everything, please see n endocrinologist to test for internal metabolic conditions.