Extreme body odor

[pls5286]

Moms of girls, help! My 11 year old has extreme body odor. So bad that yesterday when she got in the truck it took my breath away. I had to make her go bathe when we got in the door. She showers in the morning and I always remind her to put on deodorant in the morning after her shower and she has it to put on after gym.

I don't want her to become the stinky kid. She is having enough problems at school as it is. My boys NEVER stunk this bad. Suggestions?

We have tried several different types of deodorant and soap for her. She uses adult body wash. Honestly the only time she doesn't stink has been when she forgot to put some on at home and her brother made her put on his in the truck on the way to school.

Help!

 

[*pixie*dust*]

Moms of girls, help! My 11 year old has extreme body odor. So bad that yesterday when she got in the truck it took my breath away. I had to make her go bathe when we got in the door. She showers in the morning and I always remind her to put on deodorant in the morning after her shower and she has it to put on after gym.

I don't want her to become the stinky kid. She is having enough problems at school as it is. My boys NEVER stunk this bad. Suggestions?

We have tried several different types of deodorant and soap for her. She uses adult body wash. Honestly the only time she doesn't stink has been when she forgot to put some on at home and her brother made her put on his in the truck on the way to school.

Help!

Is she self conscious and maybe not showering after gym class? Running and exercising, she may be sweating all over and it's not just her armpits that are causing the odor.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Smell is usually bacteria, so the professional Suave may work, and or the other prescription strength.

I am sure you will get a lot of answers, but sometimes you need to find out where the smell is coming from. She may have a yeast infection and or a fungal infection if this is something new.

I would start with making sure she washes and RINSES properly. Find the area that is causing the odor, and go from there. Include clothes and shoes. Problem with smells is that you sometimes don't smell it on yourself.

Also, I agree she may be shy after gym and is not taking care of the sweat.

I hope you get if figured out soon as I know children can be so cruel.

Big hugs to you and her.

 

[Miskey]

Moms of girls, help! My 11 year old has extreme body odor. So bad that yesterday when she got in the truck it took my breath away. I had to make her go bathe when we got in the door. She showers in the morning and I always remind her to put on deodorant in the morning after her shower and she has it to put on after gym.

I don't want her to become the stinky kid. She is having enough problems at school as it is. My boys NEVER stunk this bad. Suggestions?

We have tried several different types of deodorant and soap for her. She uses adult body wash. Honestly the only time she doesn't stink has been when she forgot to put some on at home and her brother made her put on his in the truck on the way to school.
Help!

Why not just buy her what he wears, in unscented?

 

[EMom]

Some people just stink. There. I said it.

On DH's side of the family, there is a stinky gene that blessedly passed him by or I would never have married him. It only hits when they get really hot and sweaty. I was warned about it, but went years before I experienced it. They are very clean people, who shower and use deodorant, etc. Very clean. But if they get sweaty at all, dear heavens! It only affects a few members of the family, but it's the same funky smell. Vile. The only cure is a long shower.

When I taught, there was a really nice boy who had the worst BO. I mean, it made me begin to retch if he got within 3 feet of me. A few of the girls quietly asked to be moved away because it was making them sick. I spoke to the counselor and coach, which is how is was handled when I taught and both had a chat with him. No change. We wondered if he showered, used deodorant, wasn't washing his clothes....what?

Then his mother came in for a meeting and she had the exact same foul odor that could clear a room. She looked clean as could be, but the smell would knock you out. At that point, I figured it ran in the family and gave up.

I remember a girl from my grade school who smelled awful when she sweated, but only then. Again, she was clean. I think some people just have a smell that comes out when they sweat. You can shower and use prescription strength deodorant, but it may still pop up.

Teens can be stinky in general, as they are active and the activity to shower ratio isn't always what it should be. But this may go beyond that issue.

 

[pls5286]

Why not just buy her what he wears, in unscented?

He uses old spice and I can't find unscented.

She has gym the last period of the day. They don't give the kids enough time to shower and change to go meet the bus. I never thought about it being hereditary. Her dad can put off some strong smells at times, but I chalked it up to his alcohol use and personal hygiene. He let himself go downhill after we divorced. I may have to buy some of the prescription strength and see how that does

Thanks!

 

[BadgerGirl84]

I would talk to her perhaps about really scrubbing in the shower. Like scrubbing her scalp really well with her fingertips, using soap and a wash cloth for all of her body...rather than just a casual swipe of the limbs with a Bath and Body Works Shower Gel. Does she smell totally fresh after she gets out of the shower before she does any major physical activity?

Poor girl--hope you guys can get a handle on this. It's very tough to be teased.

 

[Stacerita]

He uses old spice and I can't find unscented. She has gym the last period of the day. They don't give the kids enough time to shower and change to go meet the bus. I never thought about it being hereditary. Her dad can put off some strong smells at times, but I chalked it up to his alcohol use and personal hygiene. He let himself go downhill after we divorced. I may have to buy some of the prescription strength and see how that does

Thanks!

Find a scent she can use then. They have a lot of scents out now. DBF uses old spice and everytime he gets a different scent. None really smell like the original old spice.

Also, make sure she is really washing when she showers and not just standing in the water.

Find where the stink is coming from and see if you can do something about it. If its her feet, different socks or shoes, body then different soap, under arms new deoderant. And some people just stink. No matter what they do, they stink.

 

[tvguy]

Go to the pharmacy and ask the pharmacist for a bottle of aluminum chlorohydrate.

 

[bellebud]

Go over proper showering techniques with her. smell her arm pits and feet when she gets out of the shower… is she cleaning everywhere well?

If not, have her were a bathing suit and you instruct her while she's in the shower.

Use Dial "antibacterial" soap - the bar soap is better than the liquid body wash.

She should also use a scrubby-type washcloth, especially in her arm pits.

Prescription strength deodorant may be needed.

She may have to shower at night and the morning - many people I know do this, just because they like to.

Hope you can get this figured out for her.

 

[Jennasis]

She HAS deodorant to use...but are you sure she's actually USING it?

 

[runwad]

My girls wear men's antiperspirant they say all the girls do as the mens' works better than women's. They are both athletes and I don't care what they wear they still stink after a game or workouts, but try the old spice, that's what my girls wear.ha

 

[Handbag Lady]

Has she had a check-up lately? I went to school with a very smelly friend and she had a medical issue that caused the smell. There was nothing that could be done about it, but boy, I can recall that smell like no one's business.

 

[Threeboysandachickie]

Shower soap was the answer for my DS. he finally admitted he didn't like using the communal soap bar. Now he uses axe body wash. no more stinky kid!!! Definitely have herntake deodorant into PE, (or in her school locker) and give her a PE shirt to change into.

 

[lizabu]

Odors are caused by bacteria. I would suggest using antibacterial body wash or soap too.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

As a mom of 2 girls who are 18 and 23, you have to make sure they are actually washing themselves and using deodorant at that age.

I had to use the "bathing suit" technique as well.

To my amazement my child was actually clean after that shower.

Basically she was not using soap and all that jazz. Busted.

 

[ChristmasElf]

Take her to the Dr!
There is a medical condition called Bromidrosis and can be treated with an Rx.

This condition can be brought on by stress, even certain foods like eating a lot of broccoli, brussel sprouts, garlic, onion, etc can make this condition worse.
There are other medical conditions that can cause the odor as well.

Have her checked out by the Dr and let them diagnose what the issue is and how to treat it.

 

[hollypoast]

Take her to the Dr!
There is a medical condition called Bromidrosis and can be treated with an Rx.

This condition can be brought on by stress, even certain foods like eating a lot of broccoli, brussel sprouts, garlic, onion, etc can make this condition worse.
There are other medical conditions that can cause the odor as well.

Have her checked out by the Dr and let them diagnose what the issue is and how to treat it.

I would agree with this but also would suggest having her put antibacterial gel (unless it bothers her skin) on her underarms after showing and use Old Spice Fiji. (more of a girly scent) Good luck!

 

[goofyintoronto]

Is she self conscious and maybe not showering after gym class? Running and exercising, she may be sweating all over and it's not just her armpits that are causing the odor.

Do all grade schools/middle schools have showers? my DS previous grade schools have never had showers. So taking a shower wasnt an option. And now that he's in highschool, there are showers BUT there's not enough time to shower. There's only 5 minutes between classes, so he has 5 min to change and get to the next class!

OP, if old spice works for your DD, I would use it!!

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

Here are some tips from a fellow sufferer:
1. Secret clinical deodorant. Clinical deodorant work best if applied before bed

2. If she has any hair under her arms, even if it is blonde and almost invisible, it can hold the bacteria and the smell

3. Now that the smell is in her shirts you need to treat them to get the smell out. Regular washing won't work, and even if she doesn't smell her body heat can activate the smell in her shirts. I use an oxyclean paste applied directly to the armpits of the shirt.

4. Get her a pack of baby wipes for her locker. She needs to wipe out her armpits and apply deodorant after gym, before she puts her regular clothes back on so that she doesn't ruin her shirts.