Extreme body odor

[Pea-n-Me]

Yes, the smell is from bacteria, which give off a sulphur like odor.

She must wash under her arms and her private area, then use an anti-perspirant/deodorant, and also wear clean clothes every day. I would go through all her clothes and see what gives. If they stink they may be a big part of the problem and have to go. Also, some nylon products cause bacteria to flourish (as opposed to cotton, which breathes) make sure her socks are all cotton. (I bought my DS some socks with nylon not too long ago and I couldn't believe the smell, which he'd never had before that. Got rid of those real quick! Back to cotton, no smell again, thankfully!) I think wearing shoes without socks also contributes to smelly shoes and feet in many people. Cotton socks are the best.

I don't know if I advocate an anti-bacterial soap, but I would recommend a strong deodorant soap, like Dial or Irish Spring, something like that. (For now I would can the body wash because it may not be strong enough, or may in itself be part of the problem.) Your doctor might recommend using something like Hibiclens just for her armpit areas, which gets at bacteria below the skin level. (Can buy at drugstore, but it's not meant to use long term, it's a pre-op scrub.) But honestly, it will all be for naught if she puts stinky clothes back on. Nylon shirts, especially, hold in armpit odor.

My DH once had to tell a coworker about his body odor as workers were threatening to put nasty notes and pictures in his area if he didn't. It was awful, he felt badly. The worker said he showered every day, but he wore the same clothes for several days without washing them. It got a little better, but never went away completely. If things don't improve, I would definitely see your doctor about it. Good luck.

 

[cabanafrau]

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

While these salts are in most deodorants on the market, I'm not sure I'd be comfortable using, or providing to my child no less, a straight solution of them as there may be health concerns with this substance.

 

[TheIncredibles!]

Second the shower with the bathing suit suggestion. My 11yo son thinks he's clean as long as he gets every part of him wet. @@

 

[wdwmom2]

If it were my DD, I would take her to the doctor to rule out any medical problem that may be causing this odor.

I would also try Vagisil Odor Block Protection Wash. Yes, it is made for more "feminine" odors, but it may help with all over general body odor.

And make sure she is actually scrubbing her body. Jumping in and out of a shower without scrubbing does not make a clean body!!!! Paying extra attention to all the crevices

Also, if her brother's deodorant works for her, that's what I would have her use

 

[Forum Jumper]

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

My thought, too.

The "clinical strength" deodorants are applied when you get out of the shower, no matter what time of day or night, and last into the next day.

I prefer to use a Mitchem product or a men's deodorant when we travel to warmer weather. They seem to work better. Even if it is scented I find I am really the only one that can smell it.

 

[tvguy]

While these salts are in most deodorants on the market, I'm not sure I'd be comfortable using, or providing to my child no less, a straight solution of them as there may be health concerns with this substance.

It's what my kids dermatologist had us do. As did my pediatrician 40 years earlier.

 

[NotUrsula]

I would start with the hygiene issue first, before you start going to strong Rx formulations from the dermatologist. Those can get very pricey. Mitchum Smartsolid Clinical Strength antiperspirant is very highly rated, but even that won't help if she isn't really clean. My DS doesn't normally have much of a problem, but he went through a stage at about age 12 when his hair just REEKED; it smelled like rotting meat. The solution we found at the time was actually very cheap: VO5 Kiwi-Lime Shampoo; which is $.87/bottle at my supermarket. It contains a lot of detergent, which cut through all the smelly oils his scalp was producing.

My DD7 doesn't have BO in the traditional sense, but she has foot odor that is horrendous, and she has had since infancy. She goes barefoot as often as humanly possible, thank God. Her dermatologist has recommended that we do botox on her feet when she gets older, but for now we use Green Tea soaks and Green Tea wipes in her locker; they do help. (Green Tea is antibacterial, and it's cheap.) I keep green teabags in all of her footwear and in her shoe bin, which helps as well.

Tea Tree (not the same plant) oil soaps and shampoos can help as well, but those often have a strong antiseptic odor and can get quite expensive.

For the clothing, add white vinegar to the rinse cycle. It removes odor very effectively, and again, doesn't cost much.

 

[sms]

Mitchum roll on unscented (little green bottle). Make sure she is washing with a wash cloth and rinsing well. Also make sure she is putting on clean clothes. Especially a bra. Some women wear their bras over and over.

 

[tina.tina]

When I was pregnant the first time, I had to change deodorant. The second time, I had to make sure I was using plenty and often. At your DD's age, even if she hasn't started her period, there could be times during the month when she is stinkier than others due to body chemistry changes. I think that's confusing for a kid who thinks she did the same kind of cleaning yesterday and didn't stink.

 

[Friend of a Mouse]

I would be cautious of antibacterial soaps as they are breeding resistant bacteria. Tea tree, Dial (non antibacterial), and similar can be good options. IF she is not shaving, I would start having her shave. When I worked for Disney, most performers (including the men), shaved their legs, underarms, and arms. That helped with not having as much for your skin to cling to.

One thing to be careful of is if she is using a loofah, she could be stripping the top layers of skin off and the loofahs and sponges hold bacteria in which does not help. I heard a dermatologist recently recommend not using anything and just using your hand with a good liquid shower soap.

I use Alaffia wich is an African black soap that is gentle and cheap. A 1 liter pump is less than 10 dollars. You could also talk to the school nurse to see if she has tips.

 

[Luv2Run]

If she doesn't have time to shower after gym class, I would have her pack a travel sized packet of Wet Ones antibacterial wipes in her backpack/gym locker that she can use to swipe down afterwards. I always bring those with me when I go to Disney, so I can swipe down midday if I feel myself sweating, so that I don't start stinking.

I'd also get a her a travel bottle of dry shampoo (scented or unscented, it's her choice). Since she can't shower after the gym, the dry shampoo helps soak up any residual sweat/grease that have accumulated on her scalp. I see free samples of dry shampoo through Sephora online all the time, so that's a bonus whenever I shop for makeup/skincare/fragrances.

And there is no shame in using men's deoderant. Both my older sister and my friend have hyperhydrosis, and men's deoderant is the only thing that keeps them from stinking when they over-sweat. They say it works better than the clinical strength women's deoderants.