My teen stinks!!

[Kallison]

This is freaking me out -- my 14 year old has the worst body odor. I just sent him upstairs to shower and he didn't even have gym today. If he does the least bit of physical activity he STINKS! He showers every morning and sometimes in the PM too when he gets home. He puts hot sauce on everything -- could that be the culprit. He says if I ask him if he uses soap and deodorant one more time he is going to scream. I actually sniff him before I let him out the door. Should I ask for a prescription deodorant? I don't want him to be the stinky kid nobody wants to sit next to!

 

[RitaZ.]

Most kids that age don't shower all that well. I think their idea of a shower is very different from ours. Sometimes I smell my DS's hair and it's . I ask him if he used shampoo and he says that he did, "A lot, mom". I smell it again and realize that the top of his head smells really good, but the back is .

I told DS that girls don't like stinky boys. He says that it smells really bad in his school's locker room.

 

[Maleficent13]

A funny story: once my brother asked me if I would wash his hair for him in the sink (I don't remember why). He was early teens I think. Anyway, I did, and then styled it for him. Later I reminded him that Mom had said he needed to take a shower before bed. He replied: "Why? You already washed my hair, and that's all you take a shower for."

I told my mom later what he said, and her response was, "Oh well...I guess standing in the shower letting the shampoo run off him is better than nothing!"

Hope he doesn't read this!! (Sorry, bro...but no one knows you!)

eta: despite this, he never stank! (just wanted to say that in his defense!)

 

[Katy Belle]

Have you tried just switching deodorants? I know there are some that work for me for a while, then stop working, so I switch and its ok again. I would start with that, and buy him some cologne! Also, make sure he's not re-wearing clothes! My boys will try to put on the same dirty shirt following a shower!

Good luck!
Katy

 

[tiggerwannabe]

When he gets deoderant, make sure it is an anti-persperant AND deoderant. Using ap alone doesn't eliminate the smell.

 

[sweet angel]

I would start with that, and buy him some cologne!

NO NO NO NO NO! There's nothing worse than someone who stinks and then douses themselves in cologne to try to cover it up. It's almost better to just stink!

 

[kidzmom3]

Body Odor
Causes
Conventional wisdom suggests that perspiration is the cause of body odor. However, perspiration by itself is basically odorless, but it is the bacteria and odors coming from other sources that are the real culprits. Anaerobic bacteria, which flourish when your body doesn't have enough oxygen, may well be the cause of your body odor. As the body's metabolism goes to work, it gives off odors which is the body's way of ridding itself of waste products. Any imbalances in metabolism will result in stronger odors. We suggest you visit our Bad Breath, Foot Odor and Sweaty Hands sections for in-depth discussions of some of the causes and remedies.

 

[Kitty 34]

My youngest went thru a "stinky" phase for awhile but he's gotten better. He will be 16 this coming Feb.


btw....I agree with the NO cologne right now. My oldest puts that on like water and that can be almost as bad!!!

 

[Kallison]

OK that really long post just scared me -- lol, but thanks for the info. Yes I make him change clothes, I make DH watch to see if he soaps up and we use deodorant soap. He has more deodorant than CVS!! Maybe I'll suggest we cut out the hot sauce for awhile. Thanks for all the tips.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

I have a "brother story"

I grew up with 11 siblings. ONE, I said ONE bathroom. So, if one of us was going to take a shower, we would make an announcement through the house "I am going to be using the shower, if you have to use the bathroom, go now or forever hold your pee"

One day, I had come home from work, and I had to GO! if you know what I mean. I ran in the house from my car, ran through the door and headed for the bathroom, my mom yelled that my brother was showering..I knocked on the door, yelled for him to keep the shower curtain closed, and I was going to use the toilet. I walk in, and there he sat, on the toilet with the lid down, fully clothed, while he let the shower run.

So, that was his little trick. He would turn on the shower, and not get in, he would then throw a towel over his head and hurry up the stairs so mom and dad could not see his hair was not wet.

What is it with teen boys and hygiene?

 

[Piglet's Pal]

My 12 y/o DS has really bad body odor when he eats Doritos! Maybe the hot sauce your son is eating is causing the odor.

PP

 

[Nancy]

My Dd tells me all the freshman boys stink...maybe it's just their hormones kicking in that make them stinkier at that age?

 

[Robmom]

It's probably his age. I went through a similar problem when I was a teenager. I didn't have an odor, but a lot of underarm wetness. It was very embarrassing. It had to do with my teenage hormones. Or it could be that he's not scrubbing enough in the shower. Maybe you could get one of those loufa sponges if he would use it.