Dealing with body odor: How to stop that strong sweat smell?

Looking for some advice or if anyone’s dealt with this before

I'm 22. I've never really had issues with body odor before. I tend to sweat a lot—just how my body works—but it was always just water. No smell. (Apparently, sweat itself shouldn't even have an odor...)

But lately, the smell has been intense. Even a little bit of exertion and it hits me.
I'm not sure what's causing it. I've been experimenting with some pretty strong deodorants recently, and honestly, I think I might have irritated my skin a bit.
Could this just be a surface-level issue from the products? Or is it something internal? (I eat healthy and work out quite a bit)🤷

Should I just wait it out, or is it time to go see a dermatologist?

😕😢

Look, if you know someone running an Avon side hustle, they usually have some decent jeans lying around, so you might as well go see if you can snag a pair to try on🙂

Douglas King9 said:Looking for some advice or if anyone’s dealt with this before

I'm 22. I've never really had issues with body odor before. I tend to sweat a lot—just how my body works—but it was always just water. No smell. (Apparently, sweat itself shouldn't even have an odor...)

But lately, the smell has been intense. Even a little bit of exertion and it hits me.
I'm not sure what's causing it. I've been experimenting with some pretty strong deodorants recently, and honestly, I think I might have irritated my skin a bit.
Could this just be a surface-level issue from the products? Or is it something internal? (I eat healthy and work out quite a bit)🤷

Should I just wait it out, or is it time to go see a dermatologist?

😕😢

You can find crystal deodorants at most drugstores. They're great—they neutralize the odor and last all day long...

Could just be PMS, honestly.🙂

Douglas Reyes4 said:Could just be PMS, honestly.🙂

Are you serious? Even that can be affected by PMS? God, give me a break...😁

Anyone know anything about this condition?
I shower, and five minutes later, I feel like I'm rotting. 😢 No clue what's going on.
I'm washing up multiple times a day, but it doesn't matter—the smell just comes right back. 😢

I’m dealing with the exact same thing😢>
It’s the smell and taste of my sweat that’s the nightmare. It’s not even about how much I sweat—I don't really sweat that much—but the odor is just unbearable.
I watch everything I eat. No heavy spices, no red meat, no alcohol... I’ve consulted dozens of dermatologists, and honestly, none of them have a clue what’s happening or how to fix it.

The volume of sweat isn't the issue, but the scent and taste are awful (and this happens immediately after I shower).
My diet is mostly fruits, vegetables, poultry, and fish. No strong spices, no alcohol, no red meat. I’ve talked to dozens of specialists, and nobody can give me answers. There isn't any underlying mental stress either—I love my job and my life is solid. I read somewhere that this might be bromhidrosis, caused by bacteria or fungi. If anyone knows anything more about this, please help.

I’ve got a serious issue with sweating, especially during the night, and the odor is—to put it mildly—absolutely revolting.

The real kicker is my room, which doubles as my study space. It doesn’t matter how much I clean; within twenty-four hours of skipping a laundry cycle, everything starts smelling again. First it's the pillowcase, then the rest of the bedding follows suit.

I also made a questionable decision by buying a high-end Tempur-Pedic mattress, which seems to have just exacerbated the whole situation.

Basically, if I keep the door and windows shut tight overnight around 8 PM, I wake up the next morning to an unbearable stench filling the room.

I’m not entirely sure if this belongs in a health forum or somewhere else, but living in this room has become a total disaster.

How do I fix this, minimize it, or just deal with it?

First things first—try cutting out those heavy spices from your diet.
I mean stuff like McCormick seasonings or similar blends.
In most cases, you can actually eliminate much of that odor just by adjusting what you eat.

Grace Richardson24 said:First things first—try cutting out those heavy spices from your diet.
I mean stuff like McCormick seasonings or similar blends.
In most cases, you can actually eliminate much of that odor just by adjusting what you eat.

I don't actually eat a ton of spices or anything like that...

Though, honestly, a big part of this mess is the mattress itself. That old foam is so pungent it’s basically poisoning everything else in the room.

Look, spices are everywhere—it's practically impossible to dodge them completely.
The old saying "you are what you eat" really hits the nail on the head here; it shows how much control we actually have over our overall health just through our diet. So, that’s the logical first step.

The second thing—and if you're dealing with the issues you mentioned (which, let's face it, you probably are if you're asking), it suggests there are some internal processes going on that aren't exactly doing you any favors. It wouldn't hurt at all to check in with a doctor and run some basic blood work.

As for the bed—grab one of those waterproof mattress protectors so moisture doesn't soak straight through into the foam. Honestly, you're better off layering two of them under where you sleep.
Also, try to position the bed so it catches a bit of sunlight during the day. Just make sure to leave the covers off so it can actually air out and dry.

Hormones can definitely trigger excessive sweating and a stronger body odor.
I think someone mentioned cortisol, progesterone, and testosterone earlier... there was some advice about tweaking your diet specifically for progesterone. If I track down that post, I'll drop the link for you.
Stress is also a massive factor in all of this.

Usually, people who deal with oily hair tend to have more intense sweat, and that’s tied back to hormones and stuff like dihydrotestosterone. That one can cause a whole laundry list of issues—acne, hair loss, greasy skin, seborrheic dermatitis, you name it.
The way you eat can play into it too, and let's be real, people who drink heavily always have a very distinct body scent.

Maybe try hitting the gym or doing something that gets you sweating; it might help balance things out. Yoga could be a good move for equilibrium, too. Just a heads up though, if cortisol is the issue, you probably want to stick to low-intensity workouts because high-intensity stuff just spikes it further.
Just find whatever works for you.

What's your blood type, and have you noticed any weight gain lately? Also, how's your stress level?

Shower regularly, and honestly, you can even dab diluted apple cider vinegar on certain areas... underarms, maybe soaking your feet in it... it works.

For armpits, the best bet is Old Spice sweat defense—the white one, not the clear or blue versions.
And make sure you're changing your clothes every single day, at least your shirts and underwear. You can even swap them out more than once a day if you need to.
That'll help kill the smell.
Try showering right before you hit the sack, too.

casualbadger22 said:Hormones can definitely trigger excessive sweating and a stronger body odor.
I think someone mentioned cortisol, progesterone, and testosterone earlier... there was some advice about tweaking your diet specifically for progesterone. If I track down that post, I'll drop the link for you.
Stress is also a massive factor in all of this.

Usually, people who deal with oily hair tend to have more intense sweat, and that’s tied back to hormones and stuff like dihydrotestosterone. That one can cause a whole laundry list of issues—acne, hair loss, greasy skin, seborrheic dermatitis, you name it.
The way you eat can play into it too, and let's be real, people who drink heavily always have a very distinct body scent.

Maybe try hitting the gym or doing something that gets you sweating; it might help balance things out. Yoga could be a good move for equilibrium, too. Just a heads up though, if cortisol is the issue, you probably want to stick to low-intensity workouts because high-intensity stuff just spikes it further.
Just find whatever works for you.

What's your blood type, and have you noticed any weight gain lately? Also, how's your stress level?

Shower regularly, and honestly, you can even dab diluted apple cider vinegar on certain areas... underarms, maybe soaking your feet in it... it works.

For armpits, the best bet is Old Spice sweat defense—the white one, not the clear or blue versions.
And make sure you're changing your clothes every single day, at least your shirts and underwear. You can even swap them out more than once a day if you need to.
That'll help kill the smell.
Try showering right before you hit the sack, too.

For most of the year, I’m not really stressed, I don't drink, and my weight is fine (6'1", 176 lbs). I don't even know my blood type.😁

I’ve already posted about this in another thread...

Unfortunately, the issue is a bit "dumber" than that, though I am going to try to mitigate the nighttime sweating as much as possible...

Here is the situation, which remains the core problem. I mentioned it elsewhere, but to recap...

Money isn't exactly flowing, and I bought this bed only two or three years ago. So, a total replacement isn't in the cards just yet.

Mine looks something like this...http://www.idealnidom.com/enterijer/...ki-lezaj-iii-/

To make matters worse, the room faces west. In the summer, it hits 120 degrees in there. One summer, I didn't even have blinds.

Back then, the sweating was intense, and it worked its way deep into the mattress. Once it's in there, it's nearly impossible to get out.

Now, the mattress is basically "releasing" that stench constantly.

I throw down a mattress protector, a sheet, then another sheet... but the smell still seeps through. It's a losing battle. Plus, I still sweat from the top, so the pillow and the top layer of bedding just soak it up and that's that.🙂 🙂

Dammit.

Hold up, is this actually on you or just the mattress?
The bed could totally be the culprit too, probably if it doesn't breathe well. When you sweat that much, you're basically creating a breeding ground for microbes that end up causing that whole smell.

Are you sweating through your clothes with an intense scent during the day? And how long has this been going on?

Honestly, you might just need to swap out that mattress. We spend a third of our lives in bed, so it’s easily the most important thing you own for your skin, your spine, and actually getting some decent sleep.

casualbadger22 said:Hold up, is this actually on you or just the mattress?
The bed could totally be the culprit too, probably if it doesn't breathe well. When you sweat that much, you're basically creating a breeding ground for microbes that end up causing that whole smell.

Are you sweating through your clothes with an intense scent during the day? And how long has this been going on?

Honestly, you might just need to swap out that mattress. We spend a third of our lives in bed, so it’s easily the most important thing you own for your skin, your spine, and actually getting some decent sleep.

Personally, I don't really smell it. It’s rare for me to break a sweat just sitting around doing nothing, though back in the day, my folks used to mention my sweat had a bit of a kick to it...

The biggest issue is that the bed itself is totally shot... and there's no way it's producing such a massive stench while looking relatively new.

That said, there's clearly some sweating happening, so I should probably find a way to cut that down... even if it's nothing compared to the situation down south.

Man, it looks like you’ve got some serious sweating issues on your hands. Have you tried turning down the heat? Is it even warm in your room right now? Honestly, the amount you're sweating seems pretty extreme to me...

Look, I'm no medical expert or anything, but it sounds like your sweat glands might just be working overtime. There might be some kind of medication to help manage it—maybe go chat with a doctor and see if there's actually a thing for that.

How are you even showering? This is probably going to sound bizarre, but have you tried taking cold showers? Cold water cools your core down, which should theoretically lower your body's need to sweat. It might sound crazy—like, totally intense—but there are people out there who train themselves to shower with ice-cold water all the time.
Maybe try starting with lukewarm water, then at the very end, just crank the handle all the way to cold... try to power through it for maybe two or three minutes. Just don't stay in too long, wouldn't want you catching a chill or something.

As for cleaning the bed... hmm. I'm thinking it can be washed. I know there are people who professionally clean furniture like that, but you’d need to get it dried out fast so you don't end up with a bacteria problem from leaving the fabric damp for too long.
Maybe check out one of those home cleaning forums—someone there will probably jump in with some solid advice. It would be a total waste to just toss a piece of furniture like that.

Hey everyone,

I’ve been dealing with a pretty serious issue for about a year now, and honestly, it’s starting to take a massive toll on both my professional life and my personal confidence. The core of the problem is that I struggle with constant body odor—specifically my feet and my underarms. I’m talking persistent, noticeable odor. I shower every single day, I rotate my wardrobe religiously, and I wash my clothes after just one wear. As for my sneakers, I literally air them out every weekend and use baking soda to try and neutralize the scent, plus I toss them in the washing machine once a month.

I’ve tried everything under the sun—roll-ons, sprays, various soaps, and different brands of body wash, ranging from the budget stuff at Walmart to the high-end stuff at Sephora—but nothing seems to stick. It’s incredibly frustrating. I can walk out of the house in the morning feeling totally fresh, but within two hours, I can already smell myself, and it’s just... bad. What am I doing wrong? Does anyone have any actual advice? Please, no trolling—this is genuinely difficult to admit, and I’m feeling pretty vulnerable asking this here. I’m 23 years old.