Hygiene question?

[Anonymous]

Hi!
***21+ ONLY****

So I have a hygiene question, I'm a bigger [plus size] female. And I am getting frustrated at this point.

Hygiene is a BIG thing for me. So when I smell, it makes me feel insecure. I am bigger, yes. But I'm fully aware I probably tend to sweat more than thinner women. I take showers every day and SCRUB. I use hibiclens for my pits and feet, and I use Dove scented body wash for my whole body. Anyways, I'm getting off topic, lol.

I wash my vulva with dove multiple times. I get out and dry off, and I still notice a scent. I dry myself with a hair dryer and apply deodorant on my inner thighs, under my tummy and under my breasts. It's like a faint smell, I can't really explain it. Kinda like a hint of BO smell. Is this normal? I've been trying to get it not to smell at all. I even got unscented wipes for when I go to the bathroom, but I still smell it.

I started a new job and don't have insurance at the moment. So that's why I'm asking here, I know I'm going out on a limb here.

Thanks in advance.

Updates

1 y

Also wanted to add when I take baths, I put in baking soda with apple cidar vinegar into my tub and soak in it. I try to be natural but I don't want to smell so I use body wash and deodorant to keep myself smelling good.

[Oliverlogan263]

Don't worry girl, it sounds like you're doing everything right as far as hygiene goes! A little bit of natural scent is totally normal, even for slimmer ladies. Our bodies are just designed that way. A few thoughts:

- Make sure to rinse thoroughly with water after washing. Soap residue can cause extra odor.

- Bacteria loves warm, moist areas like inner thighs and under breasts. Try using a pharmacy antimicrobial cream/powder in problem spots.

- Diet can affect body odor too. Limit garlic/onions and drink plenty of water.

- Sometimes it's just the heat/sweat causing a faint smell that washes away quickly. No one else may even notice!

- Consider speaking to your doctor if it's really bothering you. Sometimes an over-the-counter deodorant just isn't enough.

Try not to stress - you're taking great care of your hygiene. With a job, just focus on feeling confident! If a special powder/cream helps ease your mind, it may be worth a try. But you're totally normal, girl!

[ProbablyClueless]

That smell is EXTREMELY NORMAL and absolutely nothing to worry about. The reality of that part of the body is that there are tons of sweat glands, lots of blood vessels, and not much ventilation. Men have the same kind of situation with our testicles. Our scrotums are super wrinkly and basically always smell faintly like sweat, even after we hop out of the shower. What you're describing is totally normal and nothing to be concerned about.

If you still want to do more, you can always drink lots of water and eat a vegetable-based diet to alter your body's chemistry, but don't feel like you need to do it to avoid smelling bad. Additionally, if you decide that you want to lose weight, I've recently started alternate day fasting and I'm having excellent results. Alternate Day Fasting is where you eat all the stuff you would normally eat, except you don't eat everyday, so you're effectively taking in half the calories.

If you want to know more, just ask and I'll be happy to share what I've learned.

[Asker]

Thank you so much.

And yes I'm trying to eat cleaner and want to lose some weight. I appreciate all your helpful advice.

[ProbablyClueless]

I'm glad I could help!

[Nikki1989]

You might want to check your diet. That can have a lot to do with it.

[Asker]

Yeah my diet isn't the best. I'm gonna try to eat cleaner. :) Thank you!

[sean1234]

Maybe the smell is in your nose or your house itself. If it's really you and you are bigger than you are letting on, your body is trying to get rid of the excess and doesn't care about your baths or deodorants. Eat right (Whole foods plant based), exercise and lose it all.