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Showers are supposed to leave your underarms (and the rest of you) smelling fresh and clean. So if you still sense a nasty whiff after sudsing and scrubbing, what's going on?
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"When somebody feels like they're still smelly after the shower, typically it's someone who is more prone to sweating, and may have a buildup of bacteria on the skin in conjunction with the sweat," Marisa Garshick, MD, assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Cornell-New York Presbyterian Medical Center, tells LIVESTRONG.com.
Getting to the root of the problem is the simplest path to de-stenching. Here are five common causes of smelly armpits after a shower and what you can do to smell better.
1. You Got Your Antiperspirant Wrong
Do you typically apply your antiperspirant after hopping out of the shower in the morning? That might seem like the most effective way to keep sweat and underarm odor at bay, but in fact, it's not. "Antiperspirants are most effective when used at bedtime," Dr. Garshick says.
Here's why: Antiperspirants work by plugging up underarm sweat glands to prevent sweat from being released. "Because sweat glands are empty at night, they can take up more of that antiperspirant," Dr. Garshick explains.
And because most antiperspirants are designed to work for 24 hours, they'll continue working to keep sweat at bay even after you've showered the next morning. (Though if you'd feel more protected with an extra swipe in the a.m., go for it. Just make sure your skin is completely dry first.)
Make sure, too, that you're using a true antiperspirant rather than a deodorant, which masks odor but doesn't actually stop sweat.
Fix it: If you're a heavy sweater and your standard antiperspirant doesn't seem to be cutting it, Dr. Garshick recommends trying an extra-potent option like CertainDri Prescription Strength Clinical ($5.67, Amazon).
2. Your Hair Made It Harder to Clean Your Pits
Underarm hair traps more sweat than skin alone, so the sweat has more time to mix with stench-causing bacteria, Beth Goldstein, MD, adjunct clinical professor of dermatology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and founder of the skincare brand GETMR, tells LIVESTRONG.com.
Hair-covered skin can also be tougher to get squeaky clean.
Fix it: If you've got a lot of fuzz and are struggling with odor, consider shaving or waxing. One March 2016 study in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology found that removing underarm hair was effective at minimizing armpit odor.
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3. You Have Some Extra-Stinky Bacteria Under There
We all have a mix of "good" and "bad" bacteria living on the surface of our skin, including the skin in our armpits. "Usually these bacteria are in a balanced state. But occasionally that balance can become disrupted and cause an overgrowth of certain 'bad' bacteria," Dr. Garshick explains. And that can make body odor worse or more intense.
Fix it: Fortunately, getting rid of the stinky bugs is often as easy as switching up your body wash. When it comes to the best soap for body odor, Dr. Goldstein recommends an antibacterial wash like Dial Complete White Antibacterial Bar Soap ($5.31 for 8 bars, Amazon) or Hibiclens Antiseptic & Antimicrobial Skin Cleanser ($25 for 2 bottles, Amazon). "Use it daily or twice daily, without scrubbing," she says.
Related Reading
7 Things That Cause a Sour Body Odor, and How to Fix It
4. You Started New Meds
Began taking a new prescription recently? If it seems like you're sweating — and smelling — more than usual, the medication might be to blame.
The following drugs have the potential to cause hyperhidrosis, or excessive sweating that can potentially make your body odor more noticeable, according to a January 2013 review in Drug Safety:
- Cholinesterase inhibitors such as Aricept, Razadyne and Exelon, used to treat Alzheimer's and dementia
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like Zoloft, Prozac and Lexapro, used to treat depression and anxiety
- Opioids like Vicodin, Percocet and OxyContin, used to treat pain
- Tricyclic antidepressants such as Norpramin, Elavil and Pamelor, used to treat conditions including depression and OCD
Fix it: If you suspect a new medication is causing your odor problem, talk with your doctor. In some cases, you may be able to try a lower dose or switch to a different medication. If not, switching to a prescription-strength antiperspirant might also be helpful.
5. You Have an Infection
A pimple-like or pus-filled spot in your underarm can often be an odor culprit, especially if you notice that just one armpit smells even after a shower.
"We have all these little hair follicles in the armpit, and when people shave, there are lots of little portals of entry for potentially problematic bacteria to enter and cause what looks like an ingrown hair," Dr. Garshick explains. "But if it's filled with pus, it could be an infection."
Fix it: Allowing the ingrown hair to heal will help get rid of the smell. Stopping shaving until the spot clears up might be enough to do the trick, according to the Mayo Clinic. But in some cases, your doctor may need to prescribe a steroid or antibiotic cream to help you fight off the infection.
When to See a Doctor
Occasionally being stinkier than usual probably isn't cause for concern, especially if at-home measures like applying your antiperspirant correctly, shaving or washing with an antibacterial soap seem to solve the problem.
But if you consistently have smelly armpits after a shower, or the odor seems to be coming from other parts of your body as well, call your doctor. "These could be signs of a medical illness such as liver disease, diabetes or an inability to metabolize certain foods or medications," Dr. Goldstein says.
