Body Odour
Rose wrote:
I'm a 17-year-old girl. I noticed
my armpits smell badly since I was
10.
It is so embarrassing that people
around you say you smell badly. I
have tried several anti-perspirants.
but they don't help. Sometimes I just
feel that the world is so unfair.
Why can't I be a normal person?
I am so depressed and find no way
to get help. I hope you can help me.
and I guess body odour is related
to genetic material problem cos my
father, his brothers and sisters have
got this problem.
Dear Rose
No, it's not nice having people say
that you smell, and these days, it
really shouldn't be such a problem.
First, you need to know how serious
the problem is. Sounds silly? It's
not. Many people think they smell
bad, and they simply don't. One smell
that your nose gets wrong is your
own.
Some people, on the other hand, do
have a problem, but possibly not nearly
as bad as they think. You need to
know. And I suspect that means going
to a female doctor or nurse and discussing
your fears- making it clear that you
want straight answers.
Not easy; but it has to be done.
Now, if there is a problem, you need
to know what it is, and how to treat
it. I am not an expert - you may need
expert advice that I can't give.
Broadly, there are three completely
different kinds of problem.
- Hygiene problem; easiest; regular
washing, regular clothes washing.
Ask the pharmicist for advice on
soaps and cleansers and deodorants.
But be warned; an excess of chemicals
can make things worse, not better.
Take advice and follow it.
- Skin problem; if you have a bit
of eczema or psoriasis or allergy
problems, it is possible that a
skin infection, probably fungal,
is contributing to the problem.
Damaged skin is easily infected,
especially in your teenage years.You
need to know, and if that's the
case, it is treatable, though not
always easily.
- There are some uncommon genetic
conditions that are associated with
odour. They are uncommon, and there
are methods of dealing with the
problem. Again, you'd need to know.
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