Does hypothyroidism affect body odour?

[Zazbag]

Not the most pleasant of questions, but over this spring and summer I noticed my armpits started to noticeably smell, a strange sour smell, even when I used deodorant. This happened for the first time in my life, generally I don't tend to notice a smell from my armpits. I added T3 to my levothyroxine about three weeks ago now and I just noticed I don't have any smell under my armpits even though I didn't shower or apply deodorant today and I definitely sweated from my armpits (my flat is very warm and I wore a hoody all day).

[meme]

Same happened to me. I changed antiperspirant and it’s gone away! Very odd.

[topaz1]

Thank you for asking the question. I have been wondering about this as well as I have had hot flushes for years and now sweat up even more.

[Blissful]

Magnesium status can be linked to body odour. Rather than use chemical antiperspirants and/or deodorants, you could try some armpit squirts of Mag Oil/Chloride.

[hels333]

I noticed that a period of extreme stress following traumatic incident brought about very strong and unpleasant under arm odour. The odour can also return when I am very stressed.

Are you suffering stress? Just a thought.

I don't tend to use deodorants/anti perspirants, but as I'm home most of the time, I can usually regularly wash armpits when necessary

However, if I do use a product, I find the aluminium free roll on Bionsen [in light blue packaging] good. I tried those natural crystals but they didn't do anything for me.

[NWA6]

Totally true for me! At first I was showering 2/3 times a day because I was so paranoid and embarrassed. Then I used a bicarbonate and vinegar paste spread on my armpits to really strip the bacteria (1-2 x per week) and this helped so much that I was back to showering once per day. Then I went on combo treatment and voila! No more smells! Yesterday I even forgot to wear deodorant!

And I have to say that I never ever ever had sweat patches on my clothes. This was NOT a sweat problem, just smell.

[Anastasia17 in reply to NWA6]

I find your treatment of bicarbonate and vinegar interesting! what are the ratio and quantity for each? What is the combo treatment you mentioned?

Thank you.x

[NWA6 in reply to Anastasia17]

Bicarbonate and vinegar is an known natural way to kill bacteria, so as it’s the bacteria build up that causes odour it’s sooo good for BO. Also good for cleaning around the house. The ratio I don’t know exactly. Just get a little bowl and put enough bicarb in to make a paste. Drip in the white vinegar and stir. It’s a bit like icing you only need a very little liquid. When I’d have a shower I’d paste it on my pits, brush my teeth and then step into the shower and wash it off. Voila! All good for a few days. Although I don’t need it now I still make the paste to whiten my teeth.

Combo treatment refers to adding T3 to my Levothyroxine.

[Abida_Alqaisi]

Unfortunately, I have the same problem. Sometimes I need to take shower 2 to 3 times, I usually use free aluminum deodorants. I've noticed this smell when I became stressed and SOMETIMES I make the TSH and find it differs from the last result.

[Hidden]

Have you tried the specialist deodorant you buy from the chemist , you apply it at night then wash off in the morning it will keep you dry all day til you shower and repeat the process .

It’s wonderful your GP can prescribe too as I had this problem when my hypothyroid was poorly managed