If your armpits smell bad even after you’ve taken a shower, then don’t worry, you’re not the only one. While a lovely shower might have left you feeling fresh, persistent armpit odor can linger due to a multitude of things, like sweat, bacteria, or underlying medical factors.
In this article, we’re exploring the most common reasons your armpits might still smell after showering and what you can do to resolve it.
What Causes Body Odor?
The most common cause of body odor is sweat reacting with your skin. Your body has two main types of sweat glands. You’ve got what are known as eccrine glands, which help regulate body temperature, and apocrine glands, which are concentrated in areas like your armpits and groin.
When sweat from these glands mixes with bacteria, body odor levels can rise.
Factors that can contribute to armpit odor include:
- Bacteria build up on the skin's surface
- Certain foods that contain sulfur compounds
- Hormonal changes during puberty, menstruation, or menopause
- Wearing old or unclean clothes that harbor bacteria
- Medical conditions that affect sweat or skin chemistry
- Poor hygiene routines or ineffective products
Your body naturally hosts bacteria that feed on the proteins and lipids in apocrine sweat, which release gases that cause odor. This is why even if your body seems clean, it can let off an unpleasant smell.
Why Do Your Armpits Smell After a Shower?
Even if you shower regularly and maintain good personal hygiene, underarm odor can still persist. Here are some reasons why that happens.
Ineffective Soap or Body Wash
Most regular soaps aren’t designed to kill odor-causing bacteria. In fact, many “soaps” are doused with perfumes to cover up bad smells rather than remove them. If you're using mild or moisturizing soaps lacking antibacterial properties, they might not eliminate the bacteria that cause smelly armpits.
Consider using an antibacterial soap or a body wash with ingredients like benzoyl peroxide, tea tree oil, or apple cider vinegar. For better results, let your antibacterial soap sit on your skin for a full minute before rinsing. This gives the ingredients time to break down bacteria on your skin's surface.
Avoid soaps with added perfumes that only mask the smell temporarily.
Diet
They say you are what you eat, and the same applies when it comes to body odor. Onions, garlic, red meat, spicy foods, and sulfur-rich foods can all contribute to stronger body odor. These foods release compounds that your body excretes through sweat, especially through apocrine glands.
Certain medications or hormonal fluctuations can also interact with dietary compounds, altering your scent. Reducing your intake of spicy foods, caffeine, and alcohol may help improve your armpit smell. To help detoxify from odor-causing foods, stay hydrated and eat more leafy greens and fiber-rich vegetables.
These can support your liver and kidneys in neutralizing odor internally. A clean diet often equals a cleaner scent.
Bacteria Buildup
Sometimes, a quick shower just isn’t enough. Dead skin cells, old deodorant, and bacteria can cling to your hair. Gently exfoliating once or twice a week and using apple cider vinegar as a natural toner can help restore your skin’s pH and reduce any bacterial growth.
Look for natural scrubs or exfoliating mitts to help remove built-up residue and keep your underarms clean and fresh. Failing to clean thoroughly allows bacteria to thrive even on "clean" skin.
Hot Shower
While a hot shower might feel amazing, it actually makes you sweat more. Your body temperature will rise in a hot environment, which triggers your sweat glands to work in overdrive. Then, as you dry your body, you might already be beginning to sweat, which in turn, will make you smell.
If you don’t want to give up on hot showers, have a cooler rinse at the end to lower your body temperature and reduce excessive sweating. If your core is cool after your shower, you’re less likely to start sweating when you jump out of the shower.
Old Clothes
Even if your body is clean, your clothes might not be. We all wear a pair of jeans or sniff test yesterday’s t-shirt every now and then, but repeated wear and lack of laundering might embed bacteria in the fabric.
Not only that, but tight synthetic fabrics trap sweat and create a breeding ground for odor. Make sure you wash your workout gear and shirts in hot water with baking soda or vinegar to help remove bacteria and odor from your clothes. You should also avoid wearing the same shirt twice without washing it.
And, where possible, switch to more breathable fabrics like cotton or bamboo. Not only will this help remove bad odors, but you’ll feel more comfortable in your clothes because you’ll be sweating less.
Stress
Everyone goes through some sort of stress. Some days, it might feel unavoidable. Did you know that stress triggers the release of sweat from your apocrine glands? This type of sweat has a thicker consistency and is much more nutrient-rich, which is perfect for bacteria. Because of this, the smell is much more pungent and sour-smelling.
Taking care of your stress levels through being more mindful, seeing a therapist, and reducing stressors in your life can help lower your stress levels. In turn, you’ll reduce underarm odor caused by nerve signals.
Health Issues
If your armpit odor seems out of control despite maintaining good hygiene, an underlying medical condition may be to blame.
These can include:
- Hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating)
- Thyroid imbalances
- Diabetes
- Liver or kidney issues
- Fungal or bacterial infections
These conditions can increase sweat production or change its composition, leading to a bad smell. It’s a good idea to monitor any sudden change in odor or intensity and speak to a Doctor to address the underlying cause.
Started New Meds
Did you know that some of the medications you’re taking could be altering your sweat glands and hormone levels? Or, they might even be affecting your skin’s surface bacteria. Lots of prescription medications, like antidepressants or hormone therapies, are common culprits for these changes in your body.
So, if you’ve recently started taking something new and are now noticing a bad body odor, speak with your doctor to see if they can change the dosage or choose another brand. It might completely resolve your problem!
Hair Made It Harder to Clean Your Pits
If you’ve got armpit hair, you’re actually giving bacteria more things to cling to, and it can trap sweat close to your skin. While you don’t have to remove armpit hair, trimming it might make it easier to clean your armpits properly.
If you do want to get rid of hair, some people choose to shave, wax, use hair removal cream, or even consider laser hair removal. Essentially, less hair will mean less trapped sweat and odor under your arms.
Can Shower Filters Help with Body Odor?
Yes, they absolutely can! This is especially true if you have sensitive skin or are battling strong underarm odor. Did you know that most tap water has chlorine and other chemicals that can disrupt your skin’s natural oil barrier?
Because of this, your skin can end up dry, irritated, and even increase the levels of bacteria.
A shower filter can:
- Remove chlorine, heavy metals, and contaminants
- Prevent skin from drying out (a trigger for odor)
- Help skin maintain a healthier microbiome
- Reduce irritation that may exacerbate armpit odor
- Improve overall skin texture and cleanliness
AquaBliss offers a range of shower filters specifically designed to cleanse water before it hits your skin. Cleaner water helps your skin barrier stay balanced, which means it’s much easier to control odors. Many users report noticeable differences in odor after switching to filtered water.
When to Consult a Healthcare Provider
If you’ve tried all of the normal solutions to tackle your smelly armpits and you still smell after a shower, you should speak to a doctor.
If you notice:
- You notice body odor that’s new, different, or getting worse
- Your sweat glands are more active than normal, or you’re sweating without a trigger like exercise
- You’ve got rashes, redness, or your skin is peeling
- You’re feeling self-conscious.
Your doctor could recommend lots of different treatments, like clinical-strength deodorants, prescription medications, or even Botox injections to block your sweat glands. They may even decide to refer you to a dermatologist, but that’s only likely if you’ve tried all other options.
Fresh Starts Begin in the Shower
Are you still wondering, “Why do my armpits smell so bad even after a shower?”. The answer lies in your details like the soap you use, your water (and a lack of a filter), your clothes, and even how stressed you are.
However, once you’ve identified your triggers, you can work to resolve your problem. Using a high-quality shower filter from AquaBliss is a step in the right direction when you want healthier skin and to eliminate armpit odor. Try it out and see the difference for yourself!
