Lifestyle changes for heightened smell in menopause
Lifestyle & well being to help with menopause body odour
Heightened smell, changes in your body odour, hot flushes and stress can all impact your personal hygiene during perimenopause, Tweaks to your self-care, cleansing and ablutions can all help to oust those menopausal odours!
Menopause and personal hygiene
Take a lukewarm shower (avoid hot water to prevent further flushes) in the morning to wash away the bacteria feeding on your overnight sweat, concentrate on your groin, armpits and scalp (all sweat gland areas). Women’s health physio, Christien Bird, says the vagina is self-cleaning, so avoid excessive cleaning and those feminine hygiene products marketed at women’s fear of smelling, water is all you need to keep your vagina healthy.
Try adding small amounts of essential oils mixed with a carrier oil or add a few drops to your bath water. Try: lavender, peppermint, sage and pine.
Time to change your deodorant in menopause?
You may have started to think your deodorant has stopped working as you hit perimenopause. It may take a bit of trial and error before you find one that works for you. Try a Sensitive Deodorant, or aluminium-free products such as PitRok Crystal Deodorant. Before applying deodorants, trust us here, you can make your own cleanser using baking powder to neutralise odour. Mix a tablespoon of baking powder to 2 teaspoons of water, apply to armpit, leave for 2-3 minutes and rinse – we have tried it at Positive Pause, and it really works! (Not to be used if you’ve just shaved or have sensitive skin).
What you wear may help with menopause body odour
Some man-made fabrics trap heat, making you sweat more, unless they're specially designed moisture wicking fabrics. Ditch the nylon and lycra & avoid wearing tight-fitting clothes. Cotton undies, shirts and t-shirts will keep you cooler and repel moisture. Wear layers so that you can strip down as you get hotter and sweatier. Unwashed clothes retain the bacteria that cause sweat to smell, clean clothes each day are a must. If heavy sweating is a problem, wear dark colours, they’re less likely to show sweat marks.
Manage your stress levels
We all know that hot and sweaty feeling we get when we’re stressed or anxious. We can’t always avoid stress but taking proactive steps to manage could help lesson sweats and the potential odour implications!
Natural remedies to help menopause body odour
Sage: taken in capsules, as a tea, or via a cooling spray. Widely used to help with hotflushes and night sweats which could cut out the cause of your new odour.
Zinc: especially when taken with magnesium may improve metabolism, reduce sweat levels and body odour. Talk to your doctor or a reputable herbalist about safe quantities.
Managing bad breath in menopause
Use a soft toothbrush twice a day especially after eating
Using floss and antiseptic mouth wash deals with the cause rather than just masking smells.
Try to get your teeth cleaned by a dental hygienist every 6 months.
Drink plenty of water to keep your dry mouth moist
Chewing gum encourages saliva production and collects food debris that’s floating around your mouth that may cause bad breath.
A toolkit for menopause fresh smells
Sometimes we have to accept that prevention doesn’t always work - we may have to take swift action to deal with an uptick in body odour. If it’s this is a regular happening for you, it’s a good idea to carry emergency supplies. The following should fit into a small, zip up bag:
bio-degradable deodorant wipes
chewing gum
travel size toothbrush and paste
travel size anti-bacterial hand gel
change of top if you’re prone to heavy sweats.
As every girl guide knows, be prepared!
Do you think your feet smell?
If you’re sweating more the chances are your feet may smell more. Tips to help this include:
Daily washing. Try using lavender oil, soaking in Epsom Salts or sprinkling feet with baking soda to absorb moisture.
Fresh socks, tights or shoe-liners.
Applying hand sanitiser (kills bacteria).
When to see your doctor about changes in body odour
Some medical conditions can cause increase in sweating, speak to a doctor if you feel any sweating is excessive, or there’s an increase in vaginal odour - don’t assume it’s menopause. Once anything else has been ruled out, ask about prescription medications that can help with excessive sweating.
Can HRT help menopause body odour?
Body odour in menopause that can come with hormone fluctuations may be corrected by HRT - although some women complain of increased smell sensitivity when they start taking it, smelling odours that aren’t there - phantom smells!