WARNING: This site features very frank discussion and occasionally explicit images of medical conditions.
Parental guidance is recommended.

Video

Boy 1: Fishy, is the word i’d use maybe

Holly Oaks actor 1: Musky

Boy 2: Maybe Oniony

Hollyoaks Actress: Beef Curry

Boy 3: Just disgusting

Girl 1: I’d just go into a boy’s changing room

Hollyoaks Actress 2: I’d actually want to get my perfume out and go spraying noise.

************

Dr Dawn: As you get into your teens you may notice that you and your friends start to smell. And I’m not talking nice smells! I’m talking body odour.

That’s because during puberty it’s not just the outside of your body that changes. Under the skin your body starts to develop sweat glands.

Sweating is normal.On average, we lose over a litre of sweat every day.

Our body produces sweat to cool itself down – which is why we sweat more when it’s hot or during exercise.

Fresh sweat doesn’t smell but when left on the skin it gets broken down by bacteria and develops the characteristic smell of BO.

************

Boy 3: As I’ve got older I’ve noticed that i’m sweating a lot more

Boy 4: When i was 12 my parents and my friends started telling me that i smelt. I thought they were joking but when i found out that it was true i felt really embarrassed.

Hollyoaks Actress 2: I can honestly say no i’ve never ever ever suffered with body odour. I must be very lucky, i don’t perspire a lot, that’s because i’m lazy and don’t do any exercise.

************

Dr Dawn No-one wants to smell and a bit of attention to personal hygiene is all that is needed.

Washing twice a day with a pH balanced soap, especially under the arms and genital areas will remove stale sweat.

Don’t forget – sweat can seep into clothes as well as hang about on the skin, so wear clean clothes and change your underwear and socks every day.

As well as keeping clean you can also buy deodorants or antiperspirants to help combat body odour.

Deodorants work by killing bacteria and masking underarms smells with a fragrance.

Antiperspirants are designed to prevent the sweat developing in the first place.

DONíT think these sprays are INSTEAD of washing.

You can’t cover up a smell that’s already there ñ bacteria will feast on your old sweat and the new sweat you add on top.

There is a reason why teachers tell you to shower after PE!

************

Boy 5: Old sweat smells a lot different to new sweat…

Boy 2: Yeah

Boy 5: If you know what i mean, If you leave your sweaty gym kit in your room for ages, it’s going to really hum.

Boy 6: In school i had PE and i came home and my mum was saying ‘what’s that smell’ and it was me so i’ve learnt that i’ve got to start washing more.

************

Dr Dawn: Everyone’s sweat smells differently and some people will sweat more than others. Sweating during exercise doesn’t mean you’re unfit. It’s an essential function of the body. Sweating does NOT mean you have bad hygiene.It doesn’t mean you’re dirty.

But if you feel your antiperspirant or deodorant isn’t working or you’re sweating when you’re just sitting still and not even warm – you may be suffering from excessive sweating, a condition called hyperhidrosis. Only one percent of the population has this, and it commonly affects the armpits, face, palms and soles of the feet. I have met people who have to carry spare clothes with them wherever they go because they sweat so much.

If this sounds like you, talk to your pharmacist about a Chlorexidine solution which will help reduce bacteria and an aluminium based antiperspirant which you can buy without prescription. But if you find these over-the-counter treatments aren’t doing the trick go to your GP; there are other treatments available so don’t give up hope.

Read the video transcript

Am I Normal: Body Odour

Dr Dawn Harper discusses what is and isn’t normal when it comes to body odour. As your body develops sweat glands, body odour can become a serious issue, but there are simple and practical steps to help alleviate the problem. Includes discussion with teens from across the country and the cast of Hollyoaks.

If you’d prefer to watch this video on your mobile, then download our specially produced version for your mobile phone from the Channel 4 Mobile site.

Just text Normal to 84444

Texts and data are charged at your standard network rate.
Terms and Conditions at channel4.com/mobile

If you think your child may be going through early puberty, check our guide especially for parents on Embarrassing Bodies: Kids website.

With thanks to:
Hollyoaks
University of Birmingham Hockey Club
Llanelli Youth Theatre
Tetbury Hospital

Did you find this useful? YesYes NoNo

489 of 826 people said they found this useful

Comments and Questions

You can share your experiences and thoughts with other Embarrassing Bodies site-users below. Comments & Questions are reviewed by moderators, but if you see anything on the site that worries you, please report it and one of our moderators will look at it as soon as possible.
Please note: Unfortunately Channel 4 cannot respond to individual inquiries. If you have any concerns, you can check out NHS Choices, but ultimately it is always best to check with a health professional.

I have blackheads on my chest, and i get spots on my kneck, back and chest. How do i get rid of them???





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your answer.


Please don't swear or be rude in your answers, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting answers. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

Questions submitted to the site will be answered by other site users, not by medical professionals, so if you have a medical concern, please book an appointment with your GP.

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

please answer >> i can be walking to school or to the shop or even sitting still, it can be really cold but im always sweating and i always have sweat patches on the under arms of tops and i carnt wear a white top comfortablely because you can see the patches but i have to wear white tops for school.. my mums used fabric bleach on my tops to clean them up but there still yellow under the arms.and i have to leave jumpers or Cardigan on in baking hot weather because i dont want any1 to see im sweating and stare.ive used more or less evry dedorant there is and none work and its really getting me down smelling of onion and bo .. and i try not to get to close to people when i no i smell and i hope they carnt smell me ..i have a shower or a bath everyday sometimes twice a day and im 14 and i have pubic hair under the arm which isnt the problem its just that i have like a black stain under my arms and i can rub and scrub but i cant get rid of it..can someone please help tell me if they have had a similar experience and what it is and can i get rid of the black stains from under my arms





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your comment.


Please don’t swear or be rude in your comments, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting comments. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

Hey, i had the same problem, it's called hyperhidrosis. I suffered with sweaty palms, face, pits and back just from sitting still - only a petite frame as well. I finally plucked up the courage to go see my GP. They prescribed me with a deodorant called 'Driclor'. You apply it before you goto bed (don't shave your armpits the same day else it'll burn/sting). Then you wear your original deodorant as normal through out the day, if you wish. I no longer had to wear it after 2-3 weeks :)

thank you so much .. i might concider going to see my GP if theres and easy solution for it if it is the same thing :)

Hi this has nothing to do sith body odour but they didnt have a catergorie for it so anyway When i was around 8 in pe at school people used to laugh at me because i had these strange lumps on my stomach they didt rly form anything they wer just there i am now 13 and since i was 12 i have had a six pack when i go swimming people stare at me becasue i have a six pack at such a young age i was just sondering is that alright or not?





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your comment.


Please don’t swear or be rude in your comments, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting comments. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

hey, im 16 and i sweat REALLY badly. it has gotten to the point where wen i am buying clothes i think will sweat patches show up on tht? it is making me really self conscious! i cant take off my blazer at school and i always layer up to cover them. i do lots of musical theatre and i get so concerned that i will have a costume that will show them really badly! PLEASE HELP ME I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO!





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your comment.


Please don’t swear or be rude in your comments, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting comments. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

Me and my family are all of indian orgin, i find im always sweating and i have a very overpowering smell of spices, i shower daily and am always using a variety of anti-persperants but no of them seem to work. I get bullyed because of it and i would really like to be normal :/ Can you help me?





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your comment.


Please don’t swear or be rude in your comments, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting comments. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

pamper yourself. get luxury bath/shower gels and relax. best soaps at lush are good and the deodorant best to use is . maximum protection by sure. Its not a spray or a roll you twist the end and its like a cream and just rub it over your arm pit. and then get some nice perfume that is floral. And ignore the bully's , life is life they will suffer from sweating at some point in there life. i hope this helps x

hi, im 14 and i have really sweaty pits, it is embarassing when doing p.e or at summer time but i cant use deodrants because i gets lumps under my arms from it what could i do??! thanks xxx





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your comment.


Please don’t swear or be rude in your comments, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting comments. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

sweat stains under arms - how to get rid of them?





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your answer.


Please don't swear or be rude in your answers, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting answers. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

Questions submitted to the site will be answered by other site users, not by medical professionals, so if you have a medical concern, please book an appointment with your GP.

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

hi, im 14 & i sweat LOADS. its really embarrassing & ive tried loads of different deodrants. ive also tried a thing called Driclor which is for people who sweat a lot but i cant use it because it just stings too much! its really embarrassing, what can i do? & also this isnt anything to do with bo but i havent started my period yet. but today i noticed that i had a bit of reddy browny blood marks in my pants but it also looks sticky like the white discharge you get before you start. have i started or not? because im not really sure!





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your comment.


Please don’t swear or be rude in your comments, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting comments. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

hi,i'm 13and i have the same problem.i find i always wont to keep my jumper on so that no one can see. :(

well i started my periods when i was 8 and i had that in my pants so maybe you are mine was brown/red.

when i go out to a club, or im doing normal activity, my hair gets really wet from sweating too much, also i sweat under my armpits alot so i avoid wearing coloured t-shirts. i dont know what to do? help :(





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your answer.


Please don't swear or be rude in your answers, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting answers. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

Questions submitted to the site will be answered by other site users, not by medical professionals, so if you have a medical concern, please book an appointment with your GP.

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

hello im 14 nearly 15, i dont know what it is but i have this horrible smell in my private parts, knowone has mentioned it to me but i know its there. I also normally get wet patches in my underwear and it feels like i wet myself, the smell is really bad and its constant no matter how many times i change my underwear or wash. i havent told anyone because its so embarrassing, please help!





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your comment.


Please don’t swear or be rude in your comments, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting comments. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

Its probably vaginal discharge.. all women get it, but its not supposed to smell, you can also check its colouration.. that too can also indicate some form of infection.. If I were you id go see a nurse and get it checked out.

thats the same as me :$

I Had The Same Problem When I Was Around 13 And Still Get It Sometimes Now. But Now I Don't Really Get It To Often Because I Shower Twice A Day And Change My Underwear Whenever I Feel Like There Wet. You Just Have To Wash As Often As Possible But Dont Use Normal Soap Down There Coz It Can Irriatate You And Cause Infections, Buy Something Like Vagisil.

Mine is like that too and I'm 17 years old. It may mean infections but I dot have any. I've looked up diets and nothing has worked. Makes me self concious





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your comment.



Please don’t swear or be rude in your comments, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting comments. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

It looks like no one else has asked this question, so please fill in the rest of your details below.





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your answer.



Please don't swear or be rude in your questions, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting questions. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

Questions submitted to the site will be answered by other site users, not by medical professionals, so if you have a medical concern, please book an appointment with your GP.

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines


More Information

  1. Tinnitus

    In Conditions - Sufferers of tinnitus can hear noise within their ear or head that…

  2. Diabetes

    In Conditions - Diabetes affects over 2 million people in the UK alone and many mor…

  3. Premenstrual Syndrome

    In Conditions - Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is the catch-all term given to a range…

  4. Sunburn

    In Conditions - Sunburn is caused by ultraviolet (UV) light overheating and blister…

  5. Quick Health Advice: Excessive Sweating

    In Videos - Dr Pixie discusses the causes of excessive sweating and the treatme…

  6. Doctor Responses: Excessive Sweating

    In Videos - Dr Christian answers your most frequently asked questions about exc…

  7. Hyperhidrosis

    In Conditions - Excessive sweating in the face, hands, feet and armpits, or over th…

  8. Body Check: Sweat

    In Videos - Dr Christian explains the importance of knowing your sweat levels a…

  9. Trichotillomania

    In Conditions - Trichotillomania is a compulsive disorder that results in sufferers…

  10. Bodies Behaving Badly

    In Episodes - Episode 1 of Embarrassing Teenage Bodies examines conditions includ…

  11. Episode 7 - Back to the Clinic

    In Episodes - This week the doctors are inviting some of their most serious cases…

  12. Problem Piercings

    In Conditions - People have been piercing their bodies for thousands of years, but…

  13. Varicocele

    In Conditions - Varicocele are formed when varicose veins appear around the scrotum.

  14. Sweaty Palms

    In Conditions - Hyperhidrosis can affect any part of the body where there are sweat…

  15. Episode 2

    In Episodes - Conditions being seen by the doctors in Episode 2 included Psoriasi…


Be On Embarrassing Bodies

If you have a medical condition that you’d like the doctors to look at then please contact the team on 0121 224 8395.
Apply for the show here >

Important Notice

The information provided on this website (including any NHS Choices medical information) is for use as information or for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical care by a qualified doctor or other qualified healthcare professional. We do not warrant that any information included within this site will meet your health or medical requirements. This Embarrassing Bodies site does not provide any medical or diagnostic services so you should always check with a health professional if you have any concerns about your health.


If you want to embed our videos in your site, read our embedding T&Cs here