The teenage years...

Being a teenager is hard. Hormones are changing (raging at times), acne appears, growth spurts, hair in new places. There are a lot of issues that teens have to learn to deal with and we have to do everything we can to help them live through it.

A particular smelly issue...

One of the issues that my preteen faced was body odor (aka stinky pits.) I mean, it was baaaaad. Just getting close for a hug was not pleasant. Didn't matter whether she was sweaty or fresh out of the shower.

We tried different deodorants, bathing twice a day - nothing would work! The poor thing was about to start middle school and I didn't want her to be teased and taunted - I was desperate to help her.

The Solution...

My mom found an article of the Dear Abby type that suggested Listerine under the arms. Listerine! Who would have thought. But Listerine contains alcohol which kills bateria in our mouths, so why not under the arms?

We tried it. We tested a small area under one arm to make sure that it wouldn't irritate her skin. Then the next morning she started applying it, using a small amount on a cotton ball, before she got dressed for school. I was amazed! IT WORKED! Of course she smells slightly of minty fresh breath for the first 15-20 minutes after applying, but that is much better than the alternative. It is perfectly safe to use under deodorant. Just watch for any irritation that may occur. If skin breaks out or becomes dry, just try using it less often.

I hope this information helps. I have a real soft spot for kids and have three going through the teenage changes as we speak. I wanted to pass this along in case any other family faced this issue. This would make a good solution for adults too - for those days when deodorant just doesn't cut it.

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