I'm sure that I'm not doing myself any favors by wearing a packer, but I have this problem with or without it. I sweat a lot now below the belt. This summer has been particularly hot and humid, so I stay damp down there for stretches of time, even when I'm indoors (unless the air conditioning is really stellar). I hate institutional vinyl seating because sitting on a vinyl seat is just as bad as running around outside. My crotch turns into a swamp. Ick.
Since I have an unwanted orifice down there, I also get manly secretions. The combination of that and perspiration results in a particularly strong odor. I have a very keen nose, so I'm more sensitive to smells than most other people are, but I'm sure that some other people pick up on the odor when it's especially strong. I'm horribly self-conscious about it, and the hot and humid weather is likely to continue for quite some time.
I need to combat both the sweat and the smell. Any suggestions for really good products I can use? I've done some googling, but the men who report on various products do not tend to have this extra orifice. I do welcome MTF input, however, since some of you may have had similar but not identical issues in the past.
P.S. I do shower, I am not willing to stop using the packer, I do use specially adapted 100& cotton Hanes underwear (so an underwear change is unlikely), and I do wear cotton clothes because of past and possibly present fabric allergies (and I can't afford to buy a whole new wardrobe of trousers).
In a similar boat with the sweatiness. I come home from work everyday basically drenched below the waist. As far as odor goes, make sure you're getting to all the bits and pieces when you're washing in the shower. If you're as hairy as I am, trimming it down short or shaving down yonder may be helpful, as there's less for sweat to cling to.
Baby powder helps with sweating and sweat-smell. I was a cop for a few years and we had light blue uniform shirts that I'd sweat through in the first hour of my shift walking a foot beat and wearing body armor. I found if I put baby powder on really liberally (two layers - rub one in, then put another layer on top), I usually fared a lot better.
I haven't tried them and I don't know how open you'd be to them, but I know they make portable packs of "freshness wipes" for the downstairs region. You may just need to towel off a few times during the day to keep it in check if nothing else is working.
Quote from: ftmax on August 14, 2015, 09:40:41 PM
In a similar boat with the sweatiness. I come home from work everyday basically drenched below the waist. As far as odor goes, make sure you're getting to all the bits and pieces when you're washing in the shower. If you're as hairy as I am, trimming it down short or shaving down yonder may be helpful, as there's less for sweat to cling to.
Baby powder helps with sweating and sweat-smell. I was a cop for a few years and we had light blue uniform shirts that I'd sweat through in the first hour of my shift walking a foot beat and wearing body armor. I found if I put baby powder on really liberally (two layers - rub one in, then put another layer on top), I usually fared a lot better.
I haven't tried them and I don't know how open you'd be to them, but I know they make portable packs of "freshness wipes" for the downstairs region. You may just need to towel off a few times during the day to keep it in check if nothing else is working.
The above is all good information. Loose fitting and summer weight clothes will help. Some guys like boxers so there is some air flow when walking. Sit with legs apart. Perhaps antiperspirant or deodorant on inside thigh.
Jen
Foot powder is even better than baby powder for those hard-to-air sweaty bits. Look for the kinds that have salicylate in them (very soothing) and avoid anything mentholated, like Gold Bond. (Whoo-ee, it's an "interesting" sensation when you get it on your, um, sensitive bits.)
It's made for feet, fergoshsakes -- they can get nasty. The stuff really does work to reduce odor and keep things more comfortable down there. And if you run to rashes it'll clear them right up.
I have read that Gold Bond can sting regular guys, and I thought about how I would fare with an actual hole...glad I didn't buy that Gold Bond at Target the other night. I considered regular talcum powder but wasn't sure. And I hadn't thought of wipes.
Ahhh, too bad. The foot powder I already have has corn starch (I don't think that's a good idea) but no salicylate. Plus, it's heavily laced with fragrance and gives me a headache. Is there any foot powder that isn't smelly? My allergy headaches get quite nasty and make it nearly impossible to focus.
I like both the CVS and Walgreens store brands. They both come in yellow containers, to remind you of Dr. Scholl's. I like the CVS a bit better; to my nose at least, it has little or no fragrance.
Baby wipes are also good, both for quick cleanups and for times when you're away from running water (which is fairly often for me, at least in summer -- I'd never go camping without them.) You can get unscented ones.
The first time I went on a multi-week canoe trip, I wasn't sure how much foot powder I'd need, so I took two of those little film canisters with salt-and-pepper shaker tops. I labeled them "Left" and "Right." (https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fthefiringline.com%2Fforums%2Fimages%2Fsmilies%2Ftongue.gif&hash=635dd8fbd198d13e75e7b21e12e5f405e686d654) (In that case, the powder was also for my feet, which tend to stay wet all day on canoe trips and look like prunes by evening. Powdering them and putting on dry socks was, and is, pure bliss.)
My immediate neighborhood has both of these drugstores, but CVS is more convenient. I'll check it out this week.
I was very unhappy to see that my CVS no longer carries BD alcohol swabs. If I want them--or BD sharps containers--I have to order online. Very inconvenient.
For odor you might try a good essential oil, maybe organic because of ingredients.
You could give a drop on a handkerchief, fold it and put it in your pocket.
Cotton clothing should be a good choice.
Odor and sweat also depend on nutrition.
You might try a healthy nutrition. Maybe fresh fruit etc and less artificial ingredients.
I would recommend unscented baby wipes for sensitive skin, actually - in my experience, the "feminine freshness wipes" are heavily scented, which a) isn't great for sensitive tissues on some people and b) I can't imagine a guy would be much happier having his crotch smell like a flower shop, not to mention c) the potential unhappiness of having to buy something from the "feminine hygiene" aisle. Plus the baby wipes are generally cheaper, and are intended for the very very delicate skin of babies' diaper areas so they're really gentle.
That's what I use, and it does do wonders for a quick wash-up without having to shower/bathe the rest of me (which doesn't really need 3-4 showers a day even if my crotch could use that much cleaning). You may want to follow up with a quick pass with toilet paper as the wipes can leave their own dampness behind, and I hadn't thought of the powder idea before this thread but I bet it could be combined with cleaning methods.
Quote from: Tysilio on August 14, 2015, 10:55:23 PM
Foot powder is even better than baby powder for those hard-to-air sweaty bits. Look for the kinds that have salicylate in them (very soothing) and avoid anything mentholated, like Gold Bond. (Whoo-ee, it's an "interesting" sensation when you get it on your, um, sensitive bits.)
Oh gosh, I forgot to mention that! I hope you didn't go for the Gold Bond and get the bad tingles :(
baby powder can cause cancer because of the talcum in it (which is why you don't use it to dust your packer) and things like sprays can cause yeast infection. just make sure you clean yourself properly, trim down whatever you got there and wear loose fitting clothes/underwear.
Talcum powder has a bad rep because it used to contain asbestos, which is a known carcinogen. It's been asbestos-free since the 1970's. The association of modern talc-containing products with cancer is not well established, but if it exists at all, it's very small. If it worries you, there are cornstarch-based powders. For FTMs who've had their ovaries removed, there should be no risk at all, since ovarian cancer is the only one with even a minimal association with talc.
In the overall scheme of things... it's not something I choose to worry about.
I used to live in Houston, and would sweat my nuts off (literally), so I got into using a double hit of baby powder, as described above by another poster, and that helped tremendously. I still use it for this purpose because it's been pretty hot lately this summer and I no longer have my 'southern blood'.
I saw some boxer briefs the other day designed for athletic uses that were antimicrobial and said to "battle smell" maybe those might help you out?
I opted for those that were half the price on the clearance rack, so I cannot attest to their working or not... might be worth a shot though. I think i saw them in the jockey outlet.
So far, I haven't found any briefs that work well for packers--I use TransZwear. I'm going to stick with them.
I tried Tysilio's powder, but only after a break in the heat wave, so I wasn't able to test the product during a real scorcher. I did think it worked well, but the real test will come during another round of hot weather. The way this summer has been going, I don't think that will be a problem.
Baby wipes are the best even the flushable wet wipe toilet paper. All the guys at my job use these products. It does help with keeping odor to a minimum. And it's cheap. Wal-Mart sells the BD alcohol wipes along with the sharps container.
Sent from my SD4930UR using Tapatalk
Ah! I never posted about my successes. I've been using a Thai deodorant stick, and it's actually working. I still sweat, but I don't stink. This thing has gotten me through some very nasty heat waves this summer. Who'd o' thunk it?
And Tysilio's powder has been a win as well. I got mine at CVS. I might not need to use it after bottom surgery, but that won't happen for quite some time. Thanks, Tysilio!
Hey, Arch, I'm glad it's working for you!
I use Gold Bond and it works very well. Even when I do sweat through it the Gold Bond prevents odor. Gold Bond does have a minty/eucylyptus-y scent/feel on your skin but it has never hurt. I would never have been able to last working as a mechanic in a non-air conditioned garage for 4 years without it. I still use Gold Bond during the sweaty times weather.
Putting on my medical hat here for a second...
Avoid using powders that are starch based UNLESS they are medicated to prevent fungus/bacteria growth.
Here's the scoop: old baby powder used to be talc. They stopped using talc and went to corn starch. The problem is obvious: bacteria can't eat talc, but they love eating corn starch. So what you're doing when you put corn starch powder on a wet, dark, warm place is you are basically ADDING FOOD. ;)
The basic baby powders on the market will almost always increase infections, not relieve them (that's that bad smell you are smelling: infection by bacteria or fungus).
So, either find a talc powder - or, more likely - use a powder with an anti-microbial agent in it. There are lots of those available.
I tend to trim hair in these places to a minimum, and use medicated powders. On the whole, I don't smell... but then I don't have a particularly physically demanding job at the moment. I'd imagine if I did I'd use a combination of powder and extra strong anti perspirants.
@kayMc
Do you have a couple of examples? I´ve been using cornstarch products and yeah that did not work out very well. Yeast loves it.
But I have no idea where to start looking for the ones that have an antimicrobial agent in them. I live in Europe, but maybe I can look up some american brands and find similar ones here.
I occasionally use Fresh Balls (not kidding. That's the name) when I feel the need but not as much lately. I don't know if it's starch though. I also can't speak to its use on non-cis junk. I do like it. It goes on as a cream which quickly dries into a powder. I think the idea is it distributes better that way than if you just try to apply powder.
Quote from: dalebert on November 18, 2015, 10:35:02 AM
I occasionally use Fresh Balls (not kidding. That's the name) when I feel the need but not as much lately. I don't know if it's starch though. I also can't speak to its use on non-cis junk. I do like it. It goes on as a cream which quickly dries into a powder. I think the idea is it distributes better that way than if you just try to apply powder.
Heck, I'd buy that on name alone :D
My cis girlfriend has swearing issues, and is constantly wet, so she's had some experience. She recently taught me her secret: a product called Summer's Eve. You can get it at Wal-Mart, and probably most stores in the feminine hygiene section. I hope it works for you. :)
Quote from: in.Chains on December 17, 2015, 08:40:37 AM
My cis girlfriend has swearing issues, and is constantly wet, so she's had some experience. She recently taught me her secret: a product called Summer's Eve. You can get it at Wal-Mart, and probably most stores in the feminine hygiene section. I hope it works for you. :)
I hate to say this because the stuff might work great even for trans guys, but I doubt that many of us would be able to use this product without experiencing some soul-destroying dysphoria, as well as major embarrassment every time we went to the store. I needed some product as a "just in case" for after my surgery, and I couldn't bring myself to buy it in broad daylight in my own neighborhood! I had to go to a strange store at 10 p.m. thirty miles away (near one of my jobs). And I felt compelled to buy something manly along with it, just as an act of defiance, I suppose.
Hickory Farms. Meat products. Rawr!!
In my case, the problem wasn't actually internal; it was external--beefed-up sweat glands, for the most part, although I'm sure that there was a little mixing of internal and external fluids; nonetheless, I completely solved the problem by using the external powder that Tysilio recommended.
Pun intended...
Anything you're not comfortable with buying at a store you can usually buy online more discreetly...
Quote from: Arch on December 17, 2015, 01:48:27 PM
I hate to say this because the stuff might work great even for trans guys, but I doubt that many of us would be able to use this product without experiencing some soul-destroying dysphoria, as well as major embarrassment every time we went to the store. I needed some product as a "just in case" for after my surgery, and I couldn't bring myself to buy it in broad daylight in my own neighborhood! I had to go to a strange store at 10 p.m. thirty miles away (near one of my jobs). And I felt compelled to buy something manly along with it, just as an act of defiance, I suppose.
Hickory Farms. Meat products. Rawr!!
In my case, the problem wasn't actually internal; it was external--beefed-up sweat glands, for the most part, although I'm sure that there was a little mixing of internal and external fluids; nonetheless, I completely solved the problem by using the external powder that Tysilio recommended.
Pun intended...
I can understand feeling some dysphoria, but the reality is, a good product that does the job, is a good product. At the end of the day, it's a material good, and it has no gender and it doesn't care who you are, ya know? For example, I'm a trans girl, but I use men's razors because they are infinitely better than women's razors. I could care less who they are 'made for.' They're just inanimate objects. :)
Like TKGW also mentioned, purchasing it online solves any issues regarding people seeing you as feminine or whatever you may be concerned about.
Anyone who owns a dog knows douche does a better job than tomato juice when you have a run in with a skunk. Lots of guys buy it. :)
Hugs, Devlyn
Quote from: in.Chains on December 17, 2015, 08:40:37 AM
My cis girlfriend has swearing issues, and is constantly wet, so she's had some experience. She recently taught me her secret: a product called Summer's Eve. You can get it at Wal-Mart, and probably most stores in the feminine hygiene section. I hope it works for you. :)
Chuckle....snort....swearing issues? LMAO! :laugh:
Hugs, Devlyn
Quote from: T.K.G.W. on December 18, 2015, 09:13:32 AM
Anything you're not comfortable with buying at a store you can usually buy online more discreetly...
Yeah, but then you still have to USE it. Again and again. Erm. And not everyone here can order online.
Also, I think that one of my big points was lost--trans guys tend to start sweating more than before, and I'm one of the ones who sweat A LOT more than before; my issue was mostly perspiration, not internal issues. I suspect that douching would have done me no good, especially since I like smelling like a guy down there. The sweat was the problem.
Huh, I just use whatever, men's products, women's products, unisex products... it's the privacy of my home so I don't fret. I can understand buying it at a store, like I dislike buying tampons for example more than any other product but at the end of the day, they're made to do a job and they do it.
I used to be bothered about buying stuff like that, or even stuff for things like constipation which being female used to give me so damn bad, but the care just fell away when all you want is to alleviate the problem.
I know some people here won't be able to buy online but some will certainly. I'm pretty much forced to buy online because the local drug store is so provincial they barely stock anything I need and it turns out buying online is just nicer. I never especially like going into drug stores for medicated products anyway. It's not so much the things I'm buying but that everyone around me knows what problems I got from looking at them :laugh:
Quote from: Devlyn Marie on December 18, 2015, 11:12:02 AM
Chuckle....snort....swearing issues? LMAO! :laugh:
Hugs, Devlyn
I mean, if you get her going... haha. Although it's usually in Spanish. :D
Quote from: in.Chains on December 17, 2015, 08:40:37 AM
My cis girlfriend has swearing issues, and is constantly wet, so she's had some experience. She recently taught me her secret: a product called Summer's Eve. You can get it at Wal-Mart, and probably most stores in the feminine hygiene section. I hope it works for you. :)
I don't know see how cleaning out your vaginal canal (what douche is for) has anything to do with sweating.
The issue being presented here is an increase in sweat on a trans guy's external junk due to being on testosterone.
I assume your girlfriend has some concern that an increase in sweating effects her vaginal canal, in some way. As an aside, they say that douching isnt good for the vagina. It interrupts the ph balance. They say if the woman feels it completely necessary, to only use vinegar and water.
<--- used to teach sexual health.
She may be talking about the wipes that they make. They have an odor fighting purpose, but I'm not sure the scene would be something most guys want. Though it is better than smelling gross I suppose.
Quote from: FTMax on December 25, 2015, 06:33:07 PM
He may be talking about the wipes that they make. They have an odor fighting purpose, but I'm not sure the scene would be something most guys want. Though it is better than smelling gross I suppose.
Oh, I see. I didn't know they made those toilet paper (Scott, Cottonelle), type wipes.
On the topic of not gendering products, my boyfriend's brother is cisgender and he uses Vagisil powder on his testicles. Both my boyfriend and his brother have problems with sweat. It works!
I would recommend that if you look at powders that are more gender-appropriate, you make sure there is no menthol or talc in it. I use plain old baby powder, I don't think it's too feminine, and I have heard multiple men tell me how good it feels to powder their testicles with it.
Quote from: Saison Marguerite on December 27, 2015, 07:38:47 PM
I would recommend that if you look at powders that are more gender-appropriate, you make sure there is no menthol or talc in it. I use plain old baby powder, I don't think it's too feminine, and I have heard multiple men tell me how good it feels to powder their testicles with it.
I'm a little confused; traditional baby powder is talc, isn't it? I have a small container of baby powder, and its main ingredient is talc. Do you mean that we should avoid products with menthol or corn starch?
Quote from: Arch on December 28, 2015, 07:09:47 PM
I'm a little confused; traditional baby powder is talc, isn't it? I have a small container of baby powder, and its main ingredient is talc. Do you mean that we should avoid products with menthol or corn starch?
There is baby powder that only has corn starch in it and no talc. It's made by Johnsons just like the traditional baby powder is. I have used it for years and haven't had any adverse side affects. I avoid the one with talc because of the talk of cancer, and I avoid menthol because I tried it once and it burned my skin for a whole day.