Ask Neycha:
2008-08-21
Dear Neycha:
I have a good friend who stinks. Honestly her body odor has gotten so bad that I’m ashamed to be around her. We’ve been friends for years and this was never a problem until recently. I can’t figure out what has changed in the last few years. I’m too embarrassed to tell her although I feel bad knowing that our friends talk about her behind her back. So do I. What should I do? How can I handle the situation?
Getting Funked Up, Tallahassee
Dear Getting Funked:
Wow! I guess your friend missed the public service announcement: “WHEN YOU UNZIP YOUR ZIPPER, IT SHOULD SAY FRESSHHH!” Now while I’m tempted to get all Madea-like and tell you to tell your friend to wash where the sun don’t shine, know that I’m just rehearsing my bravado like a “playstation gangsta”. Because I’ll tell you now that I’m not direct enough to ‘carry the mail’ on this one. I would be like a pandering John McCain if ever asked to tell a friend, “You stink!” But DON’T do as I DO lovey. DO as I SAY.
Tell your friend. She sounds like she may be in desperate need of an outsider’s perspective AND sense of smell. Although poor hygiene is most often blamed, there are a number of factors that contribute to body odor which include: skin infections, excessive caffeine, stress, normal aging, certain foods, medications and over-active sweat glands. According to the website wrongdiagnosis.com, there are also some illnesses that cause body odor despite adequate hygiene. Some include gastrointestinal disorders, diabetic ketoacidosis, and fish odor syndrome - a very rare metabolic disease where the body is unable to break down trimethyamine, which builds up and produces a fishy smell in the urine, sweat and breath.
Your friend could be suffering from any number of the potential causes outlined above, or she could just be a funky chick who doesn’t WASH – her clothes or body. But I’d like to believe there’s a valid reason, and being educated on the potential various causes of body odor provides some potential entry points for you to begin a candid discussion with your friend. Be prepared to offer her helpful information such as websites and articles, along with the name of a good doctor. Also prepare yourself for the awkwardness sure to surround the conversation initially so it won’t throw you off your game.
Although uncomfortable, I’m sure YOU will find your legs once in the game! As for ME; well I’ll be cheering YOU on – from the sidelines of course.
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About Neycha
Getting Funked
Ready To Spill It
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Used Up
Don't Want To Talk About It
Scared Wife
Not Into Tiny
Too Through
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Any information or advice given not intended to provide an alternative to or replacement for professional advice or the services of your physician, psychotherapist, or psychiatrist.
