[notsamantha]

Hi everyone.
So, I'm pretty insecure about my body since I have really pale skin, almost making me look like an alien or something since you can see a lot of my veins, I've never hurt myself so I don't have any scars but I still find it repulsive that I sweat a lot and sometimes I think it drives people away from me. I tried lots of shower gels, lots of perfume, lots deoderant but nothing seems to work for me. Any tips? Thank you.

Hi notsamantha, welcome to Psych Central.

To tackle the first part of your post, I don't personally think pale skin is unattractive, many people in fact find pale skin attractive.

I have a very blonde pale skinned friend and I think she is beautiful, she is also a nice, funny and kind person and that is just as much part of the whole package that makes her special. Same goes for you too, who you are is more than just your looks, true friends will realise that.

As for your concerns about sweating a lot, well sometimes that can be a sign of anxiety or another health problem so that might be worth checking with your GP. Some people just do sweat more than others though, so it may just be one of those things to live with. As long as you keep your body clean and use a deodorant the sweat shouldn't smell (it's bacteria on the skin which causes odour, not the sweat itself), so I don't see why it would drive people away. If you are worried about odour perhaps you could ask a trusted friend or family member if they have noticed any odour.

I hope you can come to feel more accepting of your body, one thing that has helped me become more accepting of mine is sport and using my body actively, if you don't do this already I do recommend that. It's a great way to develop a new respect for your body - and everyone sweats when they exercise so no need to worry about that.