3 Ways to Control Excessive Sweating

2024 Author: Jason Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 10:50

While a certain amount of sweating is normal and even healthy, if you sweat profusely and continuously, you may be suffering from a condition called hyperhidrosis. This is a medical condition that causes excessive sweating, usually on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, and underarms. Hyperhidrosis is not a serious health problem, but it can cause significant physical and emotional discomfort, and can lead to embarrassing situations. Fortunately, there are many ways to control and even cure excessive sweating. It's just a matter of finding the solution that works best for you.

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Method 1 of 3: Making Simple Changes

Step 1. Switch to a stronger antiperspirant

The first thing to do in an effort to combat excessive sweating is to switch to an antiperspirant with a stronger formula. While a prescription is required for the strongest formula, there are several clinically strength formulas available over-the-counter from brands such as Dove and Secret.

• Be aware of the difference between antiperspirant and deodorant. antiperspirant will actually clog sweat glands and prevent excessive sweating, while deodorant just masks odors. Therefore, if you suffer from excessive sweating, it is important that you wear antiperspirant (although antiperspirant-deodorant is also available).
• Strong antiperspirant recipes usually contain 10-15% of the active ingredient called aluminum chloride hexahydrate. This ingredient is very effective at reducing sweating but can sometimes cause skin irritation, so you may have to choose until you find a formula that works for you.
• Some people also refuse to use antiperspirant because of suspected links between aluminum-based compounds contained in antiperspirant with diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer's. However, many clinical studies have found no evidence to support this association.

Step 2. Apply antiperspirant at night

This may sound surprising, but doctors recommend using antiperspirant at night, right before bed. The reason is that it takes about six to eight hours for antiperspirant to enter the sweat ducts and clog pores adequately.

• Your body also tends to be cooler and calmer when you sleep, which reduces sweating and prevents the antiperspirant from being wasted with sweat before it has had enough time to absorb (which is usually the case when you only use antiperspirant in the morning).
• However, it is better if you use antiperspirant for the second time, after a morning shower, for optimal results.
• Remember that antiperspirant is not applied to the armpits, but to almost any other sweaty area, such as the palms of the hands, feet and back. Avoid using it on the face, as stronger formulas have a tendency to cause irritation, especially on sensitive skin.

Step 3. Choose clothes wisely

Wearing the right clothes can make a big difference in your efforts to control sweat. First, wearing clothes that absorb sweat can prevent you from sweating in the first place and second, making smart clothing choices can help cover sweat stains and save you from embarrassment.

• Use lightweight materials. Lightweight, breathable fabrics, such as cotton, will allow your skin to breathe and keep your body from overheating.
• Choose dark colors and patterns. Wearing dark colored and patterned clothing can make sweat stains less obvious or even invisible, giving you greater peace of mind when you're out and about.

• Wear shoes that absorb sweat. If you have sweaty feet, it's a good idea to buy high-quality shoes that absorb sweat so your feet don't overheat. You can also wear special insoles that provide moisture in your shoes for the added benefit of reducing sweating.

  

• Wear layered clothes. Wearing layers of clothing, regardless of the season, can help reduce the appearance of sweat, as the bottom layer can absorb excess moisture before it has a chance to penetrate the outer layer. Men can wear undershirts, while women can wear camis.

  

• Consider wearing a shirt divider. If the weather is too hot to wear layered clothes, you can also consider clothes dividers. This is a small, sweat-absorbent layer that you can glue to the inside of your clothes to absorb excess moisture.

Step 4. Take a shower at least once a day

Bathing every day can really help get rid of the bad odor caused by excessive sweating. Interestingly, sweat itself is odorless, as it is simply a mixture of water, salt and electrolytes.

• Odor is formed when the apocrine glands, which are in the armpits and groin, release a viscous substance that contains fat, protein and pheromones.
• This viscous substance then mixes with sweat and bacteria on the skin's surface, creating the unpleasant odor you associate with sweat.
• Bathing every day (especially with antibacterial soap) helps prevent excess bacteria from building up on the skin's surface, thereby reducing odor. It is equally important to wear clean clothes after bathing, because bacteria can also be left on dirty clothes.

Step 5. Bring a change of clothes

Keep a spare shirt or shirt (not wrinkled) in your bag in case you suffer from excessive sweating. Just knowing that you always have a clean change of clothes ready to wear can lower your anxiety levels and make you feel more secure.

• It's been proven that worrying about sweating actually makes you sweat more, so knowing you have a savior (in the form of a change of clothes) you can rely on can prevent you from sweating more in the first place.
• Bring a handkerchief. Another suggestion is to carry a handkerchief in your pocket at all times. That way, if you have to shake hands with someone, you can dry your palms quickly without getting caught.

Step 6. Avoid spicy food

Spicy foods like peppers and Indian curries can increase sweat production, so don't eat anything spicy, at least during weekday lunches or on a date.

• Also avoid foods such as onions and garlic, as the pungent odor associated with these foods can be excreted through sweat.

  

• Overall, eating foods such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables is fine. However, these foods do not stop sweating, but can reduce the smell of sweat.

  

Step 7. Keep your bed cool

If you sweat a lot at night, there are things you can do to keep yourself cool in bed.

• Make sure you use light and absorbent sheets no matter the summer or the rainy season. Make sure you choose bed linen that absorbs sweat such as cotton, while silk or flannel sheets are not ideal choices.
• Choose a light blanket. You can always use layers of blankets if needed, but if you sleep with thick blankets, even in the summer, it's no wonder you're sweating at night.

Step 8. Reduce stress

Feeling stressed, nervous or anxious is a major trigger for sweating for some people, so it makes sense that by controlling stress levels, you can control sweating as well.

• When you're stressed or nervous, those feelings stimulate neurotransmitters in the brain that send signals to your body to start sweating, making you feel hot and irritated.

  

• To reduce stress, try not to do all the work beyond your means. If you're sweating from nervousness before a presentation or meeting with your boss, focus on relaxation techniques like deep breathing and meditation.

  

• In the long run, activities like exercise and spending time with family and friends will help you reduce stress.

  

Step 9. Use dry shampoo

If you find your scalp sweating during even the lightest physical activity, consider applying a dry shampoo to your hair every morning. Most dry shampoos have a powdery finish that will absorb extra moisture from your hair and scalp.

• Keep a small bottle of dry shampoo in your bag or desk drawer, so you can quickly apply it to your hair in the shower whenever you need to freshen up.
• Scented dry shampoo has a fragrant aroma, so it can mask the smell of sweat. However, if you want to choose a scented shampoo that you can make yourself, you can use baby powder or baking soda.

Step 10. Eliminate bad habits

Habits such as smoking, drinking alcohol and excessive caffeine consumption can increase sweat production, so it's a good idea to cut down on these habits whenever possible.

• Being overweight also causes an increase in the amount of sweating, so if you can lose a few pounds, then this is a great way to start.
• Check out the following articles such as quitting smoking, quitting alcohol and losing weight.

Method 2 of 3: Seeking Medical Help

Step 1. See a doctor to look for possible causes of your excessive sweating

In some instances, excessive sweating may be due to an underlying medical condition, such as menopause, heart disease, hyperthyroidism, or certain types of cancer.

• It is important to identify these hidden causes as soon as possible so that you can begin treatment. This is especially important because some of these causes are potentially life threatening. After the health problem is successfully cured, the patient can also reduce excessive sweating effectively.
• It's also important to consider whether you are on any medication that might be causing your sweating problem. Several medications play a role in causing excessive sweating, such as drugs used to treat psychiatric conditions or high blood pressure. Antibiotics and some types of supplements can also cause the same problem.
• You should consider whether the sweating appears after your treatment has started, or whether the sweat is all over the body and not a localized type that is only on certain parts of the body.

Step 2. Try removing armpit hair with a laser

Lasers to remove armpit hair are often recommended by doctors to block excess sweat production and eliminate unpleasant odors.

• The reason for the success of this method is very simple. Fur is there to warm the body, but can sometimes cause excessive sweating. Bacteria also attach to body hair more easily, which causes bad odors. By removing the hair, the area will sweat less and the number of bacteria that sticks there is also reduced, so the smell is reduced.
• Lasers work by targeting hair follicles with laser light vibrations that damage them. This treatment is relatively painless, but may take several sessions to complete. From there, hair growth will decrease significantly. Laser treatment is a bit expensive, but the results are permanent.

Step 3. Ask for a prescription

There are several medications that can control excessive sweating. These drugs work by blocking communication between nerves in the brain and sweat glands.

• These pills have been shown to be effective in some patients, so if you're interested, talk to your doctor if you can get a prescription.
• Some patients report side effects of these drugs including blurred vision, bladder problems and dry mouth.

Step 4. Consider iontophoresis treatment

This FDA-approved procedure is usually performed by a dermatologist and uses electrical impulses to temporarily "turn off" the sweat glands. This method is especially effective for the hands and feet.

• Most patients need several sessions before seeing positive results. These sessions are usually done once a day for up to about 2 weeks. After that, maintenance sessions can be performed only when "necessary".
• Few side effects of this procedure have been reported and some patients perform the necessary maintenance sessions in the comfort of their own home. The iontophoresis machine can be purchased at a price of around Rp. 7 million. The patient must be trained by the doctor to use the machine properly.

Step 5. Consider botox injections

Although generally considered an antiaging treatment, these injections have also been shown to be effective in treating hyperhidrosis. This procedure works by temporarily blocking the nerves that stimulate sweat production.

• This procedure is also considered relatively safe, with few unpleasant side effects and no discontinuation afterward.
• Results usually last about 4 months and repeat sessions are needed to maintain positive results.

Step 6. Select the operation, if needed

In extreme cases, surgery may be taken to remove or inactivate the sweat glands. If successful, this method can stop excessive sweating. The two main treatments offered are:

• Removal of sweat glands. This is done by liposuction, through small incisions in the skin. This treatment is only possible on the sweat glands in the armpits.
• Neurosurgery. This treatment is done in order to cut, pinch, or destroy the spinal cord that activates excessive sweating, especially in the palms of the hands. Unfortunately, this method can inadvertently trigger excessive sweating in other parts of the body.

Method 3 of 3: Using Natural Treatments

Step 1. Drink plenty of water

Sweating occurs when your body temperature gets too high and your body produces water to cool it down again. Drinking plenty of cold water throughout the day helps regulate body temperature so it doesn't get too high, thus preventing the need to sweat.

• In addition, drinking lots of water allows toxins to be excreted from the body in the urine, which if you don't drink they will be excreted as sweat from the skin.
• Toxins released through the skin will mix with sweat and produce an unpleasant odor. Therefore, drinking lots of water can improve the smell of sweat.
• Try drinking 6 to 8 glasses of water a day to help with sweating and provide a number of other health benefits, including clearer skin and better digestion.

Step 2. Use a facial scrub on your underarms

It may sound odd, but using a facial scrub on your armpits (or any part of your body where you're sweating) helps exfoliate layers of skin and clear clogged pores.

• Once the pores have been cleaned, the trapped toxins and bad odors will be released.
• At first you may sweat more than before, but after a few days you should notice a decrease in the volume and frequency of sweating. Continue to use the scrub once or twice a week.

Step 3. Use corn starch or baking soda

Baking soda and cornstarch are great products to use on sweaty areas that are prone to irritation, such as the feet or under the breasts. Baby powder is just as good.

• When applied to the skin, these ingredients absorb the extra moisture quickly and keep the area dry for several hours.
• Baking soda is antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, so it's great for use on sensitive skin. However, to control sweat in the groin, it is better if you use a product that is specifically made for that area.

Step 4. Try horseradish juice

Some people claim that horseradish juice is effective in reducing excessive sweating, as it reduces activity in the sweat glands.

• If you want to try, you can take radish juice by grating the radish, then squeeze the water.
• Then you can apply radish juice on the armpits or other sweaty areas. Alternatively, you can drink radish juice or use it in a healthy smoothie.

Step 5. Drink sage tea

Few know that sage tea is an herbal remedy that is believed to prevent sweat glands from overproducing.

• You may be able to find sage tea at drug and food stores, but it is very easy to make your own tea at home.
• Simply boil a handful of fresh or dried sage leaves in a pot of water. After boiling, strain the water and let it cool slightly before drinking.
• One or two cups of sage tea a day is sufficient.

Step 6. Change your diet

The quality of sweat is affected by what you put in your body. Eating processed foods and using artificial sweeteners will increase the amount of toxins in your system. This toxin will then clog the pores and mix with sweat which eventually produces an unpleasant body odor.

• You should avoid all types of fast food, processed foods, soda, candy with artificial colors and sweeteners, or those containing high fructose corn syrup because all these foods will make sweating worse.

  

• Instead, eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, especially those high in water content such as tomatoes, watermelons, cucumbers, and so on. Also whole grains, lean meats and fish, nuts, and eggs.

  

Step 7. Apply lemon juice

Lemon juice can help eliminate odors associated with excessive sweating, thanks to the citric acid it contains.

• Squeeze the juice from a fresh lemon, or take a bottle of lemon juice and apply the lemon juice to the areas that sweat the most. You'll smell like fresh lemons all day long!
• Lemon juice is acidic so it can irritate sensitive skin. Do not apply the juice to sensitive areas or skin that is cut or scratched, as it can cause a stinging sensation.

Step 8. Take zinc supplements

Zinc can also eliminate bad odors caused by sweat. Find zinc supplements at your local drug and food store and take them as directed on the package.

• It is wise to consult with your doctor before starting to take any supplements.

• You can also get zinc naturally in your diet from foods such as oysters, crab, meat, breakfast cereals, baked beans, almonds and yogurt.

  

Step 9. Perform a colon cleanse

Some people claim that doing a colon cleanse has helped them reduce sweating.

• There may be some truth to this method, as colon cleansing removes toxins from the body that if not cleansed will play a role in producing smelly sweat.
• Therefore, if you have tried the previous options without success, maybe you can try cleansing your colon.