/ 3 How to Control Excessive Sweating
Although a certain amount of sweating is normal, and even healthy, if you find yourself sweating constantly and profusely you may be suffering from condition known as hyperhidrosis.This is a medical condition which causes excessive sweating, usually on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet and the armpits. Hyperhidrosis is not a serious medical problem,but it can cause significant physical and emotional discomfort, and lead to some embarrassing situations. Thankfully, there are many ways to control and even treat excessive sweating — it’s simply a matter of finding the solution which works best for you.
Switch to a stronger antiperspirant:The first thing to do when attempting to combat excessive sweating is to switch to an antiperspirant with a stronger formula. While morning shower, for optimum results. Remember that antiperspirants aren’t reserved for use on the armpits; they can be used almost anywhere you find yourself sweating -like the palms, feet and back. Just avoid using them on the face, as stronger formulas have a tendency to cause irritation, especially on sensitive skin.
Choose clothing wisely: Wearing the right clothing can make a huge difference when it comes to keeping sweating under control. Firstly, wearing breathable clothing can prevent you from sweating excessively in the first place and secondly, making clever clothing choices can help to mask sweat stains and stop you from feeling self-conscious.
Wear lightweight fabrics:Lightweight, breathable fabrics - such as cotton - will allow your skin to breathe and prevent your body from overheating.
Choose dark colors and patterns. Wearing dark colors and patterned clothes can help to make sweat stains less obvious or even unnoticeable, giving you greater peace of mind as you go about your day.Wear breathable shoes. If you suffer from sweaty feet, it’s a good idea to invest in high quality, breathable shoes which prevent your feet from over-heating. You can also place moisture-wicking insoles inside shoes, for added sweat -reducing benefits.
Layer up: Layering your clothing, no matter what the season, can help with the appearance of sweat, as the bottom layers can soak up any excess moisture before it gets a chance to soak through the outer layers. Men can wear undershirts, while women can opt for a camisole.
Consider using dress shields. If it’s too warm for extra layers, you can also consider using dress-shields. These are small adhesive patches which you can stick to the inside of your clothing to soak up an excess moisture. They are available at most pharmacies
Shower at least once a day: Showering daily really help to eliminate bad odors caused by excessive sweating. Interestingly, sweat does not have an odor by itself - as it is simply a mixture of water, salt and electrolytes. Odor forms when the apocrine glands - which are found in the underarms and groin - release a viscous substance containing fats, proteins and pheromones.This viscous substance then mixes with regular sweat and bacteria on the surface of the skin, creating the bad smell you associate with sweat.Washing daily can help to prevent excess bacteria from building up on the surface of the skin, thus reducing odors. It is also important to wear clean clothes after a shower, as bacteria can also reside on dirty clothes.
Bring a change of clothes: Keeping a spare (non-creasing) shirt or blouse in your bag at all times is a good idea if you suffer from excessive sweating. Just knowing that you always have a fresh change of clothes readily available can decrease your anxiety levels and make you feel more secure.
It has been proven that worrying about your sweating can actually cause you to sweat more, so knowing that you have a safety net to fall back on can actually prevent you from sweating so much in the first place.
Carry a handkerchief: Another sneaky back-up is to carry a handkerchief in your pocket at all times. That way, if you’re confronted with the necessity of shaking hands with somebody, you can quickly and inconspicuously dry your palms first.
| Laser hair removal is often recommended by doctors to curb excessive sweating and eliminate bad odors. The reason this works is fairly simple - hair is present to keep the body warm, but sometimes it causes it to sweat more. |
Avoid spicy foods: Spicy foods such as hot peppers or Indian curries can increase the amount of sweat you produce, so avoid eating anything spicy - at least during lunch on workdays or on a date.
Also avoid eating foods such as garlic and onions, as the strong odors associated with these foods can come out through your sweat. Overall, eating clean foods such as whole grains, fruit and veg is a good idea. Although, they won’t stop you from sweating, they can improve the odor of the sweat.
Use dry shampoo: If you find that your scalp gets sweaty at the slightest physical activity, consider spritzing your hair with some dry shampoo every morning. Most dry shampoos have a powdery finish which soaks up additional moisture from the hair and scalp.
Keep a travel-size bottle of dry shampoo in your purse or in a desk drawer at work - then you can have a quick spritz in the bathroom whenever you want to freshen up.
Scented dry shampoos also smell great - helping to mask any sweaty odors. types of supplements can also lead to the problem.
Try laser hair removal on your underarms: Laser hair removal is often recommended by doctors to curb excessive sweating and eliminate bad odors.
The reason this works is fairly simple - hair is present to keep the body warm, but sometimes it causes it to sweat more. Bacteria also cling to hairs much more easily, which leads to bad odors. By removing the hair, the area will sweat less and hold onto fewer bacteria, resulting in reduced odor.
Laser hair removal works by targeting hair follicles with pulses of laser light which destroy them. The treatment is relatively non-painful, but may require several sessions to complete. From then on, hair growth will be significantly reduced. Laser treatment can be somewhat pricey, but the results are permanent.
Drink more water: Sweating happens when your body temperature gets too high and your body secretes water in order to cool it down again. Drinking plenty of cold water throughout the day helps to regulate your body temperature and prevent it from getting too high in the first place, thus preventing the need to sweat. In addition, drinking lots of water allows toxins to be flushed from the body through urine, which would otherwise be sweated out through the skin. When toxins are eliminated through the skin, they mingle with sweat to create bad odors. Therefore, drinking lots of water can improve the odor of your sweat.
Try to drink 6 to 8 glasses of water a day to help your sweating and provide a range of other health benefits, including clearer skin and improved digestion.
| Lemon juice can help to eliminate the negative odors associated with excessive sweating, thanks to the citric acid it contains. Simply squeeze the juice from a fresh lemon, or take a bottle of pre-squeezed lemon juice and apply the liquid directly to the areas where you sweat the most. You’ll smell lemony fresh all day long! |
Use a facial scrub on your underarms: This may sound a bit odd, but using a facial scrub on your underarms can help to exfoliate the skin and unclog pores.
Once the pores are unclogged, this will release any trapped toxins that have been blocking the pores and causing unpleasant-smelling sweat.
You may sweat even more than usual at first, but after a couple of days you should notice a reduction in the volume and frequency of your sweating. Continue to use the scrub once or twice a week.
Use corn starch or baking soda: Baking soda and cornstarch are great products to use on sweaty areas that are prone to irritation - like the feet or beneath the breasts.
When dabbed on the skin, these powders will quickly soak up any excess moisture and keep the area dry for several hours.
Baking soda is antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, so it is particularly good for use on sensitive skin. However, to control sweating in the groin area it is probably best to use a product specifically designed for that purpose.
Try turnip juice: Some people claim that turnip juice can be effective at reducing excessive sweating, as it reduces activity in the sweat glands.
If you’re willing to give it a try, you can extract the juice from a turnip by grating it with a vegetable grater, then squeezing the grated flesh.
You can then apply the turnip juice directly onto the armpits or other areas affected by sweating. Alternatively, you can drink the turnip juice.
Drink sage tea: Sage tea is a little-known herbal remedy for excessive sweating which is believed to prevent the sweat glands from producing too much sweat.
You may be able to find sage tea in a health food store, but the tea is very easy to make yourself at home.
Simply boil a handful of dried or fresh sage leaves in a pot of water. Once boiled, strain the leaves out of the liquid and leave the tea to cool slightly before drinking.
One or two cups of this a day should be sufficient.
Apply lemon juice: Lemon juice can help to eliminate the negative odors associated with excessive sweating, thanks to the citric acid it contains.
Simply squeeze the juice from a fresh lemon, or take a bottle of pre-squeezed lemon juice and apply the liquid directly to the areas where you sweat the most. You’ll smell lemony fresh all day long!
As lemon juice is acidic, it can cause irritation to sensitive skin. Avoid applying the juice to any sensitive areas or to any broken or scratched skin, as this can sting.
