HOW TO STOP ARMPIT SWEAT
Is armpit sweat running your life? Does it make you feel embarrassed every time you go to work or school? Has it ever made you skip going to parties and gatherings because you feel ashamed of the sweat marks in your clothing?
If you answered yes to even one of these questions, then you’ll be interested to know how to stop armpit sweat.
You might be thinking, “Is that possible?” Definitely! But before we dive into those different methods of how to stop armpit perspiration permanently, let’s first figure out one important fact: what’s causing excessive perspiration in the armpits?
The Culprit of Excessive Armpit Sweat
Everyone experiences underarm sweating. But for most people, it’s prompted by common triggers, such as too much heat or engaging in strenuous activities.
But if you’re the type of person who sweats even without the presence of these triggers, then you might have hyperhidrosis—a condition characterized by excessive sweating.
Having this condition might be making your nerves overactive, which then activate the sweat glands in your armpits to produce lots of perspiration.
While sweating a lot is generally harmless, it can be embarrassing.
You might find it uncomfortable to raise your arms because of the sweat stains in your shirt’s underarm area. You might even feel your confidence dwindling when perspiration mingles with body odor, causing you to withdraw from attending gatherings and parties altogether.
11 WAYS ON HOW TO STOP ARMPIT SWEAT
Fortunately, you have a variety of options on how to stop armpit sweating permanently.
Keep in mind that what may be effective for some people might not work for you and vice versa, so it’s best to employ as many methods as possible to figure out which one works best for you.
Here are 11 ways to keep underarm sweat at bay:
USE ANTIPERSPIRANTS & DEODORANTS
You’ll find a lot of antiperspirants and deodorants on the market. But if you’re serious in getting rid of underarm sweat, you should instead invest in a clinical-strength antiperspirant.
A clinical-strength antiperspirant contains a strong solution that’s specifically designed to stop sweat. You can look for something that contains at least 14% of aluminum chloride since this is the chemical that blocks perspiration. If you need something stronger, you may ask your doctor for prescription antiperspirants.
It’s also important to know how to apply these products correctly. You should apply antiperspirants at night since it needs time to block sweat effectively. You should also make sure that your underarms are completely dry before application.
Consider shaving or trimming your armpit hair as well to provide your antiperspirant with maximum contact with the skin surface. However, wait for at least 24 hours after shaving before applying it.
However, be mindful of the possible side effects of these chemicals found in antiperspirants. It’s better to know how to stop sweating underarms naturally.
WEAR CLEAN, COOL, AND STRATEGIC CLOTHING
Wearing light and breathable fabrics can help keep your body temperature down and reduce your sweat levels. You should also avoid wearing bright colors if you don’t want to draw attention to your sweat marks.
Instead, choose dark colors and patterned clothing to camouflage your perspiration. You may also use jackets and sweatshirts to keep sweat marks hidden, but make sure that it’s not too hot to wear them.
WATCH WHAT YOU EAT
Some foods act as sweat triggers, making you perspire more than normal. Examples of these are spicy foods, processed foods, fried and fatty foods, and caffeine-loaded drinks, so it’s best to avoid these in your diet.
Instead, you should include more vegetables and fruits in your diet, as these promote healthy digestion. Problems in digestion can produce extra sweat.
EXERCISE FREQUENTLY
You might think it’s counterintuitive to exercise to stop armpit sweat, but it’s actually an effective way to lower your stress levels that lead to excessive sweating.
Exercise lowers your cortisol levels—the stress hormone that causes various medical problems like increased weight gain, lower immune function, and higher blood pressure. Plus, stress naturally causes you to sweat a lot, so lowering your cortisol levels can help moderate your sweating.
Working out also triggers the release of endorphins—the “happy hormones” that provide a feeling of satisfaction and reduces your perception of pain. It also leads to less stress and less sweating.
STAY HYDRATED
You should drink enough water every day to keep your body temperature cool. A lower body temperature means your body doesn’t have to sweat as much to release extra heat. It also helps you avoid dehydration, which leads to more sweating. Drink at least eight glasses of water a day—even more—to stay hydrated throughout the day. Keep the caffeine to the minimum as well.
DON'T SWEAT IT
It’s stressful to think of ways on how to prevent armpit sweat on shirts but stressing about your sweating problems will only make things worse.
Learn how to react when you encounter potential stressors at work or school.
For instance, if you’re going to a job interview, make sure that you prepare beforehand. Practice breathing techniques to help yourself calm down.
Avoid thinking of “what ifs” and worst case scenarios that will only induce more perspiration.
PRACTICE GOOD HYGIENE
You need to keep your body clean if you want to control your underarm sweat throughout the entire day.
Shower at least once a day, especially during the summertime when it’s hot and humid. Also, try to bide some time between showering and getting dressed to allow your body to dry and cool down before you put your clothes on.
It’s also important to wear fresh clothes all the time to prevent bacteria from building up in your clothes over time. You might even want to change your shirts more often if you sweat a lot.
STOP SMOKING
You can reduce sweating a little bit by quitting smoking and using home remedies for a natural way to keep your underarms dry.
The nicotine found in cigarettes raises your body temperature, makes your heart beat faster, and triggers your sweat glands.
USE HOME REMEDIES
There are many methods on how to stop sweating underarms using home remedies. Though these aren’t medically proven techniques, there is a lot of anecdotal evidence backing up these claims.
But take note that what works for one person may not work for another. Body chemistry varies for each person, so it’s best to try out various methods to see which one works for you.
APPLE CIDER VINEGAR
As a natural antiperspirant and deodorant, apple cider vinegar helps tighten pores, controlling sweat production. It also helps get rid of odor-causing bacteria by balancing your body’s pH levels.
You can use apple cider vinegar by soaking a cotton ball in it and then applying it to your underarms at night. Wash it off the next day.
TEA
Different kinds of tea can help on how to stop sweating underarms naturally. Sage tea and black tea contain tannic acid, which can shrink your pores and kill odor-causing bacteria. You can add the tea bags in boiling water, steep them, and cool to body temperature. Dab them on your armpits using a clean towel.
You may also drink chamomile tea every day to lessen stress and anxiety that cause you to break into a sweat.
BAKING SODA
If you’re looking for a natural deodorant, you can try applying a mixture of baking soda, cornstarch, and lavender oil to your underarms using a damp cloth. Rinse it with water after 20-30 minutes.
Baking soda lowers your body’s pH levels and absorbs foul odors caused by bacteria. It also has sweat-absorbing properties that keep you dry for a short time.
WITCH HAZEL
Witch hazel is an ingredient found in many antiperspirants because of its natural astringent properties. Soak a cotton pad with witch hazel solution and apply it to your sweaty armpits. You can leave it on or wash it off after 30 minutes.
WHEATGRASS
Wheatgrass has a positive effect on sweat triggers like your body’s pH levels, metabolism, and toxin levels. You simply have to drink a glass of wheatgrass juice daily to take advantage of its sweat controlling properties.
TAKE MEDICATIONS AS PRESCRIBED BY YOUR DOCTOR
If those natural remedies don’t work for you, you can go to your licensed physician and ask about medications that can help you stop sweating:
TOPICAL TREATMENTS
Your doctor will usually try a topical treatment first —usually a prescription-strength antiperspirant—to help control perspiration. These treatments work by closing the sweat ducts in your armpits. If topicals don’t work, you may be prescribed with oral meds like prescription anticholinergics.
ANTICHOLINERGICS
Anticholinergics work by blocking the signals that tell your brain to produce lots of perspiration. Some of the commonly prescribed anticholinergics for stopping sweat include propantheline, oxybutynin, benztropine, and glycopyrrolate.
UNDERGO ADVANCED TREATMENTS
If all the tips mentioned above don’t work for you, then it’s time for you to consider undergoing advanced treatments. Most of these treatments are geared toward hyperhidrosis, so it’s best to ask your doctor about it.
BOTOX
Botox injections are best known as a wrinkle buster, but did you know that it can also help reduce sweating?
Botox works by blocking the neurotransmitter that stimulates your sweat glands. Though it’s not a permanent fix, it can prevent excessive armpit sweating for about six months.
Endoscopic Thoracic Sympathectomy
Usually done as a last resort, thoracic sympathectomy is a surgery that interrupts the sympathetic nerves in your armpits that cause you to sweat a lot.
While it is effective for most people, it is rather risky as well. Complications that you may develop include nerve damage and breathing problems.
SUCTION CURRETAGE
Curettage treatment involves scraping and vacuuming sweat glands in your armpits. First, you’ll be injected with local anesthesia to numb the area. A biopsy will be taken, followed by two incisions into each armpit. A cannula will be inserted in these incisions to vacuum the sweat glands and scrape them away from the underside of the skin. Your incisions will then be sutured, and your underarms will be bandaged as you heal.
miraDry®
Want to go for something non-invasive?
miraDry® is a non-invasive procedure that eliminates sweat glands in your underarms using electromagnetic energy. Because your sweat glands don’t grow back, you can enjoy long-lasting results even with just one miraDry session. Plus, it also targets the hair and odor glands in your underarms, thus stopping hair growth and controlling odor in your armpits.
If you’re interested in getting miraDry treatments to help control your armpit sweat, schedule a Free Consultation with our miraDry-certified plastic surgeon here in Face+Body Cosmetic Surgery.
We’ll try to answer all your concerns regarding how to stop armpit sweat.
