From the possibility of developing hyperhidrosis to breeding bacteria that can cause body odor, clogged underarm sweat glands can lead to a variety of problems for your body down the road.
Fortunately, you can prevent blocked hair follicles from forming in your pits with a few lifestyle changes.
Continue reading as this article lists down all the ways you can prevent clogged armpit sweat glands.
Practice good hygiene to prevent your
underarm sweat glands from getting blocked.
Perhaps the most evident way to get a head start
when it comes to guarding your underarms is to practice good hygiene.
Take a bath regularly and use antiseptic soap in washing your underarms and other areas with lots of sweat glands. A mild hypoallergenic soap can avoid irritating your skin.
Exfoliating is also a good habit to add to your bathing routine. It helps with shedding off sticky buildup in the underarms from deodorants. Aluminum, an ingredient found in antiperspirants, can clog pores, so you need to wash them off thoroughly.
Other than that, don’t forget to wash your clothes always. Nothing beats a shirt fresh out of the laundry.
Wear loose and comfortable clothing.
Form-fitting clothes cause friction and irritation on your skin, causing bumps to form on your underarm sweat glands. Plus, loose clothing is not as restrictive as tight shirts.
Opt for fabrics like hemp, linen, and cotton if you’d like to prevent your underarm sweat glands from getting blocked.
Maintain your ideal weight.
Losing weight has a multitude of benefits, including preventing your underarm sweat glands from getting blocked.
Overweight people are more prone to develop blocked sweat glands. By maintaining a healthy weight, you get to prevent flareups while also taking care of your overall health.
To maintain a healthy weight, adopt a balanced diet and avoid food high in sugar and fat. Increase the intake of fruit and vegetables.
Are you having a hard time sticking to your ideal weight? Find a support group to help you keep an eye on your nutrition to make sure you adhere to your weight loss goals.
Quit smoking to lessen your chances of inflamed underarm sweat glands.
We’ve heard it a lot of times before – smoking is bad for your health. But how bad is it really when it comes to your skin and underarms?
Your dependency on your daily stash of sticks can make you more prone to developing blocked sweat glands in the long run.
While there is a study that proves this, it’s still hard to pinpoint the reason why cigarette smoking can be a triggering factor.
Nonetheless, giving up smoking has a multitude of benefits that go beyond having better underarms. You’ll eventually see your overall health improve by cutting this habit out of your day-to-day life.
Stay cool.
When your body overheats, you tend to sweat a lot, making you more prone to hair follicle blockages.
So, always stay in well-ventilated areas to prevent excessive sweating. As much as possible, stay out of the sun especially between 10 AM to 3 PM. Keep an antiperspirant on hand to stay dry and wear loose clothing. Stay hydrated at all times.
But staying cool also means avoiding stress. When you’re stressed, you also become prone to sweating, so try to stay chill and not let your anxiety get the best of you. Do visualization, meditation, and deep breathing exercises to keep stress at bay.
Avoid shaving.
While shaving is one of the easiest ways to remove armpit hair, it’s not nearly as helpful for your sweat glands. In fact, it does more harm than good.
Shaving can rub bacteria to your underarm sweat glands, causing bumps and triggering breakouts.
If removing your armpit hair is a must, opt for gentler ways to do so. Investing in laser hair removal is one route you can take.
You can also try miraDry to make your blocked sweat glands problem go away. This noninvasive procedure eliminates sweat, hair, and odor glands in the armpits using microwave energy.
It’s an all-in-one solution that you can invest in to achieve sweat-free and hair-free underarms. One session can already give you your desired results, though it still depends on a case-by-case basis.
Ask your doctor about supplements.
Sometimes, making a few lifestyle changes isn’t enough.
Ask your doctor about oral zinc supplements that you can take to prevent the formation of inflamed sweat glands in your armpits. These supplements include zinc sulfate, zinc oxide, zinc gluconate, zinc chelate, zinc acetate, and zinc glycine.
Take extra precaution if you’re pregnant. Always go for the safe route and ask your doctor first.
Learn to treat your inflamed underarm sweat glands.
If you think that you already have problematic sweat glands in your pits, consult a professional and seek advice on different ways to keep the inflammation at bay.
Your doctor will most likely prescribe you with steroid drugs to control inflammation. If you have infected underarm sweat glands, expect to be prescribed with antibiotics. These may come in oral or topical forms that you may apply directly to the affected area.
Other than medicines, there are plenty of home remedies that can minimize inflamed sweat glands. Apply warm compress on the affected area for 10-15 minutes at a time for pain relief. You may also use a hot teabag for this purpose, but make sure that it’s at a tolerable temperature to prevent burns.
Use an antibacterial and fragrance-free soap as well to prevent further skin irritation. Likewise, avoid comedogenic lotions and moisturizers as these may further block the glands and pores.
Prevention is always better than treatment. You may even choose to get rid of your underarm sweat glands right away if you think that they’re going to give you problems in the future. Removing your armpit sweat glands is actually a lot safer than you think.
If you choose to explore this option, schedule a Free Consultation with our certified miraDry practitioners here in Face+Body Cosmetic Surgery. We’ll answer any questions that you may have when it comes to dealing with underarm sweat glands.
