Are you constantly embarrassed by wet sweat patches under your arms?
Here are a few tips to follow to reduce that underarm sweat, eliminate
that patch and regain your confidence.
1: Wear an Antiperspirant
Make it a daily habit to use an antiperspirant. Many people apply an
antiperspirant or deodorant before leaving the house to help control
underarm sweating and the potential for embarrassing odour. What’s the
difference between deodorants and antiperspirants, anyway? Deodorants
help to cover up odours, while antiperspirants contain ingredients
designed to stop excessive perspiration.
2: Adjust Your Routine
The skin under the arms is delicate, even if it is a powerhouse of
sweat production. It is not advisable to apply antiperspirants in the
heat of the day when they are likely to be washed away by sweat and
cause irritation. Instead, massage the antiperspirant onto dry, cool
underarm skin right before you go to bed. People typically sweat less at
night, when they are resting, so it won’t get washed away before it has
time to be absorbed into your glands. Make sure to leave the
antiperspirant on your skin for at least eight hours; it works more
effectively that way.
3: Wear Light Materials
You can help combat sweat by taking stock of your wardrobe. Your
choice of clothing can either make you more comfortable or more prone to
sweat. Clothing made of natural fabrics, such as cotton, wool, hemp,
silk or linen, often have a looser weave than synthetics; this results
in a more breathable fabric that allows air to pass through to your
skin. Plus, the fibres these fabrics are made from absorb moisture well,
which prevents bacteria from feeding on your sweat and causing a stink.
In contrast, synthetic fabrics, such as nylon, rayon and polyester,
are made with much tighter weaves that tend to trap heat and cause your
body to sweat more. To make matters worse, the accumulated moisture
doesn’t evaporate as easily when you wear synthetic fabrics. They create
a greenhouse effect for your armpits, trapping heat and moisture
against your skin. So choose comfortable light clothing to control sweat
.
4: Understand Your Anxiety
Speaking in public, going on a date, interviewing for a new job;
these are only a few of the situations that cause anxiety — and cause
the sweat glands in your armpits to go into overdrive. When you become
anxious, your heart pounds, your mouth becomes dry and you begin to
perspire. It’s a fear response, one your body has triggered so that
you’ll be physically ready to respond to an uncertain or potentially
dangerous situation.
See if you can discover what triggers your anxiety, and try to
mentally accept that some circumstances are out of your control. Fortify
your body and mind by getting at least eight hours of sleep a night,
and practice the power of positive thinking. Just believe that
everything will go well.
5: Reduce Stress
A healthy lifestyle that includes exercise will help your body handle
long-term stress, perform at its optimum level and keep underarm
sweating under control. Sometimes our emotions can get the best of us,
especially when operating under career-, economic- or
relationship-related stressors. And all this stress can lead to
excessive sweating. You need to find your own method for combating
stress as this can be a long term solution to excessive sweating.
6: Change Your Diet
Some people find that certain foods and beverages make them perspire
more profusely than usual or cause an unpleasant body odour. Caffeinated
drinks, alcoholic beverages, garlic and onions are among the most
common culprits. If you like to start your day with a cup (or two) of
coffee or tea, the beverage’s heat will raise your internal temperature
and signal your body to start producing sweat, and the caffeine will
send your central nervous system — as well as your sweat glands — into
overdrive
Avoiding certain foods can help control underarm sweat, too. When you
eat spicy foods, like peppers, it sends signals to your sweat glands.
And, because the glands think your body needs to cool off, they’ll begin
to produce sweat. Drinking cool water often and staying hydrated will
keep the body’s internal temperature lower, reducing the call for sweat
production. You should drink as much water throughout the day as it
takes to prevent thirst.
7: Go Natural
You can also turn to a common fruit to help control underarm sweat.
Limes have many uses and they may reduce sweating, too. Before going to
bed, cut a lime in half and rub it under your arms until the skin is
coated in juice, then let it dry. The citrus will work as a natural
deodorant, and the acidic juice may help stop sweat from being produced.
If you know you’ll be in a sweat-prone environment, you can also boost
your antiperspirant by applying talcum powder or baking soda to your
underarms to soak up moisture and prevent odour.
