7 Ways To Combat Excessive Sweating

Excessive underarm sweating can not only be uncomfortable, but also pretty embarrassing when you are out with others.While it’s perfectly normal to get drenched when pumping iron or even at a steamy summer barbecue, having pit stains during a romantic dinner or sopping palms when shaking hands can be humiliating. However, it doesn’t have to be an inevitability. There are several natural and over-the-counter remedies that can reduce or eliminate excess underarm sweating. Some of these include:

* Avoid spicy food or caffeine

A strong coffee or a burrito doused in hot sauce might make your taste buds happy—but they could also stimulate your sweat glands in a not-so-comfortable way.“Caffeine and spices can activate neurotransmitters, called acetylcholine, which are located in your brain,” says Kelley Redbord, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist in private practice in Vienna, VA and Associate Professor, George Washington University, “Anything that stimulates these neurotransmitters can sometimes affect the glands that cause sweating.”

* Wait between showering and dressing

After you shower, wait a few minutes before you get dressed for the day. This is especially important if you take hot showers or live in a hot, humid climate. Allowing your body to become cool and dry before you put on clothes could help prevent your underarms from sweating right after you bathe.

* Shave your armpits

Shaving your underarms could reduce excessive sweating. Hair holds moisture, and underarm hair is no exception. If you’re already experiencing heavy sweating under your arms, shaving is essential. And if you’re constantly fighting body odour alongside the sweat, shaving could also help reduce or eliminate it.

* Use topical antiperspirants

Antiperspirants both kill odour-causing bacteria and actively block your sweat glands from producing underarm sweat. This could help alleviate your discomfort.If you find that regular antiperspirants don’t work for you, search for stronger antiperspirants with a higher amount of aluminium chloride, the active ingredient (at least 13 percent). And if that doesn’t work, talk to your doctor about getting a prescription for stronger antiperspirant.

* Eat foods that reduce sweating

Some foods can actually reduce the amount of sweat your body produces and calm overactive sweat glands in the process. When looking to reduce sweat through your diet, it’s important to focus on foods that won’t tax your digestive system. You’ll also want to seek out foods that don’t overstimulate your nervous system and calm it instead. Water, almonds, bananas, whey, vegetables and fruits with high water content like cucumbers, watermelons grapes, cantaloupe, broccoli, spinach, cauliflower, bell pepper, eggplant, red cabbage, oats, green tea, etc., can help.

* Wear breathable clothing

Wearing tight clothes — especially clothes that are snug beneath your arms — can cause underarm stains on your shirt. They can also make you sweat more. Instead, try wearing fabrics that are breathable and clothes that fit more loosely. This will allow your underarms to cool properly and could help prevent them from sweating and staining your clothes.

* Stop smoking

The nicotine you take in when you smoke — much like caffeine — raises your body temperature, makes your heart beat faster, and causes your sweat glands to work overtime. Smoking is associated with a host of other hygiene- and health-related concerns like bad breath, stained teeth, and cancer. So, if you’re ready to reduce the excess sweat and improve your overall health, quitting smoking might be the answer for you.