How to Stop Sweating Armpits
Do you find yourself continually troubled by excessive underarm sweat?
Sweating is a typical and necessary bodily function for thermal regulation, but when it escalates into a condition like axillary hyperhidrosis, it goes beyond the norm and can leave you feeling self-conscious and uneasy.
Whether you’re confronted by sporadic sweat stains or are burdened with persistent, excessive underarm sweating, this guide is designed to equip you with pragmatic strategies to help manage and even stop the issue.
From lifestyle modifications to medical interventions, we have a range of options to help you navigate axillary hyperhidrosis well.
Causes of Excessive Underarm Sweating
Before diving into ways to stop sweating armpits, it’s essential to understand the underlying causes of excessive underarm sweating. There are several factors that can contribute to this issue.
Overactive Sweat Glands
The human body has two types of sweat glands: eccrine and apocrine. Eccrine glands produce sweat to cool the body, while apocrine glands release sweat that contains proteins and fatty acids when you’re stressed or anxious.
Overactive sweat glands can lead to excessive sweating in your body, especially the underarms.
Family History and Genetics
Genetics plays a significant role in determining your susceptibility to excessive sweating.
If you have a family history of hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), you’re more likely to experience it yourself.
Hormonal Changes
Hormonal fluctuations can trigger excessive sweating, especially in women.
Hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy, menopause, or certain medical conditions influence increased perspiration.
Calorie Burn and Body Temperature
A high metabolic rate means your body burns calories at a faster pace, producing more heat. To manage this heat and cool your body down, your body sweats.
Consequently, having a high metabolic rate might lead to you sweating more, especially in regions with a high concentration of sweat glands like your underarms.
Stress
When you are under stress, your body reacts by releasing a hormone known as cortisol. This triggers a series of reactions that include increased heart rate and sweating as your body tries to cool down.
Your underarms have a high concentration of sweat glands, leading to prominent excessive sweating in this area.
Climate and the Surrounding Environment
High temperatures or a high-humidity environment can make you sweat more, as sweat is your body’s way of coping.
If you’re in a hot climate or an environment that doesn’t allow your sweat to evaporate, such as a humid place, it can lead to excessive sweating in the hands, feet and underarms.
Food Choices
Diet can also influence the amount of sweating. Certain foods and drinks, such as spicy meals, coffee, or alcohol, can stimulate your sweat glands to produce more sweat.
Consuming these in excess may contribute to increased underarm sweating compared to the usual.
Medications
Some medications, including certain antidepressants, antipsychotics, and over-the-counter cold and fever medicines, can cause excessive sweating as a side effect.
It’s crucial to consult with a healthcare professional to discuss alternative medications, adjustments, or potential solutions for managing excessive underarm sweating influenced by medication.
Health Conditions
Medical conditions can impact underarm sweating due to their influence on the body’s regulatory mechanisms. Conditions like hyperhidrosis disrupt the normal functioning of sweat glands, leading to overactivity.
Diabetes, for example, may affect nerve signals, while thyroid disorders can alter hormonal balance, both of which play a role in sweat regulation. These disruptions can result in an abnormal increase in underarm sweating.
Understanding and addressing the root cause of the medical condition is crucial in managing and alleviating excessive underarm sweating.
Lifestyle Changes to Manage Sweating
Making simple lifestyle adjustments can often be the first step in managing underarm sweat. Here are some effective strategies:
Practice Good Hygiene
Good hygiene is vital for managing underarm sweat.
Daily showers and thorough cleaning of your underarms with antibacterial soap help reduce odor, prevent the buildup of bacteria in moist areas, and promote an overall healthy underarm environment.
Choose the Right Antiperspirant
Selecting the right antiperspirant is crucial. Opt for products labeled as “clinical strength” or “extra strength.”
These antiperspirants contain higher levels of active ingredients like aluminum, effectively blocking sweat ducts and providing better protection against underarm sweating.
Proper Antiperspirant Use
Applying antiperspirant at night before bedtime can be a wise option.
Doing so allows the product to work while you sleep, plugging your sweat ducts and offering long-lasting protection against underarm sweat during the day.
Shave Your Underarms
Regularly shaving your underarms is beneficial for managing underarm sweat.
Hair can trap moisture and promote the growth of odor-causing bacteria, so keeping your underarms hair-free helps to reduce sweating and odor.
Handle Stress Effectively
Stress and anxiety can trigger excessive sweating.
Engaging in stress-reduction techniques like deep breathing, meditation, yoga, or counseling helps you manage stress effectively throughout the day, contributing to reduced underarm sweat in particular.
Stay Cool
When temperatures rise, so does the likelihood of sweating. To prevent armpit sweat, try to stay cool by staying in well-ventilated spaces and seeking shade during sunny days or when the temperatures are at their peak.
Adjust fluid intake accordingly to assist in cooling the body down. Consider using a portable fan or air conditioning to keep your surroundings comfortable.
Wise Clothing Choices
Choosing breathable fabrics like cotton allows air to circulate and helps sweat evaporate quickly.
Avoid tight-fitting, synthetic clothing, which can trap heat and moisture, exacerbating underarm sweating.
Avoid Spicy Foods and Caffeine
As mentioned earlier, spicy foods and caffeinated beverages can stimulate your sweat glands. If you’re dealing with excessive underarm sweating, it’s a good idea to cut back on these triggers.
Opt for milder dishes and consider switching to decaffeinated versions of your favorite beverages. By reducing your intake of these drinks and food sources, and maintaining a balanced diet, you can help reduce underarm sweating and its associated discomfort.
Regular Exercise
Regular exercise aids in controlling armpit sweating by promoting overall health. Physical activity helps regulate body temperature, reducing the likelihood of excessive underarm perspiration.
Engaging in consistent workouts contributes to improved overall fitness and may mitigate sweating concerns.
Managing Body Weight
Excess body weight can contribute to sweating, as it can lead to increased body heat.
Maintaining a healthy weight through a balanced diet and regular exercise can help reduce excessive sweating in your armpits.
Natural Remedies for Armpit Sweat
If you prefer a more natural approach to managing underarm sweat, here are some remedies you can try:
Baking Soda
Baking soda can help absorb sweat and neutralize odor. To use baking soda to stop sweating armpits, create a paste by mixing baking soda with water.
Apply the paste to your clean, dry underarms and leave it for 15-20 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with water. The baking soda can help absorb sweat and neutralize odor.
Lemon Juice
Lemon juice is a natural remedy known for its astringent properties. It can help reduce underarm sweating by tightening the skin’s pores. The acid in lemon juice can also help neutralize odor-causing bacteria, keeping you feeling fresh and dry.
Apply freshly squeezed lemon juice to your armpits and leave it on for a few minutes before rinsing.
Sage Tea
Sage tea is a time-tested remedy for managing underarm sweat. It contains compounds that can decrease sweat production. When applied to the skin, it helps constrict the sweat glands, reducing perspiration.
Brew sage tea, let it cool, and apply it to your underarms using a cotton ball.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is a versatile remedy that can help balance the pH of your skin.
By applying a diluted solution to your underarms, you can reduce sweating and minimize odor, thanks to its antibacterial properties.
Coconut Oil and Cornstarch
The combination of coconut oil and cornstarch forms a natural, sweat-absorbing paste. This remedy helps keep your underarms dry and offers an alternative to commercial antiperspirants.
The coconut oil moisturizes your skin, while cornstarch absorbs excess moisture, providing an effective and natural solution for sweat control.
Potassium Alum
Potassium alum is a natural mineral salt known for its astringent and antiseptic properties. When applied to the skin, it forms a temporary layer that constricts pores, reducing sweat production in the underarms.
Additionally, its antiseptic nature kills bacteria that cause body odor, a common issue accompanying excessive sweating.
This makes potassium alum a natural, safe, and efficient remedy for hyperhidrosis, the scientific term for excessive sweating.
Clinical Treatments Available
If lifestyle changes and natural remedies don’t provide the relief you need, there are clinical treatments available to help stop sweating armpits. Consult with a healthcare professional to explore the following options.
Special Antiperspirants
Prescription-strength antiperspirants are recommended by healthcare professionals to tackle severe underarm sweating. These specialized antiperspirants contain higher concentrations of active ingredients like aluminum chloride hexahydrate.
They work by temporarily blocking sweat ducts, keeping your underarms dry. They are a frontline treatment for hyperhidrosis.
Prescribed Medications
Oral medications, often anticholinergics, are prescribed to manage excessive sweating. They work by reducing the stimulation of sweat glands.
These medications are usually reserved for severe cases when other treatments have been ineffective.
Injections
Certain types of injections offer a non-surgical solution to manage excessive sweating. By injecting certain into your underarms, the nerve signals responsible for sweating are temporarily interrupted.
When administered through injections under the skin prevents the release of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, ceasing sweat production in the treated area. The effects can last several months, providing relief from unwanted perspiration.
Iontophoresis
Iontophoresis is a clinical treatment that uses a mild electrical current to reduce sweating. It works by temporarily blocking sweat gland activity.
It’s a particularly effective option for those with hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating of the underarms, hands, and feet).
Miradry
Miradry is a non-invasive, FDA-approved procedure that uses microwave technology to permanently eliminate sweat and odor glands in the underarms.
It offers a long-lasting solution to excessive sweating and can significantly improve your quality of life.
Sweat Glands Removal
Surgical excision of sweat glands, a procedure for addressing excessive underarm sweating, involves the removal of sweat glands from the armpit area.
This surgical intervention is considered in cases where other non-invasive treatments have not provided sufficient relief, and its effectiveness should be weighed against potential risks.
This procedure doesn’t just minimize sweat production but also curbs related issues like body odor and skin infections.
However, it is usually looked at as a high-risk treatment due to potential side effects like compensatory sweating elsewhere and severe complications after the surgery.
Endoscopic Thoracic Sympathectomy (ETS)
Endoscopic Thoracic Sympathectomy (ETS) is an invasive surgical procedure considered for severe cases of hyperhidrosis.
A surgeon makes small incisions in the chest and inserts a tiny camera (endoscope) to visualize the sympathetic nerves responsible for excessive underarm sweating.
The surgeon then cuts or clamps these nerves to interrupt the signals that stimulate sweat production. While effective in reducing underarm sweating, it can lead to compensatory sweating in other areas of your body, making it a last-resort option.
Frequently Asked Questions
What causes excessive underarm sweating?
Excessive underarm sweating can result from various factors, including overactive sweat glands, genetics, and hormonal changes such as pregnancy or menopause.
It can also be caused by certain medications and underlying medical conditions, such as hyperthyroidism or diabetes.
How can I choose the right antiperspirant to reduce underarm sweating?
Select antiperspirants labeled “clinical strength” or “extra strength.” These products contain higher concentrations of active ingredients, like aluminum, effectively blocking sweat ducts and providing better protection against underarm sweating.
To effectively use antiperspirants, ensure your underarms are clean and completely dry. Apply the antiperspirant generously at nighttime, since sweat glands are less active then. Make sure the application covers the entire sweat area, not just the center of the armpit.
What are some natural remedies to stop sweating armpits?
You can try natural remedies like applying a baking soda paste to absorb sweat and neutralize odor, using lemon juice to tighten pores, and sage tea to decrease sweat production.
Additionally, apple cider vinegar can also be applied to balance skin pH, while coconut oil and cornstarch paste can keep your underarms dry. Potassium alum’s antiseptic nature can also reduce odor, which often accompanies sweating.
How do clinical treatments like Iontophoresis, and Miradry help combat excessive underarm sweating?
Treatment helps to combat excessive underarm sweating by temporarily blocking the nerves that stimulate sweat glands. By injecting into your underarms, nerve signals responsible for sweating are temporarily interrupted.
Iontophoresis and Miradry use different techniques. Iontophoresis passes a mild electrical current through water onto the skin’s surface, blocking sweat glands. Miradry, on the other hand, uses thermal energy to eliminate sweat glands completely.
While Iontophoresis requires ongoing treatment, Miradry generally provides a permanent reduction in sweating after a couple of sessions.
What lifestyle modifications can help combat excessive underarm sweating?
Start by maintaining a healthy weight, as obesity often correlates with hyperhidrosis. Ensure your diet is rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and limit spice and caffeine intake, which may stimulate sweat glands.
Enhancing personal hygiene practices can also help. Regular baths remove bacteria that cause odors and induce sweat. Wear fabrics that wick sweat away, like cotton and natural fibers.
Lastly, consider using clinical-strength antiperspirants, some of which work effectively to reduce sweating when applied at night before sleep.
