Summer sweat can dampen anyone’s day, but if you also happen to have hyperhidrosis, things can get messy fast. For many with hyperhidrosis, soaking through clothing and footwear, especially during times of high heat, is a big problem. It can get so bad that it affects a person’s quality of life. In fact, one evaluation of a series of patients documented in the journal of Dermatologic Clinics found that 70% of patients with axillary hyperhidrosis reported needing to change their clothes two or more times per day.[1] Luckily, there are tips and tricks that can help find the best clothes for people who sweat excessively.

Material Matters

The material your clothing is made from matters more than almost anything else when it comes to reducing the impact of sweat. The type of fiber you put on your body determines how breathable your clothing is, and ultimately, how much sweat gets trapped against your skin. During the summer (and any other season) it is a good idea to wear light natural fibers. Cotton or linen are excellent choices. They absorb sweat and keep it from clinging to the body while also allowing for air flow to cool the skin. Wool and silk are also natural fibers that may allow skin to breathe, but they may not be the best choice in during the heat of summer. If you are going to work out then choose a moisture wicking material. There are many options available as moisture wicking technology has flourished in recent years. Finally, if you need to wear something stretchy, then opt for a moisture wicking blend, even if it has polyester. Typically is it best to avoid synthetic fabrics, but in the case of stretchy fabrics, a cotton blend is not the best bet.[1][2]

Dress in Layers

One great method to use when you sweat a lot is to dress in layers. This applies to what you wear in the summer. If you are planning to wear a short sleeved shirt you can wear a cotton undershirt to absorb sweat and prevent stains. This also gives you the ability to shed clothing as the day heats up, and possibly prevent sweat from affecting all of the clothing you have with you.[3]

Another strategy some people use is to wear specific, absorbent undergarments or pads that soak up sweat so it doesn’t bleed through to clothing. This may not be something you choose to do every day, but it might be a good idea if you are dressing up or in a situation where you need to wear less breathable clothing on a certain day.

Color Strategies

This won’t prevent you from sweating into your clothes, but it may help hide any sweat stains you do accrue. The obvious trick is to wear darker colors to conceal stains, and this does work. However, you can also wear bold prints, like bright florals or plaids, to cover up any stains. Very light colors are often effective in covering up stains as well.

Footwear

This one is especially important because your feet are the foundation of your body. If you have sweaty feet, you should try to air them out when you can, just to let the skin breathe. When you do need to wear shoes you should try to find shoes made of natural materials like leather. According to the Mayo Clinic website, it is best to wear athletic moisture wicking socks as often as possible. It is also imperative to change socks frequently so your feet are not sitting in sweat for long periods of time. It can be tough to wear flip flops because of slippage, so wearing sandals with straps may be an easier option.[2]

Use Antiperspirant Wisely

If you have hyperhidrosis, then you are probably familiar with antiperspirant. If not, then you should invest in some. Applying antiperspirant properly is an important step in preventing sweat from taking over your wardrobe. You should ideally apply it at night to dry skin. Antiperspirant applied at night continues to work through the next day and is much more effective than when applied right after showering in the morning. The aluminum chloride (or neutralized salt) that is the active ingredient in your antiperspirant works best if given 6 to 8 hours to work on skin and people with primary focal hyperhidrosis are less likely to sweat and rub off antiperspirant at night.[1] If you aren’t how to choose the right over-the-counter antiperspirant, read up on the active ingredients and talk to your doctor to find a solution.

If you have hyperhidrosis and you are struggling with finding clothes that work for you, know that you are not alone. Many people struggle with this problem and there are effective treatments and solutions to manage your sweat out there.

Sources

1. Pariser, D. M. (2014). Hyperhidrosis (4th ed., Vol. 32). Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier.
2. Hyperhidrosis. (n.d.). Retrieved April 18, 2019, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hyperhidrosis/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20367173
3. Cherney, K. (n.d.). 6 Hacks for Getting Dressed When You Have Hyperhidrosis (Excessive Sweating). Retrieved April 18, 2019, from https://www.healthline.com/health/diagnosing-hyperhidrosis/tips-for-dressing#1

Sunscreen is an invaluable tool for people who are exposed to direct sunlight for any significant length of time. This is because ultraviolet radiation (UV) exposure, which comes from being in the sun, can lead to a myriad of health issues. These issues can range from fairly mild, like a sunburn, to life threatening in severity, like the development of skin cancer.[1] However, there have been some questions about whether sunscreen itself is safe and how its use affects the body. One of the most commonly asked questions refers to whether or not sunscreen prevents a person from sweating appropriately and if it interferes with the body’s natural cooling system. This is an especially pertinent question as many sunscreens claim to be “sweat resistant”, meaning that sweating doesn’t interfere with a sunscreen’s ability to stay on the skin.

Does Sunscreen Prevent Sweat Production?

Probably not. There has been some conflicting research regarding whether or not sunscreen blocks the production of sweat, but most studies have concluded that there is not an association between sunscreen use and the inability to produce a normal amount of sweat.[2] For example, one study published in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science in 2017 used 24 female subjects to test whether or not sunscreen impeded natural sweat production. Each participant had sunscreen applied to half of their face and one forearm and were then asked to participate in rigorous exercise that produced a visible sweat. At the end of the experiment there were no detectable differences between the skin temperatures or sweat rates between the parts of the body that had sunscreen applied and those that were left bare. This led the researchers to conclude that sunscreen did not hinder sweat production.[3] However, there has been some conflicting research. Another study published in the Journal of Athletic Training looked at two specific sunscreens with the same SPF but different active ingredients, and an antiperspirant, to see how each impacted sweat production. It found that one of the sunscreens studied had no effect on sweat production while the other sunscreen hindered sweat production as much as the antiperspirant they tested. The study stated that this may have occurred due to a secondary ingredient that could have clogged sweat glands in a way that is similar to what antiperspirant does, but that more research was needed to fully understand the findings.[4]

Even though there is some evidence to show that sunscreen may impede sweat production, the bulk of research has found that it does not.[2] Other studies, like one published by Connolly and Wilcox in 2000 and another commissioned by the US military did not find a connection between the use of sunscreen and an impaired ability to sweat.[2][5] So, for now, sunscreen and its impact on sweating is most likely not a problem that the average person should worry about.

A Word About Hyperhidrosis and Sunscreen

Even though using sunscreen is not likely to help you with overactive sweat glands, it is especially important to use sunscreen properly if you have hyperhidrosis. Any time someone gets wet or sweats profusely it can wash off sunscreen, exposing skin to the harmful effects of the sun. It is recommended that sunscreen be reapplied every 30 minutes after heavy sweating for sunscreen labelled “sweat resistant”, every 40 minutes for sunscreens labelled “water resistant”, and every 80 minutes for sunscreens labelled “waterproof” in order to maintain its effectiveness.[1] For people who sweat excessively, it is advisable to get waterproof sunscreen, or at least one that is water resistant, to make applying sunscreen more convenient.

Sources

1. Diaz, J. H., & Nesbit, L. T. (2012). Sun Exposure Behavior and Protection: Recommendations for Travelers. Journal of Travel Medicine, 20(2), 108-118. Retrieved March 19, 2019, from https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1708-8305.2012.00667.x. Retrieved April 16, 2019 from https://academic.oup.com/jtm/article/20/2/108/1881585
2. Davis, John. “Does Sunscreen Affect Your Performance When Running in the Heat?” Runner's Connect, runnersconnect.net/sunscreen-running/.
3. U‐Yang, H, et al. “Sunscreen Formulations Do Not Interfere with Sweat Cooling during Exercise.” International Journal of Cosmetic Science, Nov. 2017. Retrieved April 16, 2019 from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/ics.12440
4. Aburto-Corona, J., & Aragón-Vargas, L. (2016). Sunscreen Use and Sweat Production in Men and Women. J Athl Train, 51(9), 696-700. doi:10.4085/1062-6050-51.11.01. Retrieved April 16, 2019 from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5139786/
5. Connolly, DA, and AR Wilcox. “The Effects of an Application of Suncream on Selected Physiological Variables during Exercise in the Heat.” J Sports Med Phys Fitness, vol. 40, no. 1, Mar. 2000, pp. 35–40., Retrieved April 16, 2019 from www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10822907.

Body odor has plagued people for thousands of years. In fact, soap was invented by the Phoenicians in 600 B.C. and ancient Egyptians are known to have bathed in perfumed water in an attempt to mask their body odor.[1] Luckily, these days there are many effective ways to manage sweat and prevent body odor from causing a problem. First, it’s important to understand how sweat causes body odor in the first place.

How Sweat Causes Body Odor

Humans have two types of sweat glands: eccrine and apocrine. Eccrine glands cover most of the skin’s surface and are used to maintain thermoregulation by cooling the body in times of high heat. They produce sweat that is initially clear and odorless. Apocrine glands, on the other hand, are larger than eccrine glands and are located within hair follicles. They only appear on the armpits, groin, and areolas. Apocrine glands produce sweat that is thicker and yellowish. The sweat from apocrine glands is most often associated with body odor. This is because it is made up of fatty acids and proteins that bacteria on the skin metabolize. The byproducts that bacteria create, like isovaleric acid and androsterone, give off a strong, unpleasant smell that we recognize as body odor.[1]

Some people have conditions that make them sweat excessively or have especially stinky sweat that make dealing with sweat and body odor even more difficult. Hyperhidrosis is a condition that causes people to sweat in excess of what is needed by the body for thermoregulation. Depending on the type of hyperhidrosis they have, a person may sweat excessively from certain areas of the body at random times (primary focal hyperhidrosis) or they may sweat all over (secondary generalized hyperhidrosis). Unfortunately, due to their high volume of sweat production people with hyperhidrosis often also struggle with the odor it can cause. When someone has especially stinky sweat it is referred to as bromhidrosis. People with bromhidrosis have body odor that is significantly worse than the average person and it can be socially isolating. However, there are effective ways for people with hyperhidrosis and bromhidrosis to manage their sweat that can drastically reduce symptoms and improve quality of life.[3][4]

How to Stop Body Odor Caused by Sweat

There are several ways to stop the sweat. The most important, and most obvious way to reduce to body odor is to prevent it by having good basic hygiene. This means showering once a day, changing clothes every morning or after sweating significantly, and applying antiperspirant and deodorant as needed. Removing the bacteria and sweat from your skin prevents body odor from forming in the first place. Unfortunately, in the real world people don’t always have time to wash up every time they sweat a little bit, which is where the use of antiperspirant and deodorant come into play.

Antiperspirant and Deodorant

Many people do not realize what antiperspirant is and how it differs from deodorant. Antiperspirants are agents that can be applied to the skin which prevent the production of sweat. They are considered to be the first line treatment for people with hyperhidrosis and can be extremely helpful for anyone who deals with sweat and stink on a regular basis.[3] When it comes to choosing the right over-the-counter antiperspirant there are a lot of options. There are several companies like Carpe, Dove, SweatBlock, Certain Dri, and many more that offer options with different active ingredients and in different applicators. The FDA regulates the active ingredients in antiperspirant as it is considered to be a drug. There are different active ingredients, but most antiperspirant use some type of metallic salt to plug sweat glands and prevent sweat production. Most of the time antiperspirant comes in a stick, spray, or gel form which can be applied to the body. Some companies, like Carpe and SweatBlock, also sell antiperspirant lotions and wipes that can be especially helpful for those who struggle with sweaty hands and feet.

Deodorant is different from antiperspirant because it is made to mask any odors that are already present and kill bacteria on the skin to prevent them from producing more odor. There is no one best deodorant, but often combination products that contain both antiperspirant and deodorant are the most effective when combating body odor. Combination products are called antiperspirant deodorants.

Other Treatments

Aside from maintaining good hygiene and using antiperspirant and deodorant products there are a few things you can do to get rid of body odor caused by sweat. One other simple adjustment you can make is to wear fibers that are breathable, like organic cotton, or moisture wicking. There are some specific types of clothes that are best for people who struggle with excessive sweating. Finally, if all else fails, there are some medical treatments you could pursue.

A visit to your local dermatologist will give you a sense of what the best treatment options for you are, but here are a few ideas. If you struggle with excessive underarm sweating and smell you could try a local permanent procedure for axillary hyperhidrosis that stops your sweat glands in that area from being able to produce sweat. One example of this type of procedure is MiraDry. There are also prescription antiperspirants and antiperspirant wipes, called Qbrexza, that can help. There are many ways to manage sweat with and body odor with a doctor.

If you are struggling with sweat and body odor don’t give up because there are lots of treatments out there. Don’t let sweat be drain on your life!

Sources

1. Ramirez, A. (1990, August). All About/Deodorants; The Success of Sweet Smell. Late Edition. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
2. Huddle, J. R. (2014). Hyperhidrosis: Causes, Treatment Options and Outcomes. New York, NY: Nova Science.
3. Pariser, D. M. (2014). Hyperhidrosis (4th ed., Vol. 32). Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier.
4. Eshini, P., & Sinclair, R. (2013). Hyperhidrosis and bromhidrosis: A guide to assessment and management. Australian Family Physician, 42(5), 266-269. Retrieved March 7, 2019, from http://ezproxy.co.wake.nc.us/login?url=https://search.proquest.com/docview/1430424903?accountid=14867

There is a lot of misinformation about sweat circulating in popular culture today. Many people claim that sweating can clean the body of unwanted toxins and increase a person’s health. While sweating can be a good thing, it is not necessarily the detoxifying cure that some would lead you to believe.

Why People Sweat and What is Normally in it?

It is important to understand thathumans sweat almost exclusively to maintain thermoregulation. Thermoregulation is the process the body uses to maintain its internal core temperature. Sweat works with body temperature in an intricate balance to keep the body from becoming too hot, not as a way for the body to rid itself of toxins. However, the body does lose certain metabolites when it sweats. Most of the sweat the body produces is lost through eccrine sweat glands, which most of the surface of the skin. The sweat that eccrine sweat glands produce is made up of 99 % water and a few other metabolites including: waste products from the blood like sodium chloride, urea, uric acid, proteins, and immunoglobulins.[1] So, what your body loses when it sweats is primarily water and some waste products from your bloodstream. However, the body also loses certain electrolytes, which are salts like potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sodium chloride, as well as some water soluble micronutrients.[2] In a way, the waste products like urea and uric acid that are lost in sweat can be thought of as toxic - but they are normal bodily waste products that are also excreted in much higher concentrations through urination.

Do Toxins Come Out When You Sweat?

Maybe, a little bit. However, they are produced in such low amounts that the impact of sweating out toxins is negligent when it comes to a person’s health. Some of the typical chemicals people think of as toxins are pesticides, flame retardants, and PCB’s, among others. It is also interesting to note that these chemicals are not actually toxins, which are naturally occuring poisons made by plants and animals, but toxicants. The reason that these toxicant levels are so low in sweat is because most of them are not water soluble, and sweat is made primarily of water. Many of these substances tend to be stored in fat molecules in the body. Most of the toxins and toxicants that build up in the body are processed and eliminated by the liver and kidneys, which function for that specific purpose, unlike sweat.[3] Some studies have found that troubling levels of BPA’s, which were commonly used in the manufacturing of plastics, are found in sweat.[4] This is because BPA’s are more water soluble than most other toxicants. There are more effective ways to get rid of BPA’s that have built up in a person’s body than by sweating, however, and it is more highly concentrated in urine anyways.[3]

So, yes, you do sweat out “toxins”, specifically blood waste products and BPA’s (if you’ve been exposed), but sweating toxins out is not an effective way to rid your body of these substances. Using a sauna to sweat out toxins and detoxify is much less effective than simply drinking more water and giving your kidneys some extra liquid to work with. Unfortunately, this also means that for people with hyperhidrosis, who sweat excessively, they probably aren’t any less like to have toxins in their bodies than anyone else.

Sources

1. Huddle, J. R. (2014). Hyperhidrosis: Causes, Treatment Options and Outcomes. New York, NY: Nova Science.
2. Popkin, B. M., D'anci, K. D., & Rosenburg, I. H. (2010). Water, Hydration and Health. Nutr Rev.,68(8), 439-458. doi:10.1111/j.1753-4887.2010.00304.x
3. Engelhaupt, E. (2018, April 6). Fact or Fiction: Can You Really Sweat Out Toxins? National Geographic.
4. Genius, S. J., Beesoon, S., Lobo, R. A., & Birkholz, D. (2012). Human Excretion of Bisphenol A: Blood, Urine, and Sweat (BUS) Study. J Environ Public Health. doi:10.1155/2012/185731

Before wiping the sweat off your body, you might want to understand why it is there in the first place. The reason why humans sweat is to aid in heat dissipation (getting rid of heat). This allows the body to maintain its thermoregulation, or keep its core temperature steady regardless of the external environment. Sweating is extremely important in the process of thermoregulation because it is one of the body’s only ways of getting rid of heat.[1] So, there are times when it is good to let your sweat drip and times when it is better to wipe it off.

Anhidrosis, also known as hypohidrosis, is the inability to produce sweat or deliver it to the surface of the skin. It is one of the most serious sweating conditions.[2] There are several potential causes of anhidrosis and its effects can be severe, and in some cases, life threatening. All people who have anhidrosis will experience the inability to sweat, but the other symptoms they may experience are usually related to the type of anhidrosis they have.[3]

When Not to Wipe

When people are exercising or in an environment with a high temperature sweating is essential to keep the body’s temperature from getting too high. In these circumstances, it may be best not to wipe you sweat away. This is because sweat transfers heat from your body to the environment when it evaporates off of the skin. During the sweating process blood vessels dilate and hot liquid from the vessels is pumped onto your skin by your sweat glands so that the heat can be transferred to the air around the body.[1] By wiping sweat away, you are hindering that process and preventing your body from cooling off like it needs to. This could allow your body to overheat and hinder you from performing or feeling your best. On the other hand, wiping your sweat away is not likely to cause you to overheat, so don’t worry about it if you do. So, when in hot temperatures or during exercise refrain from wiping your sweat away if you can resist the urge.

When to Wipe

There are some times when it is important to wipe your sweat off. This applies if you have been sitting in sweat for a long period of time. It is standard hygiene practice not to sit in sweat for long periods of time. This is because there are bacteria on the surface of the skin that digest the proteins and fatty acids in odorless sweat and produce isovaleric acid and androsterone which are unpleasant smelling. This is especially true of sweat produced by apocrine glands, which is thicker and tends to smell worse. Apocrine glands are primarily located in your armpits and groin areas, so be sure to keep them clean.[2] It is always advisable to wipe off sweat after a workout is completed or after being in a hot place for an extended period of time. It won't hurt to take a shower and put some fresh clothes on either.

Some people suffer from hyperhidrosis or bromhidrosis, conditions that can make people sweat too much or have especially stinky sweat, and it is important for people with these conditions to maintain their skin cleanliness. Hyperhidrosis causes people to sweat excessively even in the absence of sweat triggering stimuli, so they need to wipe away sweat frequently to prevent skin breakdown and irritation.[3] For those with bromhidrosis, which causes sweat to be excessively stinky, keeping skin clean is imperative. The longer sweat sits on a person's skin the more time bacteria will have to break it down and create a foul odor.[1]

So, if you are actively engaging in exercise or stuck in the heat resist the urge to wipe! However, if you have hyperhidrosis, bromhidrosis, or easily irritated skin then make sure to keep your skin clean and fresh after you are done with a workout and during normal daily life.

Sources

1. Shibasak, M., & Crandall, C. G. (2010). Mechanisms and controllers of eccrine sweating in humans. Front Biosci (Schol Ed), 292-296. Retrieved March 5, 2019, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2866164/.
2. Eshini, P., & Sinclair, R. (2013). Hyperhidrosis and bromhidrosis: A guide to assessment and management. Australian Family Physician, 42(5), 266-269. Retrieved March 5, 2019, from http://ezproxy.co.wake.nc.us/login?url=https://search.proquest.com/docview/1430424903?accountid=14867
3. Pariser, D. M. (2014). Hyperhidrosis (4th ed., Vol. 32). Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier.

What Sweat Is Made Of

In order to know what your body loses when it sweats it is important to first understand what sweat is made of. There are two types of sweat glands in the human body: eccrine and apocrine glands. Both produce sweat with a different chemical composition. Eccrine glands tend to produce sweat that is clear, odorless, and composed of primarily water. The sweat from eccrine glands also contains waste products from the blood like sodium chloride, urea, uric acid, proteins and immunoglobulins. Apocrine glands are only located on specific parts of the body, like the groin and armpit, and they produce sweat that is thicker, yellowish, and which has an odor. The sweat produced by apocrine glands also contains proteins and fatty acids. Typically, when people worry about losing nutrients from sweat they are concerned with the sweat that is being produced by the eccrine glands. Eccrine glands are located all over the body and they are the sweat glands that are activated by an increase in body temperature.[1]

The Biggest Things Your Body Loses When You Sweat

The biggest thing the body loses when it sweats is water. In fact, over 99% of sweat is made up of water.[2] When someone is sweating excessively the biggest thing they need to worry about is dehydration due to water loss. This most often happens due to a combination of high environmental temperatures, exercise, and the type of clothing a person is wearing which are factors related to why humans sweat. Excessive sweating that leads to dehydration can also lead to the loss of necessary electrolytes and a low plasma level in blood.[3] Electrolytes are essentially salts like potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sodium chloride (table salt) that the body needs to maintain water movement in and out of cells and to spark nerve impulses throughout the body. This is also why people are often left with a salty taste on their skin when the sweat a lot. To battle electrolyte imbalances from sweat loss people are encouraged the drink plenty of fluids that contain electrolytes (think Pedialyte or Gatorade) to replenish their body’s supply. One study found that men exposed to temperatures of 100 degrees or higher for a period of 7.5 hours lost relatively high concentrations of of not only potassium, magnesium, and sodium, but also iron. This suggests that mineral imbalances from sweat loss are more extensive than researchers previously thought.[4] Electrolytes are certain types of minerals that the body loses in sweat, but what about vitamins?

While electrolytes are the most well-known micronutrients affected by sweat loss, vitamin concentrations within the body can also be impacted. Researchers looking at the effects of excessive sweat loss are generally most interested in water soluble vitamins, as they are most likely to be carried in sweat. One study of factory workers exposed to high temperatures found that they had especially high losses of vitamin C related to sweat loss. Other vitamins that the study looked at, but that appeared to be less impacted by sweat loss, included B1 and B2. People who are experiencing excessive sweat loss, for whatever reason, should strive to combat potential deficiencies of micronutrients by including more of them in their diet. Micronutrients (other than vitamin D) cannot be made by the body, so they need to be supplied by diet.[5]

Hyperhidrosis and Sweat Loss

While hyperhidrosis, a condition that causes a person to sweat excessively, is distressing and physically uncomfortable, it is generally not dangerous. People with hyperhidrosis often sweat much more than is needed by the body, but typically not enough to deplete nutrients and cause a physiological crisis.[6] However, it wouldn’t be a bad idea for people with hyperhidrosis to regularly replenish micronutrients in an effort to maintain optimal health.

Sources

1. Huddle, J. R. (2014). Hyperhidrosis: Causes, Treatment Options and Outcomes. New York, NY: Nova Science.
2. Festa, J. (2015, July/August). 20 Things You Didn't Know About... Sweat. Discover.
3. Popkin, B. M., D'anci, K. D., & Rosenburg, I. H. (2010). Water, Hydration and Health. Nutr Rev.,68(8), 439-458. doi:10.1111/j.1753-4887.2010.00304.x
4. Consolazio, C. F., Matoush, L. O., Nelson, R. A., Harding, R. S., & Canham, J. E. (1969). Excretion of Sodium, Potassium, Magnesium and Iron in Human Sweat and the Relation of Each to Balance and Requirements. The Journal of Nutrition, 79(4), 407-415. Retrieved February 28, 2019, from https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/79.4.407.
5. Tang, Y. M., Wang, D., Li, J., Li, X., Liu, N., Liu, W., & Li, Y. (2016). Relationships between micronutrient losses in sweat and blood pressure among heat-exposed steelworkers. Ind Health,54(3), 215-223. doi:10.2486/indhealth.2014-0225
6. Pariser, D. M. (2014). Hyperhidrosis (4th ed., Vol. 32). Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier.