Sweating

LegacyUser

Looking for some advice with sweating. I'm in my late 20s, I'm not overweight, I shower 5-6 days a week (generally don't on off days/if I'm not in college/being social), I exercise (running), but I seem to have a sweating issue. I'd be a pretty anxious person, generally. The issue seems to be mostly in the afternoon or after the morning. Obviously I put on anti-persiperant, don't me wrong, I'm not walking around sweating buckets; it's just something I'm very conscious of (under arms). On some days I don't seem to have this issue and I didn't notice an issue when I was holidaying in a warm part of the States this year. So, maybe it's down to clothing - in this weather it's usually a shortsleeve thermal t-shirt, a longsleeve t-shirt and a jumper (jacket, etc for out and about), but I'm a little fed up of the jumpers I have and am wondering if there's another solution. I carry a mini bottle of roll on in my bag, so putting it on later on is OK, but I don't know how effective it is.

silly

key rings wrote: »

Looking for some advice with sweating. I'm in my late 20s, I'm not overweight, I shower 5-6 days a week (generally don't on off days/if I'm not in college/being social), I exercise (running), but I seem to have a sweating issue. I'd be a pretty anxious person, generally. The issue seems to be mostly in the afternoon or after the morning. Obviously I put on anti-persiperant, don't me wrong, I'm not walking around sweating buckets; it's just something I'm very conscious of (under arms). On some days I don't seem to have this issue and I didn't notice an issue when I was holidaying in a warm part of the States this year. So, maybe it's down to clothing - in this weather it's usually a shortsleeve thermal t-shirt, a longsleeve t-shirt and a jumper (jacket, etc for out and about), but I'm a little fed up of the jumpers I have and am wondering if there's another solution. I carry a mini bottle of roll on in my bag, so putting it on later on is OK, but I don't know how effective it is.

You can get stuff in the chemist for this. Mitchum is a special deodorant for sweating, and you can get a small bottle of stuff called driclor, which is a roll on, you put it on every second night, and and after a while you put it on less. I find that works best.

LegacyUser

Thanks. Is it not super strong, overkill?

username123

+1 to the post above, and also on the clothing side of things, plenty of layers is fine so long as the material is breathable and allows your skin to breathe.

Check your clothing labels and try to stick with 100% cotton, try to avoid any nylon, lycra, man made materials.

I think you'll find a big difference with the specific deodorants mentioned though. Also, after running are you showering and then applying deodorant or just changing and applying? If just changing and applying then you need to shower or wash if possible before applying.

Sniff your clothes armpits too after washing them too, sometimes if a washing machine hasnt been used on the right setting or the washing powder isnt great quality you get a build up on clothing armpits and there can be a smell and residue on them, which when you sweat even a little sort of re-activates the stale odours.

LegacyUser

Shower after running, yes, I do that and spray on what I use currently.

Not sure about 100% cotton, doesn't it offer fup all heat? I did have cotton, thermal, t-shirt and a jumper before - felt like I was in an oven. I do understand how smells can become "built in" to clothing over time, I hear you. I do sleep in a t-shirt, but I don't use that same t-shirt outside of that unless I've wash it. I can't use biological powder as it irritates my skin, but apart from that I use branded (not supermarket brand) stuff and a bit of softener. The thermals are part cotton, polyester and viscose.

username123

key rings wrote: »

The thermals are part cotton, polyester and viscose.

Polyester and viscose are both man made so this could be part of your problem. Id personally be reluctant to wear non man made right next to my skin in areas where I sweat like armpits or feet.

100% cotton and heat - the way you stay warm is by trapping warm air in your layers. If you keep the natural materials next to the skin you will be ok to keep man made materials a layer or more away from the skin. Its non breathable next to the skin that can cause sweat problems in everyday life.

On the washing powder, I was using non branded and found some of the sweatier items like gym clothes not great and then I had my machine serviced and asked the machine man and he said the two big name brands are really the best, both for your clothes and your machine. I dont use biological either btw.

Try out the Mitchum deororant - its not superstrong overkill at all.

mikemac1

Driclor, it's the biz
Great stuff, it's in most chemists

And as said above, go with cotton
Polyester is not going to help you at all and should be avoided

gud4u

mikemac1 wrote: »

Driclor, it's the biz
Great stuff, it's in most chemists

And as said above, go with cotton
Polyester is not going to help you at all and should be avoided

Anhydrol Forte is another chemist one.

LegacyUser

I'd wear wicking for running and hiking, etc, but obviously that's recreation and not college and you tend to pile on the layers more for hiking.

I'll try cotton as the main layer next to my skin, polo shirt after that and jumper. Washing powder tends to be Persil/Fairy/P&G.

Taltos

What worked for me was a combination of things
stopped worrying about every little thing
exercised more
ate better
stopped all coffee and tea, just watch out for a few days of headaches
cotton as above
changed shower gel to a really mild one for sensitive skin, so many have perfumes in them
drink loads of water

took a while but found doing all this I eventually relaxed more and just one day I noticed I had stopped ages ago. High stress times can get hairy but I just accept it so it's easier now. Wish I and stuck to the healthy eating, back to my old ways now...

best of luck

kraggy

What is your biggest concern OP? Is the sweat smelly or are your armpits just wet?

The thing is, sweat doesn't actually smell. But sweat that has been there for a while and builds up bacteria does smell.

So I would do the following:

1. Get anti-bacterial soap and wash with that. It kills bacterias thus killing the smell.

2. Increase the temperature of the washing machine when you wash. Cold water, even with detergent will only gloss over bacteria and smells. So if you put on clothes that have not been washed at a high temperature, they will smell sooner.

3. Don't wear the same t-shirt in bed every night. Again, it causes bacteria to stay under your armpits. So, when you shower in the morning, with ordinary soap, the soap and water will not get rid of all bacteria. (that brings back the importance of anti-bacterial soap)

4. The t-shirt that you use (if you it's your "bed t-shirt" that you've been wearing repetitively), get rid of it or wash it in very hot water and thoroughly.

5. Driclor is amazing - but, I don't think it's recommended for long term use. But if you want to go out on a Saturday night, put it on before you go to bed on a Friday night, then shower next day, dry and apply your usual anti-perspirant/deodarant as normal. It's amazing stuff.

6. Whatever else, you must shower every day. Even on days where you aren't socialising. Again, it goes back to preventing a build up of bacteria. In this day and age I can't understand someone not showering every day anyway.

Good luck with it.

whatdoicare

heya- I have a problem like this too- it's just how some people are and I found that even those heavy duty deoderants don't work as you'll end up over heating and sweating from other areas - also I ended up agitating under my arms, really sore! I was showering twice a day and still felt uncomfortable!

what really works for me is patting down with baby powder, its not harsh and really does the trick. I throw a thin layer on all over just before I dress and it seems to keep working all day.

qwertytlk

Some people just sweat more than others. A few things that i personally find that helps is to always keep your underarm hair shaved/waxed. Shower every day. Change your tops every day, same goes for pyjamas. I also find mitchum deodrand great. Its a '48 hour protection' one, rather than 24 hours like most are. Its a little more expensive thean your usual price of 1.50-3.00, its actually about 4euro. Not too bad. You could also try putting a bit of baby powder on after your shower. It helps to keep you nice and dry. Apart from all that there is only one way that i know to stop it completley, you can get botox under your arms. Stops sweating for approx 6 months minium. Alot of beauty salons that offer botox will also do this procedure. It doesnt take long and isnt as expensive as botox on your face would be.

LegacyUser

I thought the jury was out on the issue of showering 7 days a week.

I don't drink tea or coffee, prefer water. I generally don't do a cold wash in the washing machine and do leave some clothes soaking a basin for a few days (with bio powder/liquid) if necessary and then a full wash.

Anti-bacterial soap - maybe, but I don't want to use too many anti-bacterial products. Exposure to some bacteria is a good thing, right?

qwertytlk

key rings wrote: »

I thought the jury was out on the issue of showering 7 days a week.

it depends on your lifestyle imo. If you are taking it easy for the day, sitting in or whatever and you dont do anything to break a sweat then maybe you wouldnt need a shower, but personally ifeel once you have broken a sweat its best to have a shower....otherwise it will start to smell. Deodrant or no deodrant. Maybe this is your issue op? Apart from the botox i dont know any way to stop sweating under your arms so id say you need to have a shower every day. If thats not possible then at least have a quick wash in the sink or something.

LegacyUser

I'll read this thread again, take on board some of the points and make further changes if necessary. Botox hadn't occurred to me, at all, though might be a bit of a leap at this stage.

I didn't bother with the thermal shirt today, went with cotton instead and that seems to have made a difference.

LegacyUser

username123 wrote: »

Sniff your clothes armpits too after washing them too, sometimes if a washing machine hasnt been used on the right setting or the washing powder isnt great quality you get a build up on clothing armpits and there can be a smell and residue on them, which when you sweat even a little sort of re-activates the stale odours.

Hi - sorry to barge in on someones elses' query, but I am interested in this observation.

I'm actually female, and wouldn't have previously regarded myself as very sweaty. However, for the last few years I've also noticed that some tops can come out of the wash still with a slight underarm smell, or can seem ok, but after just a few hours wear I notice a small. This is even after washing at 60. I could never understand this....

Username 123 - could I ask you to confirm the names of the two "biggest brands" you mentionned? Hopefully, this wouldn't be considered advertising!

username123

Curious192939 wrote: »

Username 123 - could I ask you to confirm the names of the two "biggest brands" you mentionned? Hopefully, this wouldn't be considered advertising!

Bold or Persil (according to the washing machine service engineer!). Presumably Daz as well? The other thing he said was not to use the little bricks or the little sachets, but just to use plain powder, because the little bricks and sachets can get stuck inside of some item of clothing in the washing machine and not spread out evenly throughout the wash. Ive been practising his mantra since last August and Ive definitely noticed some improvement.