How to stop sweating excessively? 12 very useful tips

The human body needs to sweat; that is why we all sweat. Sweating is a natural physiological process that allows our skin to breathe.

However, many people complain of sweating excessively. Thus, excessive sweating is called hyperhidrosis.

In this article we propose 12 very useful tricks to stop sweating excessively. These tricks refer to the type of clothing that we can use, hygiene, products, drugs... Some of them also talk about how to prevent our sweat from acquiring an unpleasant smell.

How to stop sweating excessively? 12 effective tricks

As we said, sweating is something natural and necessary for our body. All people sweat, although not all in the same proportion or with the same intensity.

On the other hand, there are times and situations when we sweat more than others; these moments are especially stressful moments, nervous, anxious, excessive heat, etc.

On the other hand, hyperhidrosis consists of excessive sweating, which far exceeds the sweating considered “normal”. This sweating usually affects different parts of the body: face, armpits, feet and hands, especially. In case of hyperhidrosis, it is best to go to a professional who can help us.

However, it is important to note that there are people who, although they do not suffer from hyperhidrosis, do consider that they sweat more than they would like, and who therefore want to combat this sweating.

Especially for this group of people (more so than people with hyperhidrosis, which is considered a medical problem), we propose 12 very useful tricks to help reduce excessive sweating. Some of these tricks, however, can also help people with hyperhidrosis.

Let's see them below.

1. Avoid tight clothing

The first trick we propose to avoid sweating excessively is do not wear excessively tight clothing. Tight clothing sticks to the skin and makes us more likely to sweat. Ideally, we dress in clothes of our size and also that they are a little loose (wide). This will help our skin to breathe.

2. Use pieces of cotton

Another tip, also related to clothing, is to use cotton and linen clothing; these materials facilitate the evaporation of water / sweat. On the other hand, if we use fabrics made of artificial materials, we will be more likely to sweat more (and also that the sweat will smell worse); This is because these types of materials make evaporation difficult and retain water on clothing.

3. Opt for waxing

This little trick isn't so much to do with excessive sweating, but rather the smell of sweat (when it's most unpleasant). We must bear in mind that the sweat itself, when we secrete it, does not have any type of odor; What makes it an unpleasant odor is bacteria on the skin, which hide in body hair.

However, if we keep the areas where we usually sweat well shaved (for example the armpits), our sweat will not smell bad.

• It may interest you: "The 10 types of hair removal and what are the best options"

4. Take care of the diet

The greater the amount of fat in the body (accumulation of it), the greater the probability of sweating excessively. This is also related to the availability of "fuel" or nutrients in the body (the more availability, the more sweating).

In this way, the next trick that we propose to avoid sweating excessively is to take care of our diet, avoiding excessive consumption of fatty foods. Some of the most consumed fatty foods are: butter, chocolate, cheese, etc.

5. Bet on calm

It is widely known that nerves and anxiety enhance sweating; thus, when we are stressed and nervous, we tend to sweat more. That is why if we use relaxation techniques or breathing, or if we try to keep our minds calm and clear, we will have a better chance of not sweating excessively.

6. Drink water

If you drink an adequate amount of water throughout the day (they recommend about 2 liters per day), you will also reduce the likelihood of excessive sweating. That is, try to drink a lot of water (and if it is cold, the better). This we explain is due to the fact that the body, in the face of insufficient water consumption, cannot cool itself, and what it does then is sweat, trying to lower body temperature.

7. Avoid / moderate spicy foods

Hot spices (or hot foods) increase body sweating. This is because they contain an ingredient, capsaicin, which activates the thermal sensors in the mouth and "makes it believe" the body that our temperature is rising. Thus, if you avoid or moderate the consumption of spicy foods, you will reduce the possibility of sweating excessively.

8. Take an infusion of sage

Sage is a type of aromatic plant. This trick that we propose is to drink a sage infusion on a frequent basis, since sage helps reduce the activity of the sweat glands.

9. Use deodorant

The use of deodorants is part of our daily hygiene. The deodorant It is a product that can reduce or even eliminate our sweating, and that also helps our sweat not smell bad. The fact that they reduce sweating is due to the fact that they are antiperspirants; In addition, many of them prevent us from staining sweat clothes.

10. Botulinum toxin

Botulinum toxin treatment is used to reduce excess sweating in the body. What this toxin does is block the nerve signals that stimulate sweat to leave the sweat glands.

The negative part is that it is a temporary solution, and that generally this type of treatment lasts about six months, approximately. The positive part is that the treatment is done very quickly (between 20 and 30 minutes).

11. Wear clean clothes

That trick has more to do with the smell of sweat, and not so much with the fact of sweating more or less. Thus, if we wear clean clothes and change daily, it is more likely that our sweat does not smell bad, since we will be betting on proper hygiene.

12. Other tricks, techniques or solutions

There are some drugs (or even pharmacy products) that can also help reduce excess sweating.

In the case of sweating in the hands and feet, in addition, a treatment called iontophoresis is usually given; Iontophoresis consists of a process of electrical stimulation that closes the sweat glands. Finally, we can also resort to surgery (in severe cases).

Bibliographic references

• Ferández, M. (2019). Do you sweat excessively? How to combat hyperhidrosis. Know how to live tv.

• González, F.M. (2012). Notes on primary hyperhidrosis from Psychology. Rev. Hosp. Psychiatric Hospital of Havana, 9 (1).

• Pérez, M., Grimalt, R., Solé, J. and Peri, J.M. (2002). Primary hyperhidrosis. Clinical Medicine, 119 (17): 659-665.