Everything to Know About How to Stop Armpit Sweat

May 31, 2021 8 min read

how to stop armpit sweat

Let us just put it out there - dealing with excessive armpit sweat is a real pain.

Axillary hyperhidrosis, or excessive underarm sweat, can take over your life if you are unsure how to stop armpit sweat. When it’s extreme, you may even find yourself changing the types of clothes you wear, avoiding interaction with people and even steering clear of some of your favorite activities.

If you are fed up with living a life full of restrictions and embarrassing sweat marks, keep reading to learn how to stop armpit sweat. We’ve compiled 9 ways to stop or prevent underarm sweat and improve the quality of your life.

What is Hyperhidrosis?

Before we get into the cause of and treatments for axillary hyperhidrosis, let’s first examine hyperhidrosis in general. By definition, hyperhidrosis is a condition that causes the body to sweat excessively, even when there is nothing to trigger sweat. The disorder is chronic, causing constant sweating at inappropriate and inopportune times. It can be extremely embarrassing to those affected by it, altering romantic, social, and work lives.

    There are two types of hyperhidrosis:

    1. Primary focal hyperhidrosis is the most common form. It occurs when overactive sweat glands produce copious amounts of sweat without a trigger.
    2. Secondary hyperhidrosis is caused by hormones and health-related problems. Examples of secondary hyperhidrosis causes include hyperthyroidism, obesity, diabetes, and reactions to certain medications.

    Areas most affected by hyperhidrosis include:

    • Underarms (also called axillary hyperhidrosis)
    • Face and head (craniofacial hyperhidrosis)
    • Soles of feet (plantar hyperhidrosis)
    • Palms of hands (palmar hyperhidrosis)
    • Pelvic area including butt

    So the official definition is that axillary hyperhidrosis is a medical condition characterized by excessive underarm sweating.

    What Causes Axillary Hyperhidrosis?

    While there are several natural causes for sweat, none of these apply to axillary hyperhidrosis. Research suggests that the condition may be hereditary, as many sufferers have a sibling or parent also experiencing symptoms of the disorder. But in all honesty, nobody knows for sure what causes axillary hyperhidrosis.

    Not having an exact cause of primary hyperhidrosis means physicians must find ways to treat the symptoms, rather than the cause. This creates a need for long-term treatment strategies.

    Axillary Hyperhidrosis Treatments to Stop Armpit Sweat

    Since the discovery of axillary hyperhidrosis people have been wondering how to stop excessive underarm sweating. For many, the answer is medicated deodorant. But advancements in medical technology and research have made it possible to treat axillary hyperhidrosis in various ways.

    Home Remedies for Axillary Hyperhidrosis

    Since the discovery of mortality, there have been home remedies to heal what ails you. The same can be said for excessive underarm sweating home remedies. Some of these treatments include:

    1. Make Dietary Adjustments

    Your diet can have a huge impact on how much you sweat, so it's important to adjust your diet if you're struggling with heavy armpit sweating.

    Learn Which Foods to Avoid

    The thermic effect of foods makes them a prime consideration if you need to figure out how to prevent armpit sweat. Avoid foods that make you sweat, such as those that are salty like beef jerky, salted nuts, or potato chips. These foods contain a lot of sodium that is released from your body as excess urine or sweat.

    Processed foods like white bread, biscuits, and breakfast cereals are low in fiber and nutrients. This causes your body to work harder at digesting them, which increases sweat production.

    Spicy foods, like hot wings or wasabi, can trigger the sweat glands in your body (as a natural reaction to try to lower your body temperature), making you sweat everywhere, including your armpits.

    Axillary Hyperhidrosis Information - Man eating food to reduce sweat

    Add Foods to Your Diet that Reduce Sweat

    Just as there are foods that can trigger sweating, some foods can actually regulate your body temperature and reduce underarm sweat. In general, make sure you eat plenty of foods that are easy to digest and low in sodium. For example, oats are full of fiber and are easily digested without breaking a sweat, if you pardon the pun.

    Look for vegetables and fruits dense in water and nutrients, like grapes, cauliflower, watermelons, and red cabbage. Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. This prevents your body from overheating and feeling dehydrated, both of which makes you sweat more.

    2. Avoid Caffeine

    Many people start their days by brewing a hot cup of java and replenish their cups throughout the day. There is nothing wrong with an added boost of energy, but it comes with a cost. When you rev up your central nervous system with caffeine, your body functions at a higher temperature level, causing more sweat to be produced.

    So if you want to know how to stop underarm sweating, avoiding (or reducing) your caffeine intake is good place to start.

    3. Use the Right Antiperspirant – The Right Way

    Finding an effective antiperspirant is key. You may use an over-the-counter clinical strength antiperspirant or maybe you’ve upgraded to a product that is only available with a prescription. Either way, using an antiperspirant improperly may make the situation even worse.

    To make sure you properly apply your antiperspirant, follow these simply tips:

    • If possible, apply antiperspirant twice a day, in the morning and at night. If you cannot apply it twice a day, it is best to apply antiperspirant before bed.
    • Apply antiperspirant to completely dry skin. Then allow it to dry again before getting dressed.
    • Use as directed. There is no benefit to using more than recommended.
    • By properly applying your antiperspirant you’ve already mastered one sweaty armpit solution.

    4. Shave Your Armpits

    how to prevent armpit sweat

    While having hairy armpits does not cause sweaty armpit, it may contribute to sweat marks and stains. First of all, having hairy armpits may prevent your antiperspirant from making contact with the skin, making it less effective in stopping your sweat.

    Additionally, having armpit hair causes moisture to linger in your armpits longer than it would if there was no hair, and it can make sweat stains worse. The added moisture may also mix with the bacteria on your skin, which causes odor. Shaving your armpits may help reduce the discomfort associated with excessive underarm sweat and effectiveness of your antiperspirants.

    5. Make Lifestyle Changes

    Just as changing your diet can impact how much you sweat, your lifestyle has an impact on your body's sweat response. These suggestions will help reduce heavy armpit sweating.

    Work to Reduce Stress

    As a modern man, you are probably not a stranger to the effects of stress and anxiety. However, when your stress level increases, so does your body temperature, resulting in increased sweat. If you have been trying to figure out how to get rid of sweaty armpits, you may want to work on reducing your stress level.

    We’re not suggesting you take off work to travel to Bali to rid yourself of stress. Simple adjustments to your daily schedule may help lower your stress:

    • Take a break from your busy work schedule to get centered by taking a micro nap or practicing meditation to clear your head.
    • Look into athletic activities that may help you physically get rid of stress, like kickboxing, or learn how to let it go with yoga.
    • Start listening to audio books or a compelling podcast to drown out the noise pollution while commuting to and from work.
    Quit Smoking

    If you smoke cigarettes, then you already know there are many health-related risks associated with smoking. But you may not know that smoking cigarettes also makes you sweat more, like when you drink too much caffeine. The nicotine in cigarettes causes your body’s temperature and heart rate to increase, which kicks your sweat glands into overtime to help cool you off and calm you down.

    6. Apply Astringents

    Just as caffeine and nicotine encourage sweat pores to open up, astringents have the opposite effect by causing the sweat pores to compress. As such, applying an astringent may be a super simple and effective sweaty underarms treatment.

    Two ready-to-use and easily available astringents are apple cider vinegar and witch hazel. Simply saturate a cotton ball, and apply full-strength to your underarm skin. (Use with caution on freshly shaven armpits!) Another popular astringent is black tea or sage. Steep as usual, allow to cool and then apply to the armpits using a cotton ball.

    7. Exercise Regularly

    It might seem counterintuitive, but regularly exercising may help to reduce and regulate your sweat outbreaks. Being physically active helps relieve and manage stress (as previously mentioned) so it naturally reduces your body’s natural reaction to stress sweat. It may also retrain your body, in a sense, to sweat more during heavy workouts and less frequently when your body is functioning at a normal pace.

    Prescriptions for Axillary Hyperhidrosis

    Axillary Hyperhidrosis Treatments - Medical Interventions

    One axillary hyperhidrosis treatment is prescription medication. Oral medicines reduce sweating by decreasing the stimulation of your sweat glands. Most prescriptions for underarm sweating include anticholinergics. These medicines block acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter, from sending chemical messages to trigger sweat.

    Oral medicines reduce sweating by decreasing the stimulation of your sweat glands.

    Another medication used for axillary hyperhidrosis is beta-blockers, which affect your central nervous system. These work best for those who feel they sweat most in situations that cause anxiety.

    Finding the right medication for you requires the help of a physician, as each prescription for underarm sweating acts differently on the body.

    Laser Therapy, Injections & Wipes for Axillary Hyperhidrosis

    Alternative methods for oral medication include laser therapy, injections, and medicated wipes. The most common of these are:

    • Botox – An injectable treatment using onabutulinum toxin A, Botox stops sweating at a semi-permanent level. Patients require reapplication once every 6-7 months.
    • miraDry – A laser heat therapy, miraDry offers a permanent solution to excessive underarm sweating. The application of laser treatment closes pores and destroys sweat glands inside the underarms. This stops the production of sweat at the root. Unfortunately, this treatment only works on the underarm area, leaving excessive sweaters with other problem areas to deal with.
    • QBREXZA – Individually packaged wipes used once daily are another option for excessive sweaters. Each wipe is medicated with glycopyrronium tosylate to block sweat gland receptors.

    As with any medicated treatment, there are benefits and side effects to each. It’s a good idea to speak to your physician about available treatments and how they could affect you long term before selecting one.

    Medicated Antiperspirant for Axillary Hyperhidrosis

    Axillary Hyperhidrosis Treatments - Man Applying Medicated Antiperspirant

    Deodorant and antiperspirant have long been the top agent used in the fight against sweat and odors caused by sweat. For those with axillary hyperhidrosis, standard brand antiperspirants aren’t enough. Fortunately, there are prescription antiperspirants that use Aluminum Chloride Hexahydrate available for purchase. The combination of liquid from sweat and Aluminum Chloride Hexahydrate, creates a gel-like substance that blocks pores from emitting sweat.

    How you use antiperspirant is just as important as which product you choose. It’s important to clean and dry the area thoroughly before use. The best time to apply medicated antiperspirant is before bed.

    Use Your Wardrobe to Manage Axillary Hyperhidrosis

    Believe it or not, the clothing you wear can also play a role in treating, or masking, excessive sweating. The commonality of this disorder has created an entire movement in the fashion industry for absorbent and breathable materials.

    There are many different brands selling clothing that can assist in reducing the visibility of your sweat. Absorbent underclothes are a popular seller because they soak up sweat before it has a chance to reach your outer clothing. 

    There are also products that repel liquid and stains. These are a great way to manage ongoing sweat throughout the day and keep your clothing longer. At Ejis, we create sweat proof basics that act against hyperhidrosis in several ways. These include:

    • Silver infused fibers – Silver is a natural antibacterial agent. By infusing it into the fibers of our clothing it blocks odors and bacteria caused by sweat. It also helps regulate body temperature.
    • Sweat proof technology – Ejis sweat proof basics block sweat from reaching your clothes. This means, while you will continue to sweat, it won’t transfer onto your dress shirt, pants or jacket.
    • Completely breathable – While you wear your sweat proof Ejis undershirts and boxer briefs, you don’t need to worry about overheating. The materials we use are breathable, keeping you cool, even if your sweat glands don’t realize it.

    Living with excessive underarm sweat can be time-consuming and disruptive. But by taking a proactive approach to learn how to stop armpit sweat - and the appearance of sweat - you can regain your confidence and start living the life you deserve!

    Until there is a cure for axillary hyperhidrosis, look for sweat protection and support from Ejis. Our experienced team is always looking for ways to improve our brand and create new and unique products to combat sweat. By offering comfortable and reliable products, you can take control of your life, sweat and all. (Buy on our shop or on Amazon)

    This post was originally published in February 2020, and was updated in September 2020 and June 2021. 

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