What should I do if my armpits sweat a lot?

A narrow waist and a lush chest make a woman beautiful, strong muscles and scars, as we know, make a man beautiful, but wet circles of sweat and stains on clothes under the arms do not make anyone beautiful. But almost everyone, including teenagers and children, regularly or periodically faces this problem. On the one hand, everyone understands that sweating is natural. But on the other hand, sweat on clothes does not look aesthetically pleasing at all, and the smell that often appears with sweat can spoil any, even the best impression of a person. Where can you not look for a remedy for sweaty armpits? You want these remedies to help and not harm the body.

What to do if your armpits sweat a lot, how to get rid of this phenomenon? In the hot season, many people have the same problem - I sweat a lot under my armpits. Naturally, this process cannot be attributed to pathology. But there are cases when sweating becomes just a kind of disaster. It is because of this phenomenon that various problems and inconveniences can arise. Therefore, everyone should know how to deal with this.

Why is it so hard to get rid of sweating?

The problem of hyperhidrosis is not new and is quite popular, so it is not surprising that people today do not experience a shortage of means that can be used to treat it. It is clear that the effectiveness of these means varies, and the effect often depends on the characteristics of the body.

Having tried several different methods and received the expected result, people rush to Google for help and receive a lot of new recipes and recommendations. But why does the problem still remain relevant, as it was many centuries ago?

The thing is that sweat secretion by our body is a physiologically conditioned process aimed at cleansing the body. Human sweat is not only water. It is also a variety of different substances that are in excess in the body or even harmful to it. In just 1% of the fluid secreted by the sweat glands, there are about 250 components. The remaining 99% is still water.

And yet, the main function of the physiological fluid that we try so hard to combat with the help of remedies for sweating of the armpits, palms and feet is not to cleanse the body by removing all unnecessary things, but to regulate the temperature regime. Any moisture, evaporating from the surface of the body, leads to its cooling. And sweat is no exception. It is produced by the body itself, which is in fact not only an incredibly complex, but also a smart system.

The fact that this multicomponent fluid is not secreted constantly, but only when there is a risk of "overheating", also speaks in favor of the thermoregulatory function of sweat. An increase in temperature associated with illness, consumption of hot food and drinks, active sports and physical exercise, visiting a sauna or bathhouse, staying in the heat, stress, drinking alcohol are accompanied by intense sweating. After all, body temperature is directly related to the work of the nervous and immune systems, as well as the circulatory system.

A strong increase in temperature causes malfunctions in various organs. To prevent this from happening, our body has a thermoregulation mechanism. Sweating is one of the components of this important process, and it is simply unreasonable to fight it. So, when thinking about how to get rid of underarm sweating forever, think carefully whether you need it?

For those who stubbornly strive to fight their body, despite various arguments in favor of the natural process of sweating, there is another piece of news. If water is supplied to the pipes under good pressure and its outlet is blocked, nothing more than a pipe rupture will occur in another place. The same thing will happen in our body. It is impossible to completely get rid of armpit sweating, unless its intensity is reduced by 80-90% (during a surgical operation to scrape out the sweat glands). But you need to be prepared for the fact that excess moisture released under the influence of provoking factors will look for an outlet in another place, where there was no high humidity before.

Causes of excessive sweating

The armpits, palms and feet are not the only areas on the human body where moisture is released. This process periodically occurs throughout the body even without the participation of sweat glands, but we do not always feel it. As for the armpits, where the sweat glands are activated, moisture is released there constantly to a greater or lesser extent. And this is normal.

In a healthy person, a little more than half a liter of water evaporates from the body surface per day in the absence of factors that provoke sweating. If this figure is much higher, we are talking about pathological sweating, and this problem can hardly be solved with the help of pharmacy or folk remedies for sweat.

For example, hyperhidrosis can be one of the symptoms of endocrine diseases, thyrotoxicosis and other thyroid diseases. This symptom can be observed in diabetes, obesity, kidney pathologies, nervous disorders, VSD, increased intracranial pressure, hormonal disorders, etc. In these cases, excessive sweating is no longer a cosmetic, but a medical problem that needs to be solved with the help of doctors (neurologist, endocrinologist, therapist).

Hormonal imbalances are not always pathological, so excessive sweating during menopause, during menstruation in women, in adolescence and during pregnancy should hardly be considered pathological. It is also considered normal to secrete large amounts of sweat in stressful situations, under the influence of heat, during increased physical activity, when eating hot and spicy food. In some cases, hyperhidrosis is a distinctive feature of a person that was inherited.

As we can see, before engaging in combat with excessive sweating, you need to understand the reasons that cause it, and then look for effective methods of combating it. Depriving your body of the ability to self-cleanse and self-cool is, at the very least, cruel. But it is quite possible to reduce the manifestations of this unaesthetic symptom even without resorting to drastic measures in the form of surgical treatment. And simple pharmacy remedies for sweating of the armpits and other parts of the body, as well as folk recipes and special cosmetic procedures will help with this.

What to do if your armpits sweat?

It is worth figuring out what to do if your armpits sweat a lot and what are the consequences? There is nothing dangerous or scary about this, but nevertheless, for many people this is a real problem. Therefore, you should look for ways to solve it. Now it is worth voicing the most common options for getting rid of this unpleasant phenomenon.

Maintaining personal hygiene and proper nutrition

So, first of all, you should pay attention to your diet. It should be noted that caffeine and theobromine can stimulate sweating. Therefore, it is advisable to exclude products that contain these components from your diet. So coffee, chocolate, cocoa and coffee should become man's worst enemies for some time. In addition to the diet, you should also follow hygiene rules. It is recommended to take a shower twice a day. In addition, it is advisable to wear comfortable clothes, give preference only to natural fabrics and materials. Synthetics should be prohibited.

Deodorants for underarm sweating

Many of us cannot imagine other ways to combat excessive sweating and unpleasant underarm odor, except for using deodorants or antiperspirants. It should even be noted that almost 90% of the world's population resorts to their help, including teenagers over 16 years old, for whom the problem of sweat and odor is already becoming relevant. Even numerous posts about the harm of these "fighters" against sweating do not stop people.

It is necessary to distinguish between deodorants and antiperspirants. The former are used only to mask unpleasant odors for up to 5 hours. However, they also contain an antibacterial component in the form of alcohol and triclosan. Antiperspirants act somewhat differently: they reduce the activity of sweat glands, have a longer effect (8 hours or more), but contain aluminum chlorohydrate as an antimicrobial component, which is not safe for health at all.

As we can see, deodorants are less effective in combating sweat, but they are safer. That is, if it is possible to carry out armpit hygiene and use deodorant during the day, then you can give preference to these aromatic sprays. However, deodorants help not so much with underarm sweating, but with the unpleasant smell of sweaty armpits.

As for antiperspirants, it is worth choosing the lesser of two evils if it is so important to reduce the amount of sweat secreted. As a result of practical studies, it was found that the least aluminum in the epidermal layers of the skin was found after using a roll-on antiperspirant. Sprays with the same effect, actively used for underarm sweating, leave twice as many dangerous aluminum salts on the skin. But the palm still belongs to antiperspirants in the form of sticks, which are considered the most dangerous in terms of the content of harmful substances.

But while there are many different rumors and debates about antiperspirants' contribution to the occurrence of cancerous tumors in the mammary glands (due to their proximity to the armpits), people on the Internet continue to actively share their opinions on various sprays, sticks and roll-ons against sweat. The greatest number of positive reviews can be found about the antiperspirants "Dry-Dry" and "Odaban", which, according to users, really reduce sweating and block unpleasant odor. They are economical to use and do not require daily application.

The latter is very important due to the fact that the same "Dry-Dry" contains aluminum chloride hydrate, which we mentioned above. However, doctors assure that the content of the dangerous substance in the antiperspirant sold in pharmacies is strictly dosed and cannot cause harm to health. In addition, you only need to use the antiperspirant once a week to get the expected effect.

Limitations to the use of underarm antiperspirant sprays include irritation and wounds on the skin (at least 2 days must pass after shaving the underarms before you can use the antiperspirant).

It is recommended to apply the product at night, after cleaning and drying the skin of the armpits. The moisture dries on the skin within a couple of minutes, after which there are no traces left on clothes. Water procedures are not carried out after applying the deodorant, but in the morning you can safely rinse your armpits with water.

In case of severe hyperhidrosis, the product can be applied 2 evenings in a row. Re-use of the antiperspirant is possible after 5 days.

Contains aluminum chloride, which is most active in combating sweating, and Odaban spray, but people using this product also did not notice any deterioration in their health or the appearance of new growths on the body. Perhaps a slight itch in the area of application with increased skin sensitivity, which easily goes away after using hydrocortisone ointment.

The spray is no less economical than Dry-Dry. The bottle is designed for six months of use, and the effect of use is observed within 10 days.

Antiperspirant does not clog the sweat glands, it promotes uniform distribution of sweat throughout the body, and it remains virtually invisible on various areas of the skin.

Apply the spray to skin cleansed during evening hygiene procedures and dried with a towel. It is best to do this half an hour before going to bed or a little later. In the morning, the skin should be thoroughly washed and blotted with a napkin. It is strictly not recommended to use the product during the day.

After sweating has returned to normal, the product is used only as needed.

But today there is an alternative even to these effective drugs with questionable safety. So if the word "aluminum" scares you, you can turn to a natural deodorant, which, although it does not greatly affect the intensity of sweating, does not leave a chance for bacteria, does not cause allergic reactions and promotes healing of skin damage.

We are talking about an alum stone called alunite. You can also find a melt-processed stone in the form of a stick on sale, for example, a deodorant from the TianDe company called "Alunite". And yet, experts recommend giving preference to a natural stone with a more pronounced effect.

Alunite is not only a remedy for underarm sweating and unpleasant odor. It effectively deals with bacteria, fungi and some types of viruses that cause inflammation on the skin, which makes it possible to use it to treat acne and other dermatological pathologies. The mineral can strengthen nails and eliminate unpleasant odors. So this remedy will be very useful in everyday life.

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Using powder

The next wonderful remedy is called powder. This may seem surprising, but it can relieve a person from excessive sweating for a long time. In addition, it also prevents dermatitis and various types of inflammation. But it is worth understanding that the powder should be special. So, it is desirable that it contains talc and lanolin. So, how to use it? Problem areas should be washed with warm water, preferably with soap, and then apply the powder. Its main property is that it acts as a good antiseptic.

Electrophoresis

An excellent way to get rid of excessive sweating is various types of electrophoresis. Thus, sessions should be carried out once a week. Usually, the effect occurs only after 9 sessions, so you should not hope for an immediate improvement in the situation. It should also be noted that side effects may occur. These include burns, redness, itching and even irritation. To prevent excessive sweating from bothering you, you should systematically undergo a course of treatment.

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Medicines for underarm sweating

Regular medications will also help to get rid of unpleasant sensations. In this case, Propranolol, Prozac and Antropine will do. However, side effects such as dry mouth, drowsiness, and in some cases nausea, vomiting and tachycardia may occur. Therefore, a doctor's consultation is mandatory in this case.

Using injections with botulinum toxin A. This method is effective for axillary hyperhidrosis. However, the course of treatment is quite expensive.

Powders for underarm sweating

Powders, both those used for small children and cosmetics, are considered by many to be quite safe and effective remedies for underarm sweating. It is clear that these are not medications and cannot solve the problem of hyperhidrosis, but they can significantly reduce the size of wet circles on clothing and combat unpleasant odor.

The effect of powders is very similar to the action of a sponge. When applied to clean, dry skin, they simply absorb moisture and do not allow it to spoil clothes. The skin remains dry for some time, which allows you to feel comfortable among other people.

There are several powder options that can be used for excessive underarm sweating:

• Odoban powder, developed by English scientists by analogy with the antiperspirant of the same company. The disadvantage of this product is the presence of the same aluminum chloride, which is why it is not recommended for those who have problems with the urinary system. The advantages of the powder include: cost-effectiveness (like the antiperspirant, it lasts almost six months), reduced activity of sweat glands, effective odor removal, no skin irritation, no addiction.
• Baby powder. This is a really useful and absolutely safe remedy for underarm sweating. Talc in the powder is an excellent absorbent that effectively absorbs moisture and odor, leaving the skin dry and pleasantly smelling. Talc itself has a specific medicinal smell, but if the powder has additional herbal additives that prevent the skin from drying out, have an anti-inflammatory and soothing effect, and aromatize, then the skin will be well-groomed, and its aroma will be comparable to famous deodorants. Only this aroma will be more pleasant for the olfactory organ.
• Starch. Yes, this common kitchen product, along with soda, can be used as a powder for sweat. However, when soaked in sweat, starch turns into a slippery substance, which not everyone likes.
• Powder. This type of powder may have a pleasant aroma and will absorb moisture no worse than talc, but you should be prepared for the fact that, depending on the color of the powder, the clothes under your hands may acquire a whitish, beige or peach shade.
• Medicinal powder. This is a full-fledged medicinal preparation in powder form, which affects the activity of sweat glands, and does not simply clog them and absorb moisture, like other types of powders. It is not advisable to use such powders constantly. The course of treatment with such powdered medicines does not exceed 2 weeks with the possibility of repeated courses.

Such medicinal powders include talc with the addition of urotropin, the preparations "Borosin" and "5 days", which are designed to combat sweating of the feet, but are actively used in the armpit area. An effective drug for sweat and odor can be made independently by adding the powder "Urotropin" to baby powder, but you will need to use such a medicine carefully and intermittently.

It is important to understand that any powders are not full-fledged preparations that can permanently get rid of wet armpits. All powders provide only a temporary effect, but do not treat hyperhidrosis associated with various diseases. However, the use of powders has its advantages. They are easy to use: just lightly powder the dry, clean skin of the armpits, without rubbing the product into the skin. As for natural powders, they are also safe to use, inexpensive, non-addictive, and some even care for the delicate skin of the armpits.

Treatments for underarm sweating

It should be said that the use of medicinal and folk remedies internally and externally does not always give the expected result. In some cases, such treatment does not help at all. In others, only the smell decreases, and sweating remains at the same level. If the level is not critical, you can stop there. If excessive sweating seriously spoils a person's life, you can resort to more drastic measures.

We are not talking about surgical intervention with scraping of sweat glands, but about liposuction, familiar to many. Only in this case, its purpose is to remove (pump out) fat deposits in the armpit area.

It is clear that many will have a logical question: what does fat in the armpits have to do with sweating associated with the work of sweat glands? And how can pumping out fat affect the work of these glands?

In fact, armpit liposuction for sweating involves mechanical removal of not only fat cells, but also sweat glands. This happens naturally, because the glands are located in the subcutaneous fat tissue, so they are removed along with it.

Liposuction is performed in a hospital setting under local anesthesia. A special tube is inserted through small incisions in the skin, which first fills the cavity with liquid and then pumps out the fat dissolved in it and some of the sweat glands. But even those glands that remain in place are no longer so tightly connected to the sympathetic nervous system, which means that the procedure almost completely stops the secretion of sweat from the armpits.

So far we have been talking about the mechanical type of liposuction. But there are other types of the procedure, for example, laser or ultrasound. It can be said that the effectiveness of different types of liposuction is approximately the same, so it is quite possible to stop at its budget type - mechanical removal of subcutaneous fat and sweat glands in it.

The procedure does not require any special preparation. The only thing that doctors may insist on is quitting smoking and taking various medications (you must inform your doctor about the necessary medications) 1.5 weeks before the operation. The procedure may be denied to people with blood diseases and circulatory disorders, patients diagnosed with hemophilia or diabetes, tuberculosis or pleural inflammation, respiratory failure and oncological pathologies.

Despite the effectiveness of the liposuction procedure, you cannot expect that the problem of hyperhidrosis will be solved forever. The absence of sweat can be observed for 4-5 years, after which sweating will be restored, although with less force.

Another fairly popular procedure for underarm sweating is darsonval. The procedure involves the impact of low-power electric current on the area of increased sweating, which is used to treat various skin pathologies. And although this procedure is carried out in various medical centers, its effectiveness is still questioned by many doctors.

Another effective option for physical therapy that can be prescribed for hyperhidrosis is iontophoresis. As in the case of darsonval, the procedure uses low-power currents. The current strength and voltage are set depending on the drug that is introduced into the skin by iontophoresis, although it is believed that even ordinary tap water (or rather its mineral composition: potassium, sodium, chlorine, etc.) can reduce the activity of sweat glands if it is helped to penetrate the skin.

Another thing is that this procedure is not very convenient to use when it comes to armpits. Although some offices that perform this procedure are already equipped with special electrodes for the treatment of axillary hyperhidrosis.

Some salons offer to combat sweating with a neodymium laser. The laser is a unique invention used in medicine, cosmetology, and industry. Depending on the frequency of its radiation, different effects can be achieved.

In the treatment of excessive sweating, the laser's ability to destroy sweat glands without affecting other cells in the body is used. Not all glands are destroyed, but some of them. But the work of undamaged glands is only a tenth of the sweat secreted earlier, which is practically invisible on clothing.

The procedure is performed under local anesthesia. It takes no more than 1 hour and does not require special preparation. The effect of laser treatment lasts for a long time.

Injections for underarm sweating

According to many experts, injection treatment of hyperhidrosis is one of the most effective methods of getting rid of excessive sweating. Botulinum toxins produced in different countries are used as an effective remedy for underarm sweating. In the USA it is "Botox", in France they produce "Dysport", in Germany - the drug "Xeomin". Less popular is the Chinese "Lantox".

If you look into it, botulinum toxins are poisonous substances produced by bacteria of the genus Clostridium. When the poison enters the human body, it causes botulism. But if botulinum toxin is injected intradermally in a strictly defined dose, it is not capable of harming health, but it can help keep the armpits dry for a period of 5 to 8 months.

How do botulinum toxins work for hyperhidrosis? They inhibit the transmission of impulses at the level of the postganglionic fibers of the sympathetic nervous system. Thus, the sweat glands do not receive an order to increase activity and the amount of sweat remains minimal even during excitement or physical exertion.

But you need to understand that botulinum toxins are dangerous substances, which means that a specialist should work with them. Doing botulinum toxin injections at home on your own is a very dangerous activity. In addition, you should always take into account contraindications to the use of drugs.

"Botox", "Dysport" and other similar drugs cannot be injected in case of pathologies of the neuromuscular system, hemophilia, intolerance to botulinum toxins. The drug is not administered in the presence of inflammatory skin diseases localized in the armpit area, in acute systemic infections, purulent pathologies. Such treatment is also not carried out during pregnancy, as well as during breastfeeding.

Before starting treatment, you must notify your doctor if you have been diagnosed with diabetes or oncological pathology. Relative contraindications include: high body temperature, exacerbation of chronic pathologies, epilepsy, alcohol abuse, menstruation.

After the administration of the drugs, the following unpleasant symptoms may be observed: hyperemia and swelling of the skin under the arms, slight pain, itching or burning. A decrease in skin sensitivity may also be observed. Some people develop minor hematomas at the injection site. Muscle weakness and symptoms of a respiratory viral infection are not uncommon.

All these symptoms appear with varying probability. Everything depends on the individual reaction to the introduction of microdoses of poison.

Preparation for the procedure includes limiting physical activity the day before the procedure, abstaining from alcohol (for several days), and a dermatological sensitivity test. Before the procedure, the person needs to shave their armpits (no later than 2 hours before the injection).

Botulinum toxin injections are a painless procedure, but doctors prefer to additionally anesthetize it with cold or local analgesics in the form of a cream. The dosage of the drug depends on the degree of hyperhidrosis, which is determined by the Minor test.

The skin is first disinfected with alcohol and allowed to evaporate completely. After this, marks are made with brilliant green where the needle will be inserted.

The injection sites are located at a distance of 2 cm from each other. The needle is inserted to a depth of no more than 3 mm. The appearance of a papule and a slight burning sensation at the injection site is considered normal.

The procedure itself usually takes less than an hour, but after that you will have to limit yourself in some things for a week. Banned are baths and saunas, antiperspirants, physical exercise, sports, back and neck massage, antibiotics. Sunbathing and drinking alcohol are also not allowed during this period.

Sweating begins to decrease already on the second or third day after the procedure, and after a couple of weeks sweating becomes minimal. You can count on dry armpits for several months, after which the procedure is repeated again.

When choosing various remedies for underarm sweating, you should always think about their safety for the body. If hyperhidrosis is treated with physical therapy or botulinum toxin injections, then first of all you should think about the clinic where the treatment will be carried out and the qualifications of the staff. Otherwise, their mistake can cost you dearly as a client.

Surgeries for underarm sweating

Various types of sympathectomy are very effective. In this case, an operation is performed, its essence is that the nerves that innervate the sweat glands are pinched. However, not everyone sees improvement, only 40-80%. In addition, the effect is not eternal, but nevertheless lasts for more than one year. Side effects in the form of sweating, arrhythmia and drooping eyelids may also occur.

Various types of curettage of the armpit itself will be effective. Thanks to this procedure, it is possible to scrape the skin from the inside. Thus, sweating is significantly reduced. Only literally after six months everything returns. And finally, you can simply remove the skin flap in the sweating area. This manipulation gives an incredible effect, but often scarring of the skin is observed.

Do not forget about simple hygiene. Warm baths with sea salt can normalize sweating and remove excess fluid from the body. It should be understood that using soap can lead to the opposite process. And finally, even physical activity can improve the situation. After all, during exercise, a large amount of sweat is released. Thus, you can remove all excess fluid from the body, and even improve your physical fitness. Therefore, before looking for an answer to the question of what to do if your armpits sweat a lot, you should try standard methods.