It is normal to sweat, it is a natural process that helps control the internal temperature of the body, especially during exercise or hot weather. Excess heat is being removed from your body as sweat evaporates from the surface of your skin, thereby cooling the body.

Sweating is sometimes complicated by medical conditions that cause excessive sweating which can be driven by emotion or special circumstances. For instance, situational sweating can occur if you are faced with a challenging situation such as meeting your future in-laws, making a formal presentation before a group or your first day at work to meet your new co-workers.

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There are more than 2 million sweat glands located in the human body. The apocrine glands, which are efficient sweat-producers, are located in the armpits, which is why sweat seem to primarily occur underneath the arms. These glands produce sweat which contains fatty acids and proteins, making the sweat thicker with a milky or yellowish color. That’s why underarm stains on clothing have a yellow tint.

Although sweat itself is odorless, when bacteria on the skin and hair metabolize the proteins and fatty acids in sweat, they produce an unpleasant odor. It is essential to prevent and control armpit sweat for good hygiene, social life, and comfort.

Top 8 Tips for Stopping Armpit Sweat

There are several ways to stop or reduce armpit sweat and the wetness and odor that accompanies it.

1. Use an Antiperspirant

Always use an antiperspirant. Applying an antiperspirant or deodorant before leaving the house is important to help control underarm sweat and disturbing odor.

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Antiperspirants contain ingredients designed to halt sweat while deodorants help to get rid of unpleasant odors. There are assorted types of antiperspirants and deodorants available on the market.

2. Adjust Your Routine

Antiperspirants causes skin irritation for most people, especially those that contain higher levels of aluminum chloride as an active ingredient. To help ward off the itching and stinging sensations that some antiperspirants cause, you may need to observe a few precautions. Avoid applying these products to your underarms within one to two days of shaving them, and don’t take a hot shower that opens the skin’s pores right before applying antiperspirant.

The most effective antiperspirant won’t help if your skin is covered with fabric that traps heat and moisture all day. Find out which fabrics keep your skin cool.

3. Wear Breathable Fabrics

The fabric you choose to wear can either make you more at ease or more susceptible to sweat. Instead of synthetic fabrics, go for breathable fabrics that allows air to gain access to your skin. Such fabrics includes wool, silk, hemp, linen, and cotton. These fabrics will prevent you from sweating profusely because they have a loser weave compared to synthetics.

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Synthetic fabrics, such as polyester, nylon, and rayon, are made with much tighter weaves that tend to trap heat and make your body more prone to sweat. Also, with synthetic fabrics, the accumulated moisture doesn’t evaporate as easily.

4. Know Your Anxiety Triggers

There are a lot of circumstances that cause anxiety such as Interviewing for a new job, speaking in public, going on a first date, in a social gathering, or while previewing a power point presentation with colleagues. Nervousness or anxiety causes your heart to pound, your mouth becomes dry and you start to sweat. This is a fear response triggered by your body to get you physically ready to respond to an uncertain or possibly dangerous situation.

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Instead of getting nervous, reflect a few new strategies that can help combat anxiety. Learn to check and control your anxiety triggers and try to mentally accept that some circumstances are out of your control. Brace your body and mind by getting at least eight hours of sleep a night, and always be positive.

5. Reduce Stress

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle that includes exercise will assist your body handle long-term stress. Stress can lead to excessive sweating. It helps to learn how to relax and manage stress in tough situations. For some people, doing meditation, Yoga or deep breathing can be helpful tools in reducing stress. In addition, eating balanced diet and aerobic exercise can release tension.

6. You May Need To Change Your Diet

Sweat can be triggered by certain foods and beverages we consume. Some foods that triggers sweating includes onions, garlic, alcoholic beverages, and caffeinated drinks.

When you drink hot beverage, it will cause your body temperature to rise and signal your body to start producing sweat, and the caffeine will send your central nervous system and your sweat glands into overdrive. Instead of hot beverage, especially when you aren’t in an air-conditioned environment, go for iced, decaf coffee and avoid sweat issue. Consuming spicy foods, like peppers that contain capsaicin, signals your sweat glands to produce sweat.

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7. Try a Natural Remedy

The sweating process is being triggered in the hypothalamus in the brain. This gland knows when the body’s core temperature rises, and it sends out the signal to other glands to start sweating. This cycle can be short-circuited by drinking cool water. People who are always in a sweat-prone environment can enhance their antiperspirant by applying talcum powder or baking soda to their underarms to soak up moisture.

You can control underarm sweat by using lime. Simply cut a lime in half and rub it under your arms before going to bed. Rub on the lime until the skin is coated in juice, then allow it dry. The citrus will work as a natural deodorant, and the acidic juice may help halt the production of sweat.

8.  Consider a Medical Solution

Sweating excessively can interfere with your everyday activity, depending on the nature of your work. It may help to consult your doctor for possible treatment options.

Possible treatment options includes: 

Injections of botulinum toxin: This form of treatment, commonly referred to as botox, are used in several medical and cosmetic procedures. Botulinum toxin is a protein produced by the bacteria that causes botulism. Botox can be injected under the arms to block the nerves that stimulate sweating. Though this treatment isn’t permanent, it is effective for five to six months.

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Oral anticholinergic medications: These help to block the actions of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that helps stimulate sweat glands. It usually begins to improve symptoms in a couple of weeks. These medications act on other body functions, side effect may include constipation, dry mouth, or blurry vision.

Iontophoresis: This is a non-invasive treatment that involves the use of water to deliver a mild electrical shock. A dermatologist uses a small, hand-held device to send a low-level current to the armpits while the body is immersed in water. These treatments temporarily shut off sweat glands. The whole process last about 15 to 30 minutes and are performed once a day over a short period of time.

Antidepressants or tranquilizers: These can be an effective but uncommon solution. If excess sweating is caused by emotional triggers, antidepressants or tranquilizers may be prescribed to help control stress-related symptoms.

Surgery: If the sweating is limited to your armpits, removing the sweat glands in a procedure known as surgical tumescent liposuction may help. Also, endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy is a procedure that involves clipping the nerves that carry messages from the sympathetic nerves to the sweat glands. However, both of these procedures can lead to an increase sweating on other parts of the body.

SOURCE: http://www.healthdiary365.com/2017/12/16/top-8-tips-for-stopping-armpit-sweat/