10 Ways to Manage Sweaty Armpits

Lifestyle adjustments, such as cutting back on caffeine or keeping well-hydrated, can help control sweating. Applying topical antiperspirants may also provide relief.

If your sweating is bothersome, you’ve probably experimented with numerous deodorant brands without much success.

Sometimes excessive sweating is due to a condition called hyperhidrosis, which a physician can diagnose and treat. Hyperhidrosis causes profuse sweating across the body, not limited to the armpits.

Heavy underarm sweating can be uncomfortable, but it doesn’t need to be unavoidable. A range of natural, over-the-counter, and medical strategies can lessen or stop excess underarm perspiration. Consider the following suggestions.

1. Use topical antiperspirants

Fed up with sweat marks on your clothing? Consider swapping your regular deodorant for an antiperspirant. Deodorants neutralize odor but aren’t formulated to fully prevent sweating.

Antiperspirants both reduce odor-causing bacteria and actively block sweat glands from producing armpit sweat. This can help ease your discomfort.

For some people, however, store-bought antiperspirants fall short. If ordinary products aren’t effective, look for stronger antiperspirants with a higher aluminum chloride concentration (about 10% to 15%).

If even stronger over-the-counter options don’t help, consult a physician about a prescription-strength antiperspirant.

Tips for applying antiperspirant

Applying antiperspirant properly is key to getting results. Keep these suggestions in mind:

• Only use antiperspirant on clean, dry skin. Don’t apply it to already-sweaty armpits or skin still damp from a shower.
• Apply antiperspirant at night after bathing, when your body is coolest. This gives the active ingredient time to work.
• Shave your underarms, since hair can interfere with antiperspirant effectiveness. Avoid applying immediately after shaving to prevent irritation.
• Be patient. It may take several days to notice the full benefits.

2. Wait between showering and dressing

After showering, pause a few minutes before getting dressed. This is especially helpful if you take hot showers or live in a warm, humid region.

Allowing your body to cool and dry before putting on clothes may help prevent armpit sweating right after bathing.

3. Shave your armpits

Shaving won’t lower the amount you sweat, but underarm hair traps moisture. Removing hair can reduce lingering dampness.

If you already experience heavy sweating, shaving might also help decrease the body odor that occurs from trapped sweat.

4. Skip the caffeine

Caffeine stimulates the nervous system, increasing sweating. It also elevates blood pressure and heart rate, putting sweat glands into overdrive.

If you have hyperhidrosis, foods and beverages with caffeine or theobromine (a caffeine precursor) can increase sweating. Cutting back on the following items may help:

• coffee
• tea
• caffeinated sodas
• chocolate

5. Avoid sweat-inducing foods and beverages

Some individuals have gustatory hyperhidrosis, which causes sweating while eating. This often happens after consuming spicy or acidic foods.

Specialists also advise steering clear of alcohol, as it can be a trigger.

6. Stay hydrated

Drinking plenty of water and eating high-water-content foods helps keep your body cool and can reduce excessive underarm sweating.

Water-rich foods include:

• melons
• strawberries
• celery
• spinach
• pickles

7. Wear breathable, loose-fitting clothing

Tight garments — especially those constricting under the arms — can produce armpit stains and increase sweating.

Choose natural, breathable fabrics and looser-fitting attire. This allows your underarms to cool and may help prevent sweating and staining.

You might also try underarm liners or pads for added protection.

8. Stop smoking

Nicotine from smoking — like caffeine — raises body temperature, speeds heart rate, and stimulates sweat glands.

Smoking also brings many other hygiene and health issues, such as bad breath, tooth discoloration, and increased cancer risk.

9. Consider Botox injections

If other approaches fail, medical options like Botox injections can reduce excessive underarm sweating.

Studies have found Botox effective for treating severe armpit sweating. A dermatologist injects Botox, a neurotoxin, to interrupt the sympathetic nerve signals that trigger sweating.

The effects are temporary, so repeat treatments are needed to maintain the benefit.

10. Consider surgical options

There are surgical treatments for hyperhidrosis, including thoracic sympathectomy and sweat gland removal.

Thoracic sympathectomy is a minimally invasive procedure in which a surgeon interrupts the sympathetic nerves so they can no longer signal sweat glands.

Surgeons can also remove sweat glands using techniques such as excision, curettage, or liposuction.

Emerging treatments

A 2021 review notes several newer approaches for excessively sweaty armpits, such as:

• cryotherapy, using cold to damage sweat glands
• microneedle radiofrequency, using heat to impair sweat glands
• intense pulsed light (IPL) and laser therapy, using light to target sweat glands
• ultrasound, using sound waves to disrupt sweat glands
• water iontophoresis, sending a mild electrical current through skin in water to block nerve signals to sweat glands

What causes excessive sweating?

Excessive sweating happens when nerves activate sweat glands without heat or physical exertion, causing the glands to become overactive.

Research indicates hyperhidrosis may run in families for some individuals, although the specific gene responsible has not been identified.

Certain medical conditions can also lead to heavy sweating, including:

• heart disease
• menopause
• stroke
• hyperthyroidism
• cancer

Excessive sweating can also be a side effect of various medications. Talk with a doctor if you think a medical issue or drug could be causing your sweating.

When to see a doctor

See a physician if home remedies and over-the-counter solutions don’t work.

In some situations, you may need prescription antiperspirants or procedures like Botox injections after other measures fail. Your doctor can recommend the best course for your situation.

Takeaway

You can change habits to reduce how often you sweat. Modifying your diet and cutting back on caffeine can help manage sweating, and topical antiperspirants may provide relief.

If these approaches don’t help, consult a physician about medical treatments. With the right strategy, you can achieve drier, more comfortable underarms again.