Excessive sweating: a problem that can be managed

Heavy sweating (also known as hyperhidrosis) is a very real and embarrassing problem, but there are some effective ways to tackle it. Your armpits contain a large number of apocrine glands, which are responsible for producing body odour. Before you hide under bulky sweaters or move to a chillier climate, you can try some proven techniques for combating excessive sweating. The easiest way to tackle excessive sweating is with an antiperspirant, which most people already use on a daily basis. Antiperspirants contain aluminum salts. When you roll them onto your skin, antiperspirants form a plug that blocks perspiration. Keeping your armpits clean and free of bacteria will help keep odour under control. Here’s what you can do every day to keep your sweating under control. (1) Take a warm bath or shower once a day. This will help kill the bacteria on your skin. On hot days, you may need to bath or shower twice a day. (2) Wash your armpits thoroughly using an antibacterial soap. (3) Use a deodorant or an antiperspirant after bathing or showering. (4) Regularly shaving your armpits will allow sweat to evaporate quicker, giving bacteria less time to break it down. (5) Wear natural fibres, such as wool, silk or cotton. They allow your skin to breathe, which means your sweat will evaporate quicker. (6) Wear clean clothes and make sure you wash your clothes regularly. (7) Limit your consumption of spicy foods, such as curry or garlic, because they can make your sweat smell. Evidence also suggests that eating a lot of red meat tends to make body odour worse. ...

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