13 hours ago
How to avoid being soggy and smelly this summer, according to people who sweat a lot
Success may be 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration, but that's less the case when the perspiring in question comes with a serious stank. With so much of the country currently enduring an oppressive heat wave, and with temperatures set to hit over 100 degrees in multiple states, we're all thinking a lot about the best ways to stay cool and fresh. Of course, the most effective strategy for maintaining one's aromatic chill is to shelter in air-conditioned rooms (or at least plant yourself in front of a powerful fan). But even if you are lucky enough to live that AC life, modern adulthood requires engaging with the outside — for work, for errands, just to clean up the darn lawn — and once that heat hits your skin, you can expect to become moist, if not downright ripe.
Sweating is the body's way of regulating abundant heat, and if you're one of the millions of Americans who suffer from conditions like hyperhidrosis, this wetness can be constant, excessive and, at least initially, feel impossible to control. But never fear, my funky friends. Heavy sweaters across the internet (including organizations like the International Hyperhidrosis Society, or IHS) have sorted out the precise tools you need to feel dry and smell fresh in even the most intense summer swelter. While these products — plus a few common-sense, dermatologist-approved solutions — may not completely eradicate a sweaty glow, they will help to keep the worst olfactory offenses at bay.
Shower frequently. The first, most no-duh thing you're going to want to do is bathe — often. Frequent showers wash away the bacteria that, combined with sweat, cause odor in the first place. "I recommend showering with cooler or even cold water to keep the skin cool and promote better blood flow," says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Dara Spearman. And while you're getting clean, consider shaving your armpit hair, which can store excess bacteria and create a pungent scent.
Wear loose-fitting clothing made of breathable fabrics like cotton or silk. "To keep cool and avoid sweat-induced skin irritation in the hot summer months, you should wear loose-fitting clothing made with natural fibers whenever you can," says Los Angeles-based cosmetic dermatologist Dr. Ava Shamban. "And, if you're exercising in nylon and spandex, you should remove your workout clothes as quickly as possible and shower to keep skin from developing rashes and infections."
Try a variety of deodorants. The IHS recommends an array of potent deodorants and antiperspirants to get you through the hottest days. Look for a clinical-strength formula that contains more powerful ingredients in higher concentrations than regular versions, helping to block sweat glands and keep you both dry and smell-free. For places on your body like your feet, back, underboobs and groin area, cream deodorants or deodorant wipes can safely — and in some cases, gently — suppress the stink.
Wear a moisture-wicking underlayer. After deodorant, sweatproof undershirts are the best line of defense against BO. They work to keep sweat off your skin, which means you'll feel less swampy and the bacteria in your pits won't have time to stew.
When all else fails, call in the reinforcements. Look, no one wants to arrive anywhere fully and stench-ily flop-sweated, looking like a debate-stage Richard Nixon or Albert Brooks in Broadcast News. If your deodorant just isn't keeping up, or your sweat is somehow still spilling out of your moisture-wicking tops, these extra-protection pads will for sure soak up the slack.
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The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
