Sweating Problem

Hi J.,

Well I used to have a sweating problem myself when I was in college. However my problem was related to anxiety. Whenever I was anxious I would sweat under my armpits profusely. It was so embarising. I would only be able to wear white and black shirts because they would hide the sweat. I would have to change my shirt more than once a day. My sweat was more like water and didn't have odor. But was very dehibilitating. I went to my doctor and started on a low dose anxiety pill. It solved the problem. I am now on Lexapro and I can not imagine going back to my life before. I am not saying that you have to go on medication. It just worked for me.

The odor and wetness can be two seperate issues. One thing you can try to eliminate the odor is taking liquid cholophyl. It's a gentle cleanser and if you take it regularly you'll have great breath and no stinky pits!

It is a hormone problem & weight doesn't matter! Even fat people like myself should not sweat very easily.
The best advise I have is to see a homepathic type of doctor. They can tell you what to do for it & most likely what hormone is causing the problem. Worked for me and my sister!
check out www.maxhealing.com

Hi J.! Perspiration is one way that our bodies detox from all the bad stuff we put into them. When we have odor its from something we have ingested that the body is trying to get rid of. Take a look at your diet. Are you eating alot of processed foods? Do you drink alot of coffee or ingest dairy? Do you eat wheat and sugar? All of those things can cause body odor when we sweat. It's also possible that you have a food allergy that is causing your body not to absorb all of the nutrients in the food and you are sweating it out. The closer I get to a 100% raw food diet the less body odor I notice and when I do eat something that I shouldn't that's the first place I see it. Also make sure you're drinking enough pure, filtered water to replace what your body is sweating out. It should help with the odor too.

Hi J.,

I actually work in dermatology and I can tell you that I have seen it done and helped in the actual procedure. It works amazing and the people who have had it done (my sister included) have loved the results. There has been a lot of research done in the actual use of botox by the company allergan itself. Botox has a great website if you want to check it out. The results last for 4-8 months and the more you do it the longer it lasts! It changes people's lives and it works great. Good luck and let me know if you have any other questions.

I am sorry you are going through this, it is a stigmatizing problem, as it isn't a private one. People I know who have had the botox done swear by it, and the problem goes away, for a while anyway, 100%.
Good luck.
D.

I have this same exact issue, and I am glad that you brought it up. I have not always had the issue of odor, but now I do, terribly. To the point that I actually warn people and apologize. I use the salt crystals for a deoderant, at it actually works better than any of the other ones I have tried (and believe me, I have tried them all!). And after sitting here thinking about it, I agree with the diet issue. When I didn't have the odor, I was not eating anything processed, not a lot of sugar, and so on. I recently had a baby, and have been craving all sorts of disgusting stuff, everything processed, and there has been an increase in the odor. As of today, I am going back to my old ways...hopefully it works! Good luck to you too! I wouldn't do the botox...

Hi J.,
I know that you made the request over a week ago (and I only read half of your responses so this might be redundant). But at that time I was having the same problem and so couldn't offer any suggestions. I had been having the problem since having my daughter 6 months ago. Like you I would get out of the shower and 5 minutes later I would smell...yuk! Your question made me start to do some research on how to try and fix my own problem. I found a couple of sites that suggested Magnesium suppliments combined with Zinc suppliments would do the trick. If your metabolism is off/stressed, which mine is because my daughter has not slept through the night yet and I am working full time. Just a little too much for my body to regulate properly. Within 4 days of adding 450mg to 600mg of Magnesium and 25mg of Zinc the BO is gone!! For the first time in six months I smell like me again.
If you think your BO might be related to your metabolism give it a try!
Good luck :-)

Hi J., I sweat no matter what if it isn't freezing where I am. I have avoided the sweat stains since I wear my shirts a bit baggier to help circulate the air around my body. I am a bit heavy but even when I wasn't I did this as a teenager. I even carry my deoderant around with me unless I have found one that works all day and REALLY good. I have even used mens deoderant with out the manly smell. I know it is very imbarresing but we do what we have to do.

I will second Robyn's response. The answer is somewhere in your diet. It could be food dyes, it could be preservatives, it could be any amount of chemicals being ingested. Chemicals are hiding everywhere in the supermarket. They're in luncheon meat, cured meat, prepackaged meals, canned meals, sodas, chips, white breads, even seasoned uncooked birds. Sweating is your body's response to getting rid of toxins, especially if the liver is being overworked. There are some major lymph glands at the armpits and it sounds like yours may be working overtime.

I made some radical changes in my diet over the last few years. Now I only occasionally use the crystal salts for under my arms, because the odor just isn't there anymore. I wouldn't have believed it otherwise!

J.,

Sounds like this should be easily addressed by the right doctor. After speaking to a specialist would I go to the measure of botox. There may be something going on that is causing your odor problems. Also if you are eating garlic or other body excreted herbs I would stop. I will tell you that one of my sisters has a BO problem and showers and uses platinum secret and that seems to work for her. Another one eats all kinds of ethnic foods and when I run with her I tell her it is surrounding us because it comes out her pores. So eat clean for a while drink plenty of water with lemon and check in with the doctor I mentioned. He knows all about your glands and is far better at addressing this problem than a general practitioner.

Good luck.

J.,
Definately feel for you. I hope that you were informed as to what is part of sweat and the part that smells. Water obviously is part of sweat but so is oils. The odor generally is from nervousness. I am sure that you are expecting to sweat makes you nervous which then leads to the smelly sweat. I think you need to go to a specialist for the nervousness and for the excessive sweat issue.

J.,

Have you tried the clinical strength antiperspirants? They used to be prescription only but now are available OTC....ask your pharmacist if they have them in stock. I have a client who is using the new one from Secret and LOVES it for this issue.

Also, I know this issue first hand too and must keep my diet very clean in order to prevent odor....hard sometimes in the summer for me but it helps.

I know Botox is recommended by docs for this but I tend to believe that the least invasive method is usually the best.

Many Blessings to you,

G.~~~

G. Engelbach
Master Esthetitican

HI J. - Have you checked to see if it's a food allergy/reaction? I saw a very interesting show recently where a woman had the same problem, and once she figured it out and changed her diet - it was a miracle!

Hi J., I know exactly what you're going through!! I tried everything - and did consider the Botox injections but couldn't bring myself to do it...I hate shots! I had heard about a OTC deoderant "Certain Dri" and tried it. My God it saved my life! It works amazingly well. Just be sure to read the directions. Use it at night when you go to bed. I supplement it with Mitchums during the day, and while there is some minor odor once in a while, the wetness is pretty much gone! I found it at the Walmart in Epping - but I have seen it in a few other places. Good luck!

J.,

The sweating and odor may be two seperate problems. My sister had a swaeting problem for a long time and wondererd why. After several tests during her annual check-up they screened her thyroid and found that it was not working properly. Since your thyroid controls your inner thermometer --as it were -- this may be why you sweat so much. The odor may be attributed to the foods you are eating, as others have alluded to. Try drinking herbal teas before and after meals. Personally I think ginger works best. If you happen to be using shower gels, you may want to go to a natural soap bar like shea, oatmeal or cocoa butter. Sometimes your horomoes and physical chemistry react poorly to flavored cleansing agents which may contribute to your body odor. Let me know how things go for you and what ends up working.

Best,
G.

Hi J.,

My Husband had a terrible sweating issue and when he talked to his Dr. about it, the doctor said it ws actually a disease and prescribed a product called DrySol. It is a liquid that comes in a little roll-on bottle bottle. Before bed, he washes and thoroughly dries his pits, applies it, puts on a cotton t-shirt and goes to bed for the night, It stings him a little at first, but he is cured!! The Dr. told him to do it once a week and he did at first, now he does it less. He alos told him to use one of the natural deoderant crystals during the day and he doesn't have the problem anymore.

I don't know if this is the same issue, but he is soooo pleased with the change!

Good luck!!

Hi J.!
I had the same problem and the prescription deoderant worked wonders for me! The trick was to put it on at night and you could really feel it working (FYI DONT USE AFTER YOU SHAVE!) It actually clogs the pores in your armpits so they cant sweat or atleast as much. I would say to ask your doc I got mine just from PCP! Good Luck!

I haven't done this personally, but I know people that work for Allergan (the maker of Botox) and have seen the research studies. It is really supposed to help people like you, with hyperhydrosia. Their website has a ton of info on it. Good luck!

I have heard that there is a RX for this that is not Boxtox..ask your Doctor or even research online if no one here knows the name.

Good luck,

Hi J., I have this same problem and I have always been so embarassed about it. When I shop I always choose white or dark colors because the stains won't show. I don't have the odor problem though. Finally, when I was in college I went to my doctor and they took blood to check my thyroids and that wasn't it. Then he gave me a prescription Aluminum chloride (Rx only) which comes in a little roll on bottle (just like a little roll on deodorant). There is another post below that the husband tried this and it worked.
I put it on before bed and it basically dried up all my sweat glands so I don't sweat as much. I used it almost every night at first and it dried up my armpits to a point where it hurt and burned. I guess I wasn't suppose to use it every night though. I have to say it did work pretty good and it helped my sweating, and I was pretty happy because I have tried every women and mens deodorant. I thought about botox but this works fine and is cheaper. Good luck!

I'm wondering if anyone has heard of the surgery performed for those who have hyperhydrosis? There is a well-known operation for it and is quite common. Of course surgery has risks, but in sever cases it is warranted. There are surgeons at Mass General and NSMC in Salem that do this.

Have you tried the "clinical strength" deoderants? I too sweat profusely, but the clinical strength deoderant really helps. I use Secret. It might be worth a try.

Good Luck,
M.