# Is it possible for a person to reduce their tendency to sweat?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-for-a-person-to-reduce-their-tendency-to-sweat/456031>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 10, 2008, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-for-a-person-to-reduce-their-tendency-to-sweat/456031 "2008-07-10T20:07:53Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Terrifel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)\
**Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-for-a-person-to-reduce-their-tendency-to-sweat/456031/1 "2008-07-10T20:07:53Z")

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Because I sweat a\* lot.\* I feel safe in asserting that it is abnormal. As soon as my environment drifts even slightly above room temperature, my metabolism immediately panics and opens the floodgates on every cell in my skin, drenching me in enormous cataracts of perspiration. In any given crowd, I am frequently the only person visibly soaked through their shirt. Tiny natives follow me around worshipping me during the dry season. It is a problem, I tell you.

I’m reasonably healthy otherwise, with no other obvious physical ailments. I guess I am slightly overweight these days, but I have been much skinnier and it didn’t really seem to matter. I just seem to be cursed with exceptionally high-strung sweat ducts.

Can this effect be moderated somehow, whether through a change in diet or lifestyle, pharmaceutical intervention, or what have you? Do we have the technology? Or am I doomed to forever linger at the edges of society, in the shadow of the nearest air conditioner?

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**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\
**Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-for-a-person-to-reduce-their-tendency-to-sweat/456031/2 "2008-07-10T20:11:05Z")

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Look up hyperhidrosis. There are many treatment options available, ranging from super-strength antiperspirants to surgery. Definitely consult your doctor; it is treatable and you don’t have to live with it.

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**Author:** ![Terrifel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)\
**Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-for-a-person-to-reduce-their-tendency-to-sweat/456031/3 "2008-07-10T20:20:41Z")

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Hot damn! It has an official medical name and everything. Thanks, **Q.E.D.**

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**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\
**Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-for-a-person-to-reduce-their-tendency-to-sweat/456031/4 "2008-07-11T21:07:24Z")

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FWIW there are several medications and foods that increase sweating, which suggests it isn’t hard to change with meds and maybe can be reduced that way too.

BTW - I feel your pain.