# Why do I sweat so much? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 12, 2007, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-sweat-so-much/422493 "2007-10-12T18:16:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Chasing\_Dreams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/258eb7/32.png) [@Chasing\_Dreams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chasing_Dreams)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2007, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-sweat-so-much/422493/1 "2007-10-12T18:16:11Z")
Why the freaking hell do I sweat so much? When I am in deep thought or energetically attacking a homework assignment, I find that I often get sweat stains in my armpits. This is both annoying and embarrasing. If I don’t want to get wet armpits, I have to think and move like I’m a tai-chi monk. I use anti-perspirant but that stuff doesn’t have the ability to handle my sweat. When I’m exercising, I also sweat a tremendous amount and I’ll often go through two bottles of water per hour when cycling indoors. I’m a pretty fit guy and definitely not overweight because I like to play sports a lot. I’m thinking that getting botox injections into the pits might be a good idea but I’d rather not if I can avoid it. What about you guys? Are sweaty armpits a problem for you and what do you do? What do you do? ---
**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:** [October 12, 2007, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-sweat-so-much/422493/2 "2007-10-12T19:04:48Z")
Read about [hyperhidrosis](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperhidrosis). ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2007, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-sweat-so-much/422493/3 "2007-10-12T19:09:16Z")
Yep, hyperhidrosis. There are prescription antiperspirants you could try. If that doesn’t help enough, look into the Botox. I don’t know if insurance pays for it, if you have it, but it well completely stop the sweating for 3-4 months at a time, and it’s a relatively quick and painless procedure, depending on your pain threshold. A dermatologist is the doctor to see for this, but when booking your appointment (likely several weeks away) make sure they do Botox. ---
**Author:** ![thirdwarning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecccb3/32.png) [@thirdwarning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdwarning)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2007, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-sweat-so-much/422493/4 "2007-10-12T19:20:44Z")
I sympathize, oh I do. I can’t wear makeup in warm weather because it just sweats right off. I spent my childhood with a bead of sweat on my nose and one on my upper lip. Every time I do anything strenuous my shirt ends up soaked. It’s not as bad now that I’m a lot older, but it used to be very embarrassing. In the middle of my high school years my mom discovered Mitchum for me. She happened to mention the problem to a friend who recommended it. I’ve used it ever since and I love the stuff. For a while I could tell just by looking which clothes I had before I started using it and which ones I’d gotten after. The after ones didn’t have the underarm stains. I don’t usually do commercials or testimonials, but for this I will. It practically changed my life. Now, if your problem is worse than that I’d definitely second the suggestion to ask a doctor about it, but this made a big difference for me. ---
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2007, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-sweat-so-much/422493/5 "2007-10-12T20:46:50Z")
Been there. It was especially annoying to drench items of clothing that were dry clean only. There is a super-duper strength antiperspirant that is available by prescription only. I used it (it can really irritate the skin, though) and the hyperhidrosis went away, never to return. It was as though I had shocked my sweat glands into behaving properly.