As the temperatures rise with the onset of summer, so does the chance of us turning into a big sweat-making machine. It is pretty much a given that on those really hot days, most of us will be glad that we have sweat glands to help cool our bodies down.

What happens when the good benefits of sweating get outweighed by the bad? What if the sweat has a foul odor or what if the sweat is making you appear as if you were in a wet t-shirt contest? What do you do then?

When is sweating bad?

Sweating is the body’s built in cooling systems. When the body starts to get too hot, the pores open and the sweat glands start to work. This is a good thing, believe or not. It helps keep the body at a reasonable temperature.

So, when is sweating a bad thing? It’s bad if it is 20 below zero and you are sweating as if you just crossed the Sahara Desert or if you wake up in the middle of the night and find that your body has created its own swimming pool. Another sign that something just isn’t right is if your sweat is forming crystals.

Another thing to watch out for is odor. Sweat should have no smell or a mildly pleasant one. If your body odor would make a vampire run, or you have any of the other things listed above, go see your doctor. These are all signs that something is wrong and the only way to fix it is to find out what that is.

Some of the aliments that can have sweating as an indicator are an infection, heart disease, over active thyroid, or tuberculosis. All of these will need treatment.

Ways to control overactive sweat glands

If you are just one of those people who sweat a lot and you don’t have any of the above symptoms like odor, or if you have been to the doctor and all is well then here are a few tips to help control unwanted wetness.

1. Bathe regularly and try to avoid heavily perfumed soaps and cleansers.
2. After bathing, dry troublesome areas thoroughly. The bad odor that develops as you sweat could be from bacteria. Washing and drying the area thoroughly will help to kill off the bacteria that may be causing the unpleasant smell.
3. Avoid wearing synthetic materials, instead wear cotton. Cotton will help pull moisture away from the skin.
4. Use cotton sheets on your bed if you overheat at night. Also, try turning down your furnace when you go to sleep.
5. Look out for deodorants with tea tree oil in it.
6. Apply some bicarbonate of soda (NOT baking soda) onto your underarms. Either apply it directly to the skin or mix it in with some water.
7. RELAX! Stress can trigger the sweat glands to start working in over time.

Remember that sweating is a natural function of the body. It cools and cleanses the body. With over 3 million sweat glands, it is impossible to stop it from happening but by doing a few things like the ones listed above, it will no longer be an unbearable situation.