Sweaty Betty

[Brij]

Just read the thread on eco-deoderants, and I was wondering if anyone knows of anything to help prevent excess perspiration (other than the two essential oils mentioned in that thread, that I've written down somewhere and forgotten the names of already!)

Although I don't get stinky (I wash alot), I'm in the sweaty Betty group (seems to run in my family), tried crystal deos to no avail.

I'm currently trial-running rinsing my 'pits with lemon juice, cos I think it may be an acidity-related problem. I'm guessing that if it has any effect, it will be after extended use.

But so far it looks like I'm having to stick with chemicals... and even of those, very few seem to work... I've found that only stuff with lots of aluminium chlorohydrate in is useful... and even that has to be used in great quantities to be effective! Does anyone have any idea why this works? Maybe that would help me to find something natural to substitute?

It's a pretty big problem for me with summer coming along. There are so many clothes I just cannot wear without getting big sweat patches (even immediately after a cold shower!).
(hehe)

[Millymollymandy]

I used to be a Sweaty Betty all thru my teenage years until I was about, umm, about 22 or 23 I think.

I was told that I'd probably 'grow out of it' and I did!

Thank god because it was truly horrible and excrutiatingly embarassing.

I don't have any advice except keep your armpits closed and wear dark colours.

[Annpan]

I found, that when I stopped using so many chemicals on my skin I sweated less...

I now often go 2 or 3 days without needing to use deod. I do shower everyday but I used to be quite the sweaty betty too.... another thing that has helped (IMO) is less tight fitting clothes, and more natural fabrics - when I wear a lycra type clingy t-shirt it doesn't seem to matter how much deodarant I use, it never stops

I remember running to the loo at gigs to clean my pits, when I was 18/19 it never helped, just added to the embarrasement

[hamster]

Ooh, someone blogged about this recently. They added something householdy to whatever they were using and found it was an anti-perspirant as well as a deodorant. I can't for the life of me remember who it was, but I'll do a bit of detective work and see if I can find out what they used.

[hamster]

http://www.fakeplasticfish.com/2008/03/ ... orant.html

Here it is. Bicarb with tea tree oil (antibacterial) added. Apparently no smell and no wetness.

(Btw, quick disclaimer: I haven't actually tried this myself, so can't vouch for it personally, and also I have no idea if putting bicarb under your arms is good for you or not. I suppose it's no worse than brushing your teeth with it, but please don't sue me if your underarms turn blue or something!)

[Brij]

bicarb is a fantastic idea! it's a pH balancer and soaks up water

Will definitely try that one!

the tea tree would work as it's an antiseptic, but since smell isn't the problem, I'll try without first.

I'm trying to remind myself that it probably will go away (it did for my nan, though my mum is still a sweater!)

[Thomzo]

Hi
A friend of mine had a problem with sweaty hands and feet and managed to get some relief through acupuncture. Bu tI know it's not cheap.

Zoe

[Brij]

There's a botox treatment I've heard of that may be available on the NHS, which, though I have reservations about chemicals, I will try one day. But it's a few months yet before I'm back in the UK, and even then I'll have to wait.

To be honest, I feel pretty squeamish about the idea of acupuncture! I'm not sure why, but I'd actually rather have a series of injections than acupuncture. Guess it's a bit of a fear-of-the-unknown thing.

[Clara]

There's a botox treatment I've heard of that may be available on the NHS, which, though I have reservations about chemicals, I will try one day. But it's a few months yet before I'm back in the UK, and even then I'll have to wait.

To be honest, I feel pretty squeamish about the idea of acupuncture! I'm not sure why, but I'd actually rather have a series of injections than acupuncture. Guess it's a bit of a fear-of-the-unknown thing.

BOTOX! On yer pits?

Sweating in itself is a perfectly natural thing and preventing it in it´s entirety is only asking for trouble later......where will all those toxins that are usually flushed out with sweat end up? So I don´t reckon getting your pits botoxed is a good idea. Sweat only becomes BO when it is stale.....so the other ideas which either stabilise or absorb but don´t prevent are better options.

If you feel you are sweating excessively it might be worth seeing a naturopath to see if there is some internal imbalance (something to observe for yourself might be how it is linked to your hormonal cycle).

My only useful tip would be to use Cypress essential oil in any of the recipes above, it has an astringent action and helps to regulate excessive perspiration.

[Brij]

Ohh the botox thing isn't designed to stop the sweating, just prevent a certain percentage of it. Anyway, it's something I'm considering, but I haven't (and maybe never will) commit to anyway. I know it's not for everyone, but as my choice, it is a solid option to fall back on... if I can't find another way of controlling it.

Besides, by excessive, I mean the sweat is rolling down my sides in just a half hour after a cold shower... just in moderate heat. At the moment - though I still hope it will get better, of course - it seems to me that I will never even be able to consider (for example) a job that involves wearing a shirt (there are already 2 jobs I've left due to sheer embarrassment, and I'm only 20!). When you put together all of the small daily things that I do to avoid the problem, it really is astonishing how much it affects me! And I'm fortunate enough that it doesn't result in BO, just being permanently soggy. My heart goes out to people who have smell troubles!

I will definitely try the Cypress oil, all I have to do is get hold of some first Maybe combining it with bicarb would help?

I do think it is probably down to hormones. I'm an intensely emotional person, which is often another indication of hormonal imbalances (as far as I've heard, anyway), problems with my skin, etc all point to hormones as being the main cause. I've even tried stopping taking the pill to see if it has an effect (it is, after all, a collection of synthetic hormones)... but if anything, I'm sweating more! (Plus my skin is worse for it! Can't win...) Still, if there is a topical treatment (such as bicarb) to see me through for now, it would be a major bonus!

Anyway, I'll definitely see a naturopath once I'm back in the UK (only a couple of months now really), are they expensive?

[Clara]

Sometimes paying for healthcare (as in a naturopath) can seem expensive because we are lucky enough to have free-at-the-point-of-use general healthcare, it depends on the area you live in as to how much they charge and also on how much you value resolving the problem as to whether it is worth it. You will probably get lots of good free advice if you post on the health forum on www.mothering.com/discussions

good luck, Clara

Edited to add

Been doing a bit of thinking and a bit of reading, and I reckon you should try taking Sage as a tea (which is rather nice actually) or as a supplement.
My reasons are that it is recommended for both hormonal imbalances AND excessive perspiration. AND it´s a cheap easy solution, that won´t hurt or bust the bank to try.

[Brij]

Ooo, I love the smell of sage

Thank you for your help, Clara

[DominicJ]

Mitchums 48 hour, the stuff that keeps you completely dry for 48 hours in the desert, as tested by a friend of mine at the pyramids, lasts less than 24 minutes against my awesome abilities.
I actualy managed sweat marks on a denim jacket once
Last time some one mentioned it at work I just replied "thats what hard work looks like"
Maybe its not something to brag about if your not a guy?

[Clara]

Brij - I´d be really interested to hear if you tried the Sage tea and what happened. Being hormonal, I wouldn´t be surprised if it took a few moons to kick in.

[mrsflibble]

google hypohydrosis.