How to Reduce Excessive Sweating

Here are some great practical tips you can use to help overcome and reduce excessive sweating when faced with stressful situations.

WHAT CAUSES EXCESSIVE SWEATING?

When you exercise or get very hot, your nervous system reacts causing your sweat glands to produce fluids which evaporate to cool your body down. Although this is a natural reaction from our body, other conditions or lifestyle factors can make sweating more intense. Excessive sweating, typically referred to as hyperhidrosis, can be caused by a variety of primary and secondary factors.

5 TOP TIPS TO REDUCE EXCESSIVE SWEATING

1. REDUCE YOUR ANXIETY LEVELS

Stress and anxiety are closely linked to increased sweat production. When feeling anxious, your sympathetic nervous system prompts a fight-or-flight response, and excessive sweating may be a sign of this response. Sweating from anxiety is a natural and common bodily process. Try the following anxiety-reduction techniques, to not only help reduce your anxiety but also reduce sweating.

Deep breathing is one of the simplest ways to calm yourself down. Breathe deeply and slowly for as long as possible and you should start to relax.

• Deep breathing is one of the simplest ways to calm yourself down. Breathe deeply and slowly for as long as possible and you should start to relax.
• Progressive muscle relaxation exercises. This involves tensing muscles and then relaxing them.
• Taking a brisk walk or doing light stretching.
• Journaling or writing down thoughts before stressful situations.

2. THINK POSITIVELY

Stress perception can influence physiological responses, such as sweating. Do your best to flip a negative situation or feeling into a positive one. Just shifting your perspective in a stressful situation, like getting up in front of a big audience, can help your body respond more calmly.

So instead of feeling your palms getting sweaty, your heart rate rising, and then starting to panic, try to interpret these signs as excitement instead. Trick your mind and body into thinking it is experiencing something positive like hearing your name called out as the winner at an awards ceremony, for example. Try some mindful techniques to influence positive thinking and reduce excessive sweating, such as:

• Practising gratitude or positive affirmations
• Visualising a successful outcome in stressful situations

3. AVOID COMMON SWEAT TRIGGERS

Lifestyle factors may contribute to increased sweat production, this may include:

• Caffeine: stimulates your nervous system and can increase sweating
• Spicy foods: raise internal body temperature
• Alcohol: dilates blood vessels and causes heat to rise
• Cigarettes: contain nicotine which increases adrenaline and contributes to stress sweat

So, when you have a potentially stressful situation coming up, stick to clean eating and drinking to reduce perspiration.

4. STAY HYDRATED

When your body is dehydrated, your glands will produce more sweat to try and cool you down. Do the cooling down yourself by staying more hydrated throughout the day. Try stay hydrated and stop excessive sweating with the following tips:

• Carry a reusable water bottle throughout the day
• Drink water regularly instead of caffeinated or sugary drinks
• Eat water-rich foods like cucumber or watermelon

5. WEAR THE BEST DEODORANT WITH STRONG PROTECTION

For truly excessive sweaters, NIVEA has created their most advanced stress sweat fighting solution.

The NIVEA Intense Protection range provides protection against excessive sweating and odour, even in stressful situations. It’s a quick dry formula with strong stress protect actives, 72h effective anti-perspirant protection and gentle NIVEA care. NIVEA Intense Protection Anti-perspirant Deodorants deliver proven protection against emotional and excessive sweating.

Its unique Dual Protect formula with two antibacterial actives helps to minimise the formation of body odour. At the same time, this skin-friendly formula with 0% alcohol supports a comfortable skin feeling. Check out NIVEA Intense Protection Fresh Anti-perspirant Areosol Deodorant and NIVEA MEN Intense Protection Fresh Anti-perspirant Roll On Deodorant.

3 TIPS TO PREVENT EXCESSIVE SWEATING

You can always take preventative measures if you're concerned about excessive sweating. Here are some of our top tips to avoid sweating profusely.

1. TAKE A SHOWER

While personal hygiene doesn’t stop sweating, a good shower can wash away sweat, leaving you refreshed and more comfortable in your own skin. Showering does not stop excessive sweating; it helps remove bacteria and sweat residue that may cause odour and discomfort.

Bathing regularly with body wash also helps to clear your sweat glands and prevent build up in your pores that can worsen sweat-related issues.

2. AVOID OILY FOOD

Some foods make you sweat more. Think spicy foods, junk food and caffeine – all of which can make your body release more sweat. Spicy foods trigger the body's heat sensors. Similarly, caffeine stimulates the central nervous system and can cause an increase in body temperature. High-sugar foods may cause a rapid spike and drop in blood sugar levels, therefore increasing sweat levels.

On the flip side, fruit and vegetables are much better at helping reduce sweat. Certain fruit and vegetables are hydrating and rich in calcium or may help stabilise your blood sugar levels. If you’re prone to sweating, leave oily foods on the back burner and stick to leafy greens to help with your digestion and reduce sweating.

3. USE STRONG ANTI-PERSPIRANTS

Anti-perspirants that contain aluminium salts can be used on the hands, underarms, back and other problem areas to help reduce excessive sweating. Aluminum salts work by forming a temporary blockage in the sweat glands, reducing the amount of sweat that reaches the surface. Anti-perspirant deodorants play a significant role when managing and preventing excessive sweating daily. Don’t forget to apply your anti-perspirant regularly and choose one that suits your situation. NIVEA’s Intense Protection Range is great for controlling sweat when you are working out.