How to Reduce Perspiration

Overview

Perspiration is natural...and healthy. Sweat is used by the body to keep cool. When it is hot, we sweat more. There are things other than heat that cause us to perspire. Stress, anxiety and general nervousness may cause us to sweat at a great rate. Although it's natural, perspiration can be embarrassing at times. Not only do you have to deal with constant wetness in the armpits and other places commonly known to produce more sweat, but occasionally, body odor is not far behind. If you have a problem with perspiration, and are looking for ways to decrease how much you sweat, there are things you can do.

Step 1

Use an antiperspirant. Commonly sold at the grocery or drugstore, antiperspirant uses an aluminum-based compound to block the pores and stop sweat gland secretions in the area where it is applied. Obviously, since sweating is healthy and natural, you don't want to rub antiperspirant over too much of your body. Doing this would stop the body from sweating to cool off and could be dangerous. With the antiperspirant, you may want to get one that deodorizes. This will help with the odor that accompanies sweating.

Step 2

Stay cool. One of the main reasons we perspire is so the body can cool us off. Staying in a cool, semi-moist environment will keep the body from sweating. Other ways to stay cool are by not exerting ourselves and thus, not raising the temperature of the body.

Step 3

See a doctor. If perspiration becomes a problem, you could have a condition known as hyperhidrosis. This is where the body sweats more than is needed to cool itself off. Doctors can prescribe anticholinergic drugs that prevent over-active sweat glands from secreting. They also may prescribe a powerful aluminum-based antiperspirant that can only be obtained with a prescription.