How to be sweat proof this summer

Warm days and balmy nights are one of the great joys of summertime, but as the mercury climbs this week to record highs of 37C, its bound to bring with it rather a lot of sweat.

Whether you're crammed on a commuter train or sipping a glass of Pimms's at the pub nothing makes us feel more self-conscious than the feeling of a growing sweat patch.

In this scenario, we are often left thinking about two things: how much sweat is normal? And how can we stop it?

“Everyone sweats differently, so it can be difficult to determine what is a ‘normal’ amount of sweat.” Says Victoria Smith, Director of Aesthetics at Absolute Aesthetics.

“It's usual for people to sweat when they get hot or do exercise, but you may be sweating excessively if you're sweating when your body doesn't need to cool down.”

Find yourself sweating more than usual? Often this isn't just down to the hot weather, stress and anxiety can also cause your apocrine glands to increase perspiration. Meanwhile, one in three people out of every 100 suffer from Hyperhydrosis, a common issue which "can occur in any area of the body and is often visible due to beads of dripping sweat forming on the skin, or as damp patches on clothes," explains Victoria. ​

Here are the best ways to ensure a sweat-free summer:

Lifestyle Changes

1. Watch what you wear

We know wearing a black t-shirt and a light jacket is tempting in order to cover any developing sweat patching, but it may not actually be the best idea.

"It may seem obvious, but adding extra layers of clothing to the body when they are not needed will make you more likely to produce sweat," explains Victoria.

"In this instance, the body’s eccrine sweat glands are forced to produce sweat to cool the body down. Therefore, losing those unnecessary layers of clothing and maintaining a regular temperature will instantly reduce your sweat production."

2. Limit your water intake

"Another way to help reduce the amount you sweat is by watching your water intake."

"Many people are under the assumption that they need to drink two to three litres of water per day to keep their skin healthy and to ‘detox’. While drinking sufficient of water is certainly healthy and should be encouraged, drinking too much water can cause unwanted problems, such as excessive sweating."

At Home Treatments

1. Antiperspirants

If perspiration is starting to bother you, you may want to start off by trying a topical treatment.

There are many roll-on formulas available on the high street, one of the most popular being Driclor Solution, which works by forming a gel matrix over the effected area, eliminating excessive perspiration within a few weeks.

2. Armpit pads

Wonder why stars never get sweat patches on the red carpet? Say hello to armpit pads, and, no, we're not joking.

These handy and subtle sweat pads are regularly used by celebrity stylists, helping to guard your garments meaning you can wear whatever you want - fear free.

Botox

If the recommended home treatments don't work, another solution, suggested by the NHS is botox.

Known more for refining wrinkles, the treatment in this case can be used as an effective temporary fix to stop underarm sweat, which can last up to six months.

"Botox injections work by blocking the signals the nerves transmit to the sweat glands which cause the production of sweat," says British cosmetic doctor, Tijion Esho.

However, like every treatment, it can come with risks:

"Treating hyperhidrosis using Botox is a relatively safe procedure but it is still a medical procedure and all medical procedures carry risks. It’s important when considering treatment to seek treatment and advice from a registered medical professional experienced in the procedure, this reduces the element of risk and ensures the procedure is performed safely. I always advise that you do your research and ask questions in your consultation about aftercare, insurance and potential risks."

miraDry

Lastly, in recent years there has been new development, resulting in the non-invasive solution, miraDry, created for people suffering from Hyperhydrosis.

“miraDry® is a life-changing procedure, which provides a permanent solution for excessive underarm sweating, "explains Victoria.

Adding that the treatment "is safe, clinically proven, and non-invasive. Following the treatment, the reduction in sweating for the patient is immediate, and there are very few side-effects."

Following a consultation to make sure you are suitable, the procedure is carried out using local anaesthetic which "delivers electromagnetic energy to the skin, the energy is carefully targeted to the area where the sweat glands are located, to eliminate them."

To treat both underarms during one session it usually takes between 60 to 90 minutes. Most patients will require one-two sessions in order to see optimum results, but, in some cases three sessions might be required.

Prices start at £1,650.

Currently miraDry, or an invasive operation are the only way to provide a permanent solution for excessive sweating.