Clearly, this is no longer the case. In fact, it is said that a pretty big amusement park in England even put a stop to that famous arm raise that we like to do on roller coasters to prevent the P.U. These days, a hardcore case of B.O. would scare anyone off.
In truth, some people struggle with this issue more than others -- especially when it comes to sweating. But what causes some people to emit lots of stinky sweat, while others have few to no problems in the way of this problem?
According to Everyday Health, we all sweat. "Sweating is a normal response to heat or anxiety," Hunter Q. Kirkland, M.D., a cardiothoracic surgeon at Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeons in Austin, Texas, tells Everyday Health. So normal sweating is no reason to worry.
That said, some people sweat more than others. When this sweating becomes excessive, it may be a health issue called hyperhidrosis, which affects 8 million Americans.
Everyday Health says that you’ll know you have this issue if you simply can’t keep your clothes dry, deodorants don’t solve the problem, showering a lot is a reality, and if there’s no reason why you’re sweating. Plus, you may sweat profusely in other areas -- like the palms, soles of the feet, and groin area.
If these factors have become a reality, you need to step up your game. According to the International Hyperhidrosis Society, the first thing you need is a good antiperspirant. Antiperspirants can be found the deodorant section of stores and come in a variety of strengths (from regular strength to clinical strength).
If these don’t work, your next step will be to chat with your doctor about prescription options. However, prescription options are said to have the ability to cause irritation. This is why the introduction of over-the-counter clinical-strength antiperspirants have been such a breakthrough.
It's important to know exactly how to use antiperspirants. First, put them on before you go to bed. And second, make sure your skin is dry before you apply antiperspirant to lower your chance of developing skin irritation, so dry yourself off well after you shower. You don’t want your skin to be damp.
Further, you may want to consider shopping with sweat in mind. According to the International Hyperhidrosis Society, you can buy absorbent undershirts, T-shirts and dress shirts. Using absorbent underarm pads will help to soak up excess sweat, which can hide embarrassing sweat problems.
If you’re still struggling with excess sweat after trying these options, there are ways to tackle the problem. The next line of defense would be miraDry. According to Real Self, this non-surgical method of treatment is said to use microwave energy to reduce or remove the sweat glands located under the arms, and the sweat glands don’t come back. So once they’ve been nuked, they’re done for.
The good news is that this method of treatment works for many people. In fact, clinical data compiled in England found that miraDry reduced underarm sweat in more than 90 percent of those treated. The treatment reduced sweat by more than 80 percent. However, this option is expensive -- the average price is about $2,500.
Another option is Botox. Yes, that’s the famous forehead paralyzer used to treat wrinkles. When Botox is injected into the armpits, sweating decreases significantly. The International Hyperhidrosis Society says studies have even shown that more than 80 percent of subjects reported that sweating decreased by half. Plus, half of these patients said that the effects lasted almost seven months or more.
That said, experts say to find a doctor who specializes in hyperhidrosis. These physicians will have completed specific training and will have extensive experience in procedures that target hyperhidrosis. A combination of all three of these methods (antiperspirant, miraDry and Botox) may work best.
So what if these methods of treatment don’t work? Is there more that can be done?
The answer is yes. In truth, a combination of the treatments we just mentioned works for most people, but there are also surgical approaches available. According to the International Hyperhidrosis Society, options include excision, curettage, liposuction and laser.
The first three methods are said to remove sweat glands in one form or another. Excision involves actually cutting out the sweat glands. And with curettage, they are said to be scraped out. Liposuction is also a method of removal in which glands are sucked out. Laser treatment, however, is said to liquefy tissue that contains sweat glands to provide results.
A combination of surgical procedures may yield positive results, and these methods can be done in an office under local anesthesia. This means you don’t have to check in to a hospital to undergo the procedure(s) that you and your doctor have chosen.
However, it’s important to note that the International Hyperhidrosis Society does not recommend a surgical method called endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS) for underarm issues. The organization acknowledges that this is a regularly talked about surgery, but the organization feels that there are better options that involve fewer risks. Other options have more predictable outcomes.
So take action to keep your pits from becoming “the pits.” You don’t have to struggle with embarrassing underarm issues. All you have to do is be proactive and find theoptions that work best for you, and remember to shave your armpits regularly. This helps to prevent problems as well.