We all sweat. Some more than others. For some, excessive sweating can be a real nuisance. Whether it is due to stress, a hot day or being active, sweat under your armpits can cause uncomfortable situations and negatively affect your self-confidence. Fortunately, there are several ways to combat those sweat spots and odors. In this article we give you ten practical tips against sweaty armpits. Together let's ensure that you get through the day with confidence.

Why do we sweat under the armpits?
Sweating is very normal. In fact, it is necessary for our body to cool down and get rid of waste products. We all have two to four million sweat glands in our bodies. There are two varieties: the eccrine and apocrine sweat glands. The eccrine glands ensure that our body cools down during heat and exertion, while the apocrine sweat glands develop during puberty and are responsible for that unpleasant sweat odor in teenagers. When bacteria come into contact with sweat, unpleasant sweat odors are also created. Some people suffer from structural excessive sweating, which is called hyperhidrosis.

10 Tips against sweaty armpits
Do you suffer from sweat spots and odors? Here we give you 10 tips on what to do against sweaty armpits.

1. Choose the right clothes
Your choice of clothing has a major influence on how much you sweat. Avoid synthetic fabrics and choose airy clothing made from breathable materials such as cotton. These remove moisture and allow air to pass through. Avoid tight clothing as it restricts natural airflow and makes sweat worse. If you suffer from excessive perspiration, it is smart to wear anti-sweat clothing. These clothes are specially designed to absorb moisture and reduce odors.

2. Keep your armpits clean
Good hygiene is important to keep bacteria under control and prevent unpleasant sweat odor. Wash your armpits every day with mild, antibacterial soap and water. Shaving your armpits regularly also helps. This prevents bacteria from lingering and sweat from accumulating. If you do this correctly, odors have less chance to develop.

3. Avoid certain foods
This is a tip that not everyone knows. Sweat production increases when certain foods are consumed. This includes drinks such as coffee, tea and energy drinks, but also the use of highly seasoned foods such as garlic, onion and spicy curry. These drinks and highly spicy dishes activate the nervous system and stimulate the sweat glands, which leads to an increase in the amount of sweat. It is smart to limit or possibly avoid these foods. If you suffer from sweaty armpits, it is wise to choose foods that contain a lot of water, such as cucumber, watermelon and lettuce. This hydrates the body and keeps body temperature under control. Every body reacts differently. So see what works best for you.

4. Wear light colors
During warm days we recommend that you go for light colors, such as white or pastel colors. Dark colors absorb the heat of the sun more, causing your body temperature to rise and you to sweat more. Light colors are also less sensitive to visible sweat stains. So nice, right? If you don't want any visible sweat spots at all, it is best to go for an anti-sweat shirt. Then you feel completely confident.

5. Wear clean clothes every day
We've talked about bacteria and sweat buildup before. This happens when you leave armpit hair, but also when you put on worn clothes again. Putting on used clothes causes a faster and stronger sweat odor. If you want to feel comfortable, we recommend that you wear clean clothes every day.

6. Use an antiperspirant under the armpit
Using an antiperspirant really helps to sweat less. It blocks the sweat glands, so you sweat less under your armpits and therefore suffer less from sweat spots and odors. This does not mean that you sweat less. The antiperspirant ensures that you sweat less excessively under your armpits, but the sweat must leave your body so that it can remove waste products and help the body cool down. The sweat will leave the body in a different place. Do you want your antiperspirant or deodorant to do its job better? Then also shave your armpits. This way it can adhere better to the skin and be more effective. In addition, as mentioned earlier, armpit hair can retain bacteria and absorb odors.

7. Relax and avoid stress
Do you recognize it? You are already quite nervous about your exams or a job interview and then you also have to worry about sweat spots. That's because stress and tension activate the sweat glands. You can do something about sweaty armpits by ensuring that you experience less stress in general. Try yoga, meditation, mindfulness or breathing exercises to see if that works for you. Exercise also has a positive effect on stress. Also, make sure you get enough sleep so that you can better deal with stressful situations.

8. Use moisture-absorbing talcum powder
Talcum powder is a good option that helps against overactive sweat glands. Talcum powder absorbs moisture and ensures less friction under the armpit. This way you keep a fresh feeling for longer during the day.

9. Drink enough water
Drinking enough water helps to hydrate you, but also to regulate your body temperature. When your body is well hydrated, it can handle heat better and you sweat less.

10. Consult a doctor
If all these tips do not have the desired effect, we recommend calling in a professional. A doctor or dermatologist will help you determine the cause of excessive sweating. Depending on the outcome, various treatments are possible, such as medication, iontophoresis or botox treatment. It's especially important to see a professional if excessive sweating is accompanied by fever, weight loss, and other changes in your body. The doctor can make the correct diagnosis and propose a suitable treatment plan.

What doesn't help?
We have given you ten tips that you can use to combat sweaty armpits, but there are also a number of things that you should not do.

Excessive washing of sweaty armpits
We all like fresh armpits. Maybe you are someone who washes your armpits several times a day. If you do this too often, you may actually make the problem worse. Excessive washing leads to dehydration of your skin and disrupts the natural bacterial balance. This in turn leads to excessive sweating and unpleasant odors. Strong soap can irritate the skin and make it hypersensitive. Our advice is therefore to wash regularly with a mild soap, but not excessively often.

Drink little
Some people drink less water in the hope that excessive sweating will decrease. However, this has the opposite effect. If you don't drink enough, your body will dehydrate and you will sweat more. It is important to continue drinking enough water and to ensure that you maintain a stable body temperature.

Excessive use of perfume or scented lotions
We understand that it is tempting to use perfume to mask the smell of sweat. But this also has the opposite effect. It is true that the sweat smell disappears temporarily, but this does not solve the problem. In addition, perfumes and lotions can irritate the skin, which only worsens the situation. Better ensure good hygiene.

Avoid physical exertion
Some people think it's a good idea to avoid physical exertion. But this puts you in a downward spiral. Regular physical exercise actually ensures that your body temperature is better regulated, which means you sweat less. It is therefore important to pursue a balanced lifestyle.

Embrace a fresh you
Excessive sweating can seriously damage your self-confidence. It is a challenge to counter this. See which tips work for you and avoid excessive washing, drink enough water and keep moving. Also try our anti-sweat shirts that offer you comfort during the day and experience for yourself how fresh you stay by wearing these shirts.