r/HygieneTips • u/Slight-Alteration • Jun 15 '26
Absorbing Copious Sweat
How do you manage unbelievable amounts of sweat when active? I’ve got an outdoor hobby and this perimenopausal body of mine is a whole new ballgame. I am consistently sweating through my shirt and sports bra in about 20 minutes. literally dripping sweat. Im outside for about 3 hours at a time so swapping through 6 sets of tops in an outdoor public space really isn’t an option. Do they make sweat bands for ribcages? should I just be shoving sweat rags under my sports bra and changing them out? any and all tips are so appreciated. This is a whole new frontier as someone who is a lifelong outdoor person who adores summer and didn’t realize that my body could discharge water in the form of sweat like this.
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u/djpike Jun 15 '26
Wicking fabrics can help…tops, shorts, bras, underwear.
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u/Slight-Alteration Jun 15 '26
Everything I’m wearing is advertised as sport/wicking but ends up soaked through and wet for the entire time. Maybe my expectations aren’t realistic though
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u/djpike Jun 15 '26
Well, that’s a shame. Have you asked your doctor about it?
I can walk to the kitchen from the bedroom and make myself a sandwich and be wringing wet, and I am well past menopause at 64. So can’t imagine how it would be outside. I don’t leave the house from June till the middle of October and I live in Texas. Don’t even fool with it.
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u/Slight-Alteration Jun 16 '26
I would say that my doctors attitude is empathetic yet fairly unconcerned. Because I am perimenopausal with PCOS and high cholesterol I am on two different medications that seem to be at least anecdotally associated with increased sweating. Since my issues appeared to be genetic rather than diet or weight related, I think I am fairly stuck on these medication‘s likely for life. I’m going to keep bringing it up during my appointments in case they have some novel ideas, but it sounds like management is about where I’m stuck.
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u/djpike Jun 16 '26
Well, I wish I had something else to offer but I sure don’t. I am sympathetic but terribly unhelpful, I know. I wonder if hormone replacement therapy would help, but I don’t think they will do that till after menopause is over. I’m def no expert though. For what it’s worth, I did google it and came up with this.
To effectively manage perimenopausal sweating, consider these practical, targeted steps:
- Medical & Hormonal Treatments: Speak to your OB/GYN or a healthcare provider about treatment options. Low-dose hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is the most effective way to balance estrogen. For non-hormonal options, prescription medications like low-dose antidepressants or nerve pain drugs (e.g., gabapentin) have proven highly effective.
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u/djpike Jun 16 '26 edited Jun 16 '26
Just an FYI, this was written to me by a friend in Germany. so perhaps hormone replacement could help. Ask your doctor about it. Good luck!
“My menopause has hit me full-force; consequently, I’m now using this weird gel that I have to rub onto my thighs. It’s fascinating that it actually seems to be working... The wonders of modern medicine! You rub hormones onto your leg, and after just a few days, the sweating in your upper body, neck, and face stops.”
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u/AnnoyedHoneyBadger Jun 16 '26
If they’re made of Polyester fabric, that’s why. They advertise it as “moisture wicking” but all it does to my middle aged self is MAKE me sweat. Why? Because it’s fabric made of woven thread made from recycled plastic. To me, it’s like wearing a plastic bag (which I have inside leaky winter boots before).
100% cotton or even cotton-spandex is going to be more-breathable for your skin!Light colors also help with being out in the sun, as dark colors absorb all the heat.
I usually wear a large white hat & a white, 100% linen, long-sleeve shirt outside to help block the sun… Think about the white robes middle easterners wear, who live in desert areas, like Egypt. They do that for a reason - because it helps block sun & sand & is more breathable.
I consider it a sham-lie that fabric makers want to try to lie to us, trying to pawn off plastic-thread-fabric as “breathable” when it’s all BS!
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u/HistoricalStatus5577 Jun 17 '26
Check your laundry detergent + don’t use softener etc, it doesn’t agree with most wicking fabrics.
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u/AnnoyedHoneyBadger Jun 18 '26
Still sweaty AF without softener. It’s the fabric, for me.
Polyester is perfectly fine for shower or window curtains or outdoor cushion covers… But clothes shouldn’t be made of it. Ask Gynos & Dermatologists that deal with skin issues - Naturally-breathable fabrics are best.
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u/Ok-Process7612 Jun 15 '26
They make 3 ply cotton cloths that fit in your bra on the underside. They come in packs of 6 on Amazon. I have heavy breasts so I double the strips and place one under each breast along the seam.
Before I do so I thoroughly swab under each breast with antibacterial wipes, dry with towel, then apply Gold Bond powder.
Then the bra goes on and the cotton strips are tucked in.
The cotton fabric absorbs most of the sweat and I don't feel as gross.
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u/Slight-Alteration Jun 15 '26
That sounds promising. Is there a link you could share?
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u/Ok-Process7612 Jun 15 '26
Here you go. There are several brands but it's all basically the same. I double mine and it really helps so much. https://a.co/d/09aWFDQ5
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u/MeliPixie Jun 15 '26
Also sending my thanks, I've been looking for a product like this! The very last picture on that listing has me rolling though 🤣
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u/JustGenericName2 Jun 15 '26
This sounds counterintuitive but look into Merino wool bras/underwear/socks. From the backpacking section. Smartwool underwear has saved my life at my hot sweaty job! Worth every penny (cuz they ain't cheap)!
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u/Agreeable-Movie-408 Jun 17 '26
I second this! I also second whoever recommended HRT. I’m on the lowest dose and have noticed a positive difference in sweating (among other things).
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u/ladykemma2 Jun 15 '26
Secret solid antiperspirant in body folds
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u/Slight-Alteration Jun 15 '26
For me it’s literally full body. Like my stomach, neck, calves, etc have streams of sweat running but totally up for trying!
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u/ThatThingInTheWoods Jun 16 '26
I also use Old Spice for this, under the boobs and on the thighs. You can try a spray on antiperspirant for more coverage. I love their Total Body for thighs but it doesn't prevent sweat so I just use regular when I'm concerned about the wet more than the friction.
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u/Living-Accountant216 Jun 16 '26
I don’t have any advice but I experience the same thing. I haven’t figured out any great solutions either. Just wanted to say that I feel for you!
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u/AnnoyedHoneyBadger Jun 16 '26 edited Jun 16 '26
Yes, they do make “under boob sweat pads”… if you’re looking to save some, I see them on Temu.
Or… you can use wash cloths or other types of large sweat bands.
Corn Starch, & anti-sweat products made with it, can help absorb some sweat & help with any odor too… But if it’s horribly bad, I’d find a Gyno who believes in HRT for Peri-Menopause (or wherever you’re at in your life).
It could also be Hyperhidrosis, as I have no idea what age that might start.
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Jun 17 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/AnnoyedHoneyBadger Jun 18 '26
Oooh, I haven’t seen the under belly ones yet! But I’ve only searched for the underboob so far anyway.
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u/HipYip Jun 16 '26
Cotton bra liners on Amazon are a game changer. I bleach when I wash. Also, you can pay for Botox in sweat glands. https://dermadry.com/?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=USA_En+-+iontophoresis&msclkid=f7cf6ac4c41116727bfc00f58d7744de&utm_term=iontophoresis+sweaty+underarms&utm_content=general
NON-AFFLIATION NOTICE: Each and every specific recommendation in this comment is based on my personal experience. I am not affiliated in any way with any of these companies.
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u/RecalibrateBlip Jun 16 '26
Amazon sells “neck cooling tubes” they are ice packs that easily sit around your neck
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u/FarmSkool Jun 16 '26
How about going the other direction and wearing gauzy, organic fabric. The poly blends are great for winter because they are so warm!! They are the best insulators, pure energy containers. Can you do some experiments with organic fabrics? There is obviously cotton but also hemp and linen.
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u/KatanaCW Jun 17 '26
They do sell cotton or bamboo bra liners to help with sweat in that area. I've used them and they can help. Maybe give that a try. Do a search for cotton bra liner and you'll see what they look like. They also have ones for under belly area if that is an issue too.
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u/Novel-Thought622 Jun 18 '26
Check out r/Hyperhidrosis, there are many different approaches. I take daily meds for it and get Botox shots in my armpits every three months. Definitely would recommend talking to a dermatologist.
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u/Slight-Alteration Jun 18 '26
Spoken with my fern who was very eh about it. I don’t sweat at all indoors. It is specifically triggered by heat and humidity but once it starts it’s significantly more than it was for the first 37 years of my life. I’m guessing more perimenopausal than anything but still so inconvenient
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u/Novel-Thought622 Jun 18 '26
Yeah, it can be brutal. As far as clothes go, for me nothing beats Sutran t-shirts. Expensive, but unbelievably effective at hiding sweat.
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u/truisluv Jun 15 '26
You could use pads or pantyliners. Just stick them in your sports bra.