How To Know if You Sweat Too Much—and Why Some People Sweat More Than Others

Emily Laurence
·5 min read

Plus, what to do if it's interfering with your day-to-day-life.

Sometimes it feels really good to sweat, like during a hard workout. Other times, it’s not so welcome. Maybe you’re doing some light gardening and you realize that you’ve soaked through your shirt. Or you feel your armpits dampen when you’re out with friends but no one else seems to be having the same issue.

Sweating is a normal—and important—part of health, but if it’s interfering with your ability to fully enjoy your life, it’s worth talking to your doctor about. There are reasons why some people sweat more than others and ways to minimize it, if it’s bothering you.

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What’s the Purpose of Sweating, Anyway?

Rest assured that it’s normal to sweat and it actually serves a purpose. “Sweating is important because it helps cool down our bodies and prevents us from overheating,” says Dr. Nkem Ugonabo, MD, MPH, FAAD, a board-certified and fellowship-trained dermatologist.

Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Hadley King, MD, FAAD, explains that the body produces sweat to help regulate body temperature. “When sweat is produced, it promotes heat loss through evaporation,” she says. Dr. King explains that most sweat is produced by the eccrine glands, a type of sweat gland that is found in almost all regions of the skin, but most concentrated in the armpits, forehead, palms and soles. She says that sweat is also produced by the apocrine glands, which are mostly in the armpits, groin and breast area. The sweat these glands produce, she says, is more concentrated secretions and more associated with body odor (produced when the bacteria in the sweat breaks down into fatty acid) than sweat produced by the eccrine glands.

Dr. King says that sweat due to a warm temperature is primarily made by the eccrine glands while stress-induced sweat is made by the apocrine glands.

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Why Do Some People Sweat More Than Others and When Is Sweating Considered More Than What's ‘Normal’?

Both dermatologists say that there’s a reason why some people sweat more than others. Dr. King says that a large part of this comes down to genetics. If no one else in your family sweats very much, you likely don’t either.

There's a reason why the smell of sweat can differ from person to person too. Dr. King says that this has to do with specific types of bacteria that are present, which can depend on the type of personal hygiene products someone uses. For example, she says that one small study found that the armpits of people who used deodorant or antiperspirant had fewer Staphylococci bacteria and fewer Corynebacterium compared to people who used neither. She says that researchers also found that people who used only deodorants without antiperspirants had more Staphylococci bacteria compared to those who used antiperspirants. And when they made the switch, the bacteria makeup changed. So wearing deodorant really does make a difference in terms of how sweat smells.

When someone sweats excessively, it’s a medical condition called hyperhidrosis. “This can be related to a medical condition, triggered by certain foods or medicines and it can be in part hereditary,” Dr. Ugonabo says. Dr. King adds to this by saying that underlying medical conditions, such as thyroid problems, diabetes, menopausal flashes or low blood sugar can all cause excessive sweating.

Dr. Ugonabo says that signs that you might have hyperhidrosis include if sweat under the arms repeatedly soaks through your clothes or if your sweating interferes with your daily life.

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What To Do if Excessive Sweating Is Interfering With Your Daily Life

Both doctors emphasize that if excessive sweating is interfering with your daily life and you think you have hyperhidrosis, you should see your healthcare provider. Dr. Ugonabo says that many people with hyperhidrosis are hesitant to talk to someone about it, but it’s something she helps patients with regularly and there are many effective treatment options available.

Both dermatologists say that the first treatment option that is typically recommended is a stronger, clinical-strength deodorant or antiperspirant. Dr. Ugonabo says that sometimes topical creams are recommended as well.

If that doesn’t work, both say that Botox is another treatment option, an in-office procedure where tiny injections are made in the armpits, that lasts about six months. “Botox for hyperhidrosis is a very effective option that some of my patients have described as ‘life-changing.’ Plus it’s often covered by insurance,” Dr. King says.

In addition to these options, Dr. King says that there is also MiraDry, an in-office device that uses microwave energy to destroy the sweat glands. Last, she says that there is a prescription product called Qbrexza that works similarly to Botox. “It is applied nightly with a single-use cloth and it’s important to wash the hands afterward to avoid any side effects,” she explains.

As you can see, there are many ways to treat excessive sweating. It’s nothing to be embarrassed about and talking to your doctor about it is the first step toward finding the lasting solution that works for you. It’s not a problem you have to live with, so don’t sweat it!

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