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The 411 on Sweat and Body Odor

Sweating

As you get older, you'll notice that you sweat more. You'll also notice that you stink a lot more when you sweat. If you play sports all day and don't have a shower afterwards, you'll really be stinkin' up the joint. Your smelly dog that eats its own poop may not even come near you. Some peeps have such a problem with sweating that it gets to be a really embarrassing problem that they have to deal with on a daily basis. Find out what you can do if you have problems with excessive sweating.

Excessive Sweating - How Much is Too Much?

Everybody needs to sweat to stay healthy, but when does normal sweating become excessive? Well, if you're out in the heat or you're taking part in a strenuous activity, it's normal for you to sweat. If you're just sitting around with your pals watching TV, but are still sweating profusely, that's probably an indication that there's something wrong.

Excessive Sweating - What Causes It?

The reason our body sweats in the first place is to cool us down. When our bodies get too hot, our sweat glands become active, we perspire and as the sweat evaporates off our skin, we cool down. Unfortunately for peeps who suffer from excessive sweating (also known as hyperhidrosis), there is no particular cause of it. Some doctors believe it's somehow related to a flaw within the nervous system that causes your sweat glands to over-react. Excessive sweating is also believed to be genetic (something your parents or grandparents may have passed down to you). Excessive sweating can take place on many areas of the body - the underarms, face or even the hands.

Excessive Sweating - Prevention

If you notice that you sweat a lot when out in the direct heat or when you're really active, you can try to avoid these situations to see if it makes a difference. You'll also want to find a good deodorant or anti-perspirant. Just remember, deodorant works by masking the smell of sweat, while anti-perspirant actually stops you from sweating. Since sweating is a natural bodily function, you don't necessarily want to stop it from happening. On top of deodorant, you also want to make sure you shower regularly and change into clean clothes every day.

Excessive Sweating - Treatment

The best thing to do if you're experiencing excessive sweating is to go see your family doctor. There are treatments available for those who suffer from this condition, but they involve special medication or even surgery.

For more information on hyperhidrosis, head to the official website of the International Hyperhidrosis Society.