The temperatures are on the rise…I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that! As you may (or may not) be aware, I am a resident of the Southeast. And it gets hot and humid around here!
So I’ve decided to discuss an issue that may hit close to home for some: hyperhidrosis. Although the heat may make this a little worse or more obvious, it’s something that those with this issue experience year-round.
This post contains affiliate links, which keeps me supplied with coffee and chocolate (thanks, dear!). Please see Disclosures for more information.
What is hyperhidrosis?
If you don’t know what that is, it means excessive sweating. If you are curious why your coworker always has to change his or her shirt halfway through the day, this is why. Or why you sweat like its summer, even in the winter (barring something like menopause, which is a different issue, of course).
I know what you’re thinking–it’s hot, of course, I sweat. That is true. However, people with hyperhidrosis actually sweat more than normal, often in very specific places, like the palms, underarms, head or feet, and the rest of their body stays relatively dry. Yes, your body does need to sweat in order to cool down, but with hyperhidrosis, you even sweat when you don’t need to cool down. Like in the winter. Or when you’re doing absolutely nothing.
It can be localized (referred to as “primary”) or generalized, or all throughout the body (“secondary”). It’s not fatal or anything, it just causes annoyances in your everyday life.
What can trigger excessive sweating?
There are a number of things that can trigger hyperhidrosis:
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anxiety
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alcohol
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caffeine (including coffee, tea, and chocolate)
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MSG (monosodium glutamate)
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some spices, like curry
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spicy stuff like hot sauce
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stress
Warning! TMI moment ahead…
I have hyperhidrosis, and I sweat when I’m stressed out. I look cool as a cucumber, but my arms are going nuts! I can’t tell you how many shirts that have fallen victim to hyperhidrosis.
What finally made me say enough was when a few years ago, I took a trip to Los Angeles (I love L.A.!!!). L.A. has some great shopping and I found a boutique store that I love to shop from. I got this beautiful, wonderfully overpriced, blue silk top and of course, I had to wear it!
My travel companion and I were walking somewhere, went down the wrong road and ended up getting lost. My brain was like, “no big deal.” My body, however, was like, “Oh, crap!” By the time we made it back to the hotel, my beautiful silk top was ruined. I wanted to cry.
Management of excessive sweating
Fortunately, there are a number of options out there for management of hyperhidrosis.
You can use something as simple and low tech as a clothing shield, which is a little patch with adhesive on one side that you use to stick inside of your clothing to protect it from sweat. One that I have personally tried is from Braza, comes in a 10 pair pack. The patches are thin and have a moisture barrier layer which is against the fabric, an absorbent middle layer, and then a top layer to allow moisture to pass through.
It takes some experimentation to get it in the right spot. And depending on how long my day was, it didn’t really seem to take me through the day. But it is better than nothing and a solid option if you aren’t wild about meds and don’t mind a low tech solution (there’s a link below to Amazon, plus some other products to try—these are affiliate links but are no additional cost to you).
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Solutions for excessive sweating
If you really hate your sweating, antiperspirants from the store aren’t cutting it, and you’re ready to do something about it, I would recommend that you see a Dermatologist. Then you can discuss other options that are best for you.
When I went to see a Dermatologist, I started off with a prescription-strength antiperspirant. It worked great! Until suddenly I started breaking out from it. I was really disappointed because I thought I had found a simple solution to a problem I had just been dealing with for years.
I moved on to medicine that prevented my body from producing so much sweat. As you can probably guess, this worked everywhere, not just my armpits, so I felt dried out like a raisin. There are a number of other options, including procedures like Botox that you can use that have very good success rates. Me, I’m still a work in progress.
Numi Undershirt Review
Enter NUMI: A Solution for Excessive Sweating?
Then one day recently, I stumbled upon an ad for a product called Numi. Numi makes women’s sweatproof undershirts that, according to advertisements, stop sweat stains. The shirts are manufactured in Toronto, Canada.
Of course, I had to see if they really made a difference. After ruining some great overpriced tops, I thought this was going to be a challenge they couldn’t possibly tackle effectively. I couldn’t imagine why I might want to wear an undershirt in the heat.
Numi undershirts come in some basic colors: black, white and navy. They also come in 3 different nudes: almond, caramel, and espresso.
There are also several cuts you can choose from mock neck, the signature seamless, crop top, ¾ sleeve, and lace cap sleeve. The fabric of the Numi undershirt is such that it is supposed to disappear underneath whatever you’re wearing. The shirts are reversible–one side is crew neck, the other side is scoop neck, to make it work with whatever you’re wearing. Though, I suppose a mock neck just reverses to a mock neck.
I ordered the signature seamless shirt in espresso. It arrived pretty quickly. The Numi undershirt itself was surprisingly a buttery soft fabric, and I was actually a little worried about sweating in the shirt. The espresso was actually a good match with my skin tone (see pics), so that was a good start. It would be nice to have a skin tone undershirt that could hide underneath even light-colored clothing and not be obvious.
I took this top for a test run during my recent trip to the beach. What better way to test it than with 80-degree weather and traveling. Heat plus stress. I wore it on the drive down, so if I ended up getting too hot, I could either turn up the AC or take it off.
Strangely enough, I never got very hot and so I didn’t sweat much at all. I hadn’t even really looked at the tag but apparently, this top “regulates your body temperature, whether you’re freezing or sweating.”
Whhhaaaattttt?????!!!
Needless to say, I was amazed. How was this even possible?
The Numi undershirts are made with a fabric called Tencel. According to tencel.com, “unique physical properties of TENCEL™ Lyocell fibers lead to their great strength, efficient moisture absorption and gentleness to skin.” Tencel is made from ethically sourced eucalyptus trees. I mean really. AND they’re do-gooders? I can hardly take it.
The verdict on NUMI Sweat Proof Undershirts?
This is the real deal. This product exceeded my expectations. This is a great sweatproof undershirt for women! Next, I’m going to order the cropped top so that I can wear it under my tiny little summer tops, LOL. I fully endorse this product.
Care instructions: Machine wash cold, gentle cycle, tumble dry low heat. Do not bleach. Do not iron. Do not use fabric softener. Do not dry clean.
If you want to see how Numi undershirts can save your beautiful, wonderfully overpriced blouses, check them out! Never worry about how to remove sweat stains from blouses ever again. This is an affiliate link. I purchased this item at full price before becoming an affiliate and I was so impressed by the product, I am excited to spread the word. There are other testimonials on the site you can check out, but I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
Until then, here are some additional tips for summer that you might find useful if excessive sweating is an issue for you:
Tips to Prevent Sweaty Armpits
– make sure you’re using an antiperspirant, not a deodorant. Antiperspirants are the ones that reduce sweating. Deodorant just stops the body odor, and you’ll still sweat.
– apply the antiperspirant before going to bed. This gives it time to do its job so it can be ready to fight off the sweat when you are active throughout the day.
– keep your armpits shaved–hair holds moisture
-wear breathable loose clothes
Tips to Prevent Sweaty Feet
– wear sandals as often as you can (I know, yay!) Because seriously if your feet stay wet, you increase the chance of smelly feet or infections.
– wear natural material on your feet, like leather. Something so your toes can breathe!
– try not to wear the same shoes 2 days in a row, so they’ll have time to dry out
– wear moisture-wicking socks (not cotton! Hikers will tell you, “cotton is rotten.”) Make sure the label says moisture wicking
– you can apply antiperspirant to your feet before bed, then wash it off in the am. Do this for 3 or 4 nights in a row, then switch to once a week.
– if your feet are wet, change your socks (I know you knew that. Just saying for the record)
Tips to Prevent Sweaty Hands
– there’s antiperspirant hand lotions and gels you might want to try
– avoid foods that might cause sweating (caffeine, coffee, spicy foods)
– alcohol-based hand wipes are a quick fix. Alcohol is an astringent that will shrink your pores and keep your hands dry temporarily. It’s worth a try if you have an important event or interview!
– talc-free baby powder or cornstarch absorbs moisture
-organic rose water. Just like alcohol wipes, it closes your pores and works to decrease sweating
– sage tea soak: take 4-5 sage leaves, steep in 1 quart of hot water. When it is cool enough, soak your hands for 30 minutes.
Tips to Prevent a Sweaty Head
– have a short haircut
– avoid food triggers, as above (spicy foods, caffeine, chocolate)
– no smoking
– wash your face with cool water
Final thoughts on hyperhidrosis and Numi Undershirts for women
Hyperhidrosis is something that is not a dangerous disease to have. The problem is that it can affect your quality of life. Overly sweaty hands can make you avoid shaking hands and thereby looking rude, or avoid going out with friends because you’re afraid once you start dancing, everyone will be looking at you. Not because of your killer dance moves, either. But there are many treatments out there, some simple and low tech, or, depending on your preference, can even involve medical procedures. It’s just about finding what works best for you and makes you feel most comfortable.
Cheers, dears!
What questions do you have about my experience with Numi? I have since purchased many more, and if you are considering trying and I can tell you more, just reach out to me!
How to style your NUMI
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