You have to get up in front of the class to make a presentation. As you walk to the front of the room, you feel your shirt sticking to your back and your armpits. You're sweating up a storm.
Although it may seem like you have some strange disorder, it's actually perfectly normal to sweat, not just when you're hot, but also when you're nervous. Emotions can affect the sweat glands, too.
Sweating is one part of puberty. When your body starts to change, your 3 million sweat glands become more active. At the same time, glands in your armpits and groin and on the palms of your hands and soles of your feet produce oilier sweat, which has an adult odor. Sweating plays an important role in the body because it helps maintain body temperature by cooling you down. When you're hot and you sweat, that moisture evaporates and cools you off a bit.
So how should you handle sweat? Take a bath or shower daily, and if you're worried about your smell, use a deodorant or a deodorant with antiperspirant (a deodorant masks odor, whereas a deodorant combined with antiperspirant prevents sweat).
It can also help to wear clothes made of natural fibers, such as cotton or linen, especially in the summer heat. Pads called underarm shields or dress shields can also help absorb sweat and prevent embarrassing underarm stains. These pads attach to the armpit area inside a person's clothes where they absorb sweat. You can buy them in the lingerie departments of many department stores and at some specialized sports stores. Some teens also keep an extra shirt in their lockers so they can change at school.
If you still worry about your sweating, talk to a doctor. Stronger antiperspirants are now available with a doctor's prescription - your doctor may think a prescription-strength antiperspirant might help you. |
