Workday Essentials for Excessive Sweating
Workwise, we’re into the fourth quarter (Q4) and things are ramping up after summer slowdowns. For many, Q4 is the final push to meet the year’s goals and deadlines. It's also often planning time for the coming year, as well as a chance to connect with colleagues at end-of-year holiday parties, which can bring a lot of fun…but also social stress.
If you’re in the work world and contending with excessive sweating, Q4 can be even more demanding.
According to research, nearly 9% of people aged 18-39 have hyperhidrosis (Hh) or excessive sweating—leading them to sweat four to five times more than what’s considered necessary or “normal” to maintain body temperature or as reaction to stress.
At work (just like at school or in relationships) the impacts of hyperhidrosis can really hold people back from reaching their full potential. For example:
- 80% of people with Hh report being dissatisfied with their abilities at work
- 42% say Hh prevents them from following a certain career path
- 40% feel impactful physical discomfort due to excessive sweating
- 30% get frustrated with daily tasks
- 20% have problems using computers, mobile phones and touch screens*
Additionally, Hh gets in the way of networking, friendships and inclusion.*
We believe in empowering people with hyperhidrosis so they can realize their dreams at work and beyond. Information, accommodations and treatments all play important roles in this. With effective care, studies show that people with Hh can be more satisfied at work, perform better and experience greater well-being.
Here’s your No Sweat at Work Guide…
Ask for Accommodations
Is sweating affecting your ability to make presentations or speak in meetings? Or do you need to take the time to dry your hands or face frequently? Could simple changes—like adjusting your workstation or taking quick breaks to change uniforms—make your role easier?
Work with your supervisor to identify and overcome obstacles to greater success. Perhaps presentations over Zoom or as pre-recorded webinars, rather than in person, can achieve the same goals? Can your workspace be optimized to accommodate sweat management needs? Individual circumstances vary but often there are creative solutions. Remind your supervisor that your productivity, effectiveness and workplace loyalty can only be improved by reasonable accommodations.
While previous generations of hyperhidrosis sufferers may have suffered in silence, today we can advocate for change—and help break the cycle.
Shop for Sweat-Smart Work Supplies
The right gear can help make extreme sweating less distracting, embarrassing and damaging to projects, technology and tools. Here are some ideas, with many brands on our Fan Fave Products page giving our community sweet discounts:
- Keep things cooler with pocket and handheld fans.
- Wipe sweat away easier with small, absorbent towels that fit neatly in pockets. DRYKI Pocket-Sized Sweat Towels are discreet, soft, super-absorbent and quick-drying—and DRYKI has reduced prices for our Hh friends.
- Choose thicker, high-quality paper and dark pencils like #1 pencils to prevent smudging. Mechanical pencils that allow airflow between the barrel and grip can also help.
- Opt for permanent markers and pens—they are less likely to smear.
- Laminate when possible or choose plastic folders so they won’t get soggy from sweating.
- Look for waterproof keyboard protectors, screen protectors, and stylus “pens” to use on touchscreens.
- Consider cotton gloves to help manage sweaty hands during key tasks. There are also non-slip finger sleeves for touch screens. We’ve even seen half-gloves that help prevent papers from getting smeared.
- Add affordable, absorbent Summer Soles shoe-liners to nearly any footwear. Discounts are available. A shoe-dryer is another useful item for plantar (foot) hyperhidrosis sufferers. It can quickly dry sweat-soaked boots or shoes so they are ready for the next day. Or, consider buying multiple pairs of the same work shoes so they can be rotated every other day.
- NoSweat and SweatHawg headwear can help manage forehead and scalp sweating in hard hats, construction helmets and more. Discounts are available on both brands through our Fan Fave Products page.
- Stock up on antiperspirants from SweatBlock, Klima Health Solutions, Carpe, and ZeroSweat—each provides exclusive discounts for our community.
- Make functional fashion choices. Opt for light, breathable layers, darker colors, and bold prints to disguise sweat marks. Absorbent underlayers—such as those from NanoDri, Social Citizen and Thompson Tee—offer extra protection for the underarms and other body areas. All three companies offer discounts through our website.
- Multiples of the same uniform or outfit can be helpful for quick changes during the day that no one will notice.
- A good night’s sleep leads to a more productive (and happier) work day so make sure you are cooling your room or bed at night. Experts recommend a sleep temperature of 60 to 67° F (15 to 19° C). Chilipad Bed Cooling Systems’ mattress topper works with your existing mattress to keep you cool at night, and if you have a sleep partner, there’s an adjustable dual-temperature option, too. Land your 20% off offer tonight.
- Upgrade laundry detergent. Hi-tech uniform fabrics can get smelly—choose a biofilm buster designed for stinky clothing if this is an issue. And save 90% in energy consumption by doing your laundry in cold water and still getting the clean you need using a cold wash specialized detergent.
There are so many products out there to help us manage the day-to-day hassles of living and working with excessive sweating. Shop our Fan Fave Products page often because we find new, innovative options for you all the time.
Most Importantly: Seek Medical Treatment
While the right tools and work clothing can be a huge help, they don’t solve a sweating problem. Hyperhidrosis is a medical condition often requiring medical treatment. To get that treatment:
- Make time to discuss sweating. Excessive sweating is something that needs to be talked about in order to be managed. Listening to our podcasts can help get conversations started.
- Recognize the signs. Learn more about how excessive sweating is diagnosed here.
- Learn about all the current treatment options available for adults with hyperhidrosis—and how they can be combined for the best results. From topicals and oral medications to medical devices and procedures, the right combination depends on your specific areas of sweating, lifestyle, and personal preferences. Here’s a look at the available options and how they can work together:
- Antiperspirants: Over-the-counter and prescription options are available, including formulations for areas beyond the underarms. Apply at night before bed for maximum benefits and consider combining with botulinum toxin injections, for example.
- Sofdra and Qbrexza: FDA-approved, topical, once-daily prescription medications for underarm use. These treatments, applied to the skin, contain similar anticholinergics (see below) to those some people may take by mouth for excessive sweating. But because they are applied just to the underarms, potential side effect risks can be reduced.
- Iontophoresis: A non-invasive medical device that can be especially useful for sweaty hands and feet. Most users—after a build-up period—can get to the point where they only need to perform the treatment once per week or less. Leading brands like Hidrex USA, RA Fischer, Dermadry, and Bindner Medical Iontophoresis Specialists offer discounts for our community on their home-use devices. Hot tips - if you live in an area with “soft” water, and find that iontophoresis is not quite working for you, you can try adding baking soda or other minerals to your iontophoresis water trays. Ask your device’s manufacturer for more information. Some people also find more relief by adding a crushed oral anticholinergic tablet (see below) to their trays. Discuss this option and appropriate use with your healthcare provider.
- Botulinum toxin injections: Not just for frown lines, these injections can block chemical messengers that “turn on” sweat glands with effects lasting for 7 to 16 months. Botulinum toxin can be used for excessive sweating of the underarms, head/face, hands, feet, groin, and other small-ish body areas.
- Oral medications: Often used very effectively and economically in combination with other treatments (like iontophoresis or botulinum toxin injections), anticholinergic medications taken by mouth can be prescribed “off-label” for excessive sweating. Side effects can, however, be a limiting factor, especially for athletes or anyone working in a hot environment. Discuss this with your healthcare provider. Note: Do not add crushed anticholinergic tablets to iontophoresis water trays if you are already taking these medications orally.
- miraDry: Available for the underarms, miraDry is a non-invasive, relatively quick medical procedure performed in a health office using a handheld device to permanently destroy sweat glands. Often a second treatment (3 months later) is necessary.
4. Use our Clinician Finder to locate a hyperhidrosis-savvy healthcare provider who can discuss the above options (as well as effective combinations of these options) based on your situation.
As we buckle down for productivity in Q4, please remember that if you have excessive sweating you don’t have to struggle alone like so many did in the past. We are here for you! And, we are grateful to all the employers, advocates, healthcare providers, and supportive friends and family who are making a difference for people with hyperhidrosis every day.
Want to do more? Tell your healthcare team, employee health providers and human resource professionals about the useful information available on SweatHelp.org including reliable, practical information about hyperhidrosis, its ramifications, current treatment options, and quick links to the latest hyperhidrosis research published in medical journals.
Keep up the good work. We are cheering for you as you make the most of your career opportunities this Q4 and build an even better future!
*References: