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If you find yourself constantly checking for underarm wetness, consider using underarm sweat pads to maintain clean and dry clothing. Explore more men's health visuals.
Brand X Pictures/ThinkstockDoes sweat and body odor trouble you? While everyone has the same number of sweat glands, which help cool us down when we're overheated or anxious, the body isn't always flawless. Sweat, a sodium-rich fluid that cools us as it evaporates, is produced by eccrine glands in our skin. Another type, apocrine glands, found in hair follicles on the scalp, armpits, and groin, secretes a thicker sweat that interacts with skin bacteria to create body odor. Sweating is natural and essential, but excessive sweating, or hyperhidrosis, can disrupt daily life. Severe underarm sweating is termed axillary hyperhidrosis.
Several treatments are available for axillary hyperhidrosis, such as strong antiperspirants that block sweat ducts, oral medications to reduce sweat, botulinum toxin type A (Botox) injections, and surgical removal of sweat glands or nerve signal reduction. For those seeking noninvasive, nonmedical solutions, underarm sweat pads are worth considering.
These pads go by several names, such as underarm shields, garment guards, and dress shields, and are crafted to shield clothing from underarm sweat, minimizing wet marks and stains. Although they don't address excessive sweating directly, they are effective for daily sweat management, particularly for individuals with mild symptoms or those starting a new hyperhidrosis treatment and awaiting its effects.
Underarm sweat pads are usually constructed from 100 percent cotton, a material known for its absorbency and breathability, and are available in both disposable and reusable, washable forms. Certain brands incorporate a sweat-resistant vinyl layer alongside the cotton for enhanced clothing protection. Most pads feature a self-adhesive backing for easy application—simply remove the paper backing and attach the pad inside your shirt's armhole. Others use elastic arm straps that secure to your body instead of your clothing. Available in shades like nude, black, and white, these pads can be bought online or in the health and beauty aisles of retail stores. When used daily, they effectively conceal unsightly sweat stains on clothing.
