Ask Janet

To write to me, click the email link at left. Unless you request otherwise, your initials and message may be posted here. My apologies: due to the volume of mail, I may not be able to respond to all messages in a timely fashion.

Q. Dear Janet, within the past year I've started to sweat horribly. Within the first hour of class my shirt is soaked under my arms and I've stopped raising my hand. Sometimes my friends tease me about it and then I blush uncontrollably. I've started to avoid activities like dances because I'm worried how much I'll sweat. Help! -MJ

Dear MJ, you are not alone. I started sweating like that around age 14. My basic recommendation applies: does the fact that you sweat make you any less of a person? Of course not. What if your best friend sometimes had damp armpits, would you shun her? Of course not. Then accept yourself in the same way. If your friends really thought your HH was troubling, they would not even mention it. The fact they have means they noticed, and from their perspective, it's not a big deal. Remember: it's not a big deal unless you make it one. However if they see you reacting negatively to their comments, they may persist making them.

Facial blushing and sweating are commonly linked. People with one often have the other. It is thought to be related to having a sensitive sympathetic nervous system. My recommendation is to have some comeback lines ready for the next time someone mentions it. Something like "Oh, yeah, that's been happening for a long time now." Then move the conversation along to another topic. Your friends will see you are accepting the issue, and will gradually stop bringing it up.

And, most importantly, don't let your sweating stop you from participating in school and activities. Go, do, have fun, and wear what you want. The only person who can stop you from doing so is yourself. If you still have concerns, have a look at the treatments page linked at the left.

Q. I want to try your advice to stop using antiperspirant, but won't body odor become a problem? -TS

Dear TS, For most people, body odor is the result of bacteria on their skin digesting their perspiration. If you keep your armpits cleanly washed, the odor should be minimal. Try switching from an antiperspirant to one that's only a deodorant. Deodorants lack the aluminum that is cause of the health concern related to antiperspirants. Personally, I prefer to use an antibacterial soap just in my pits, and regular soap elsewhere. If I bathe only with regular soap, and don't use deodorant, by the end of the day I do get more odor than I prefer. And, unlike perspiration stains, stinking up a room with BO is a way to lose friends.

Q. Our new co-worker has severe underarm HH. It might be the new job is making her extra nervous, but whatever the cause I can tell from her body language she is very self conscious about it, and is always trying to hide it. Her HH doesn't bother me in the least, but I'm concerned she is so worried about it that it will effect her job performance. She seems to be such a nice person and everyone likes her. What should I do? Should I ignore it entirely? Would it make her more comfortable if I tell her I noticed and it's fine? Or is that the wrong thing? Help! -RA

Dear RA, This is a difficult situation. I think you are great person to be concerned about your co-worker. I posted your question on a message board and most people felt that unless you too have HH, you should avoid bringing up the topic. The only reasonable alternative I can think of is to direct her attention to this Web site or any of the HH support groups on my Links page.