While hyperhidrosis isn’t a medical condition that necessarily threatens your health, it can still be damaging in other ways. Because even though everybody sweats, when you’re sweating what seems like ten times more than everybody else, it can make you start to feel self-conscious and overly self-aware, not to mention physically uncomfortable. And that’s on top of the fact that hyperhidrosis can make buying clothes pretty hard.
That’s right - if clothes shopping wasn’t already difficult enough, hyperhidrosis adds the extra challenge of finding clothes that won’t show sweat stains or get too soggy. But that’s where sweat-resistant shirts come in. With their ability to keep people with hyperhidrosis dry and stylish, these shirts are a blessing. And this article is here to teach you all about them.
All About Hyperhidrosis
Sweating is your body’s natural way to regulate your temperature by releasing heat from your pores in the form of clear, salty liquid. But sometimes, it can go beyond normal functioning and into the territory of something called hyperhidrosis.
Hyperhidrosis (“hyper” as in beyond and “hidro” as in water), is a condition in which a person sweats excessively, even when they’re not exercising or in a hot place. This is sweating beyond the normal level, often getting to the point that the sufferer’s sweat soaks through their clothes or drips off of their body.
In addition to disrupting daily activities, hyperhidrosis can cause social anxiety and embarrassment, making people have a hard time on the day-to-day.
Sometimes hyperhidrosis has a cause, like being the side effect of a certain medication or being related to other conditions like menopause, thyroid problems, or nervous system disorders. But other times, there’s no obvious reason for it other than the possibility that it was inherited from a family member.
So while you may be able to stop your hyperhidrosis by changing your medication or addressing a primary condition that is causing it, sometimes the only thing you can do is address the symptom - excessive sweating - itself. And that’s where sweat-proof clothing comes in.
How Sweat Resistant Shirts Work
Sweat-resistant shirts are made specifically for people with issues like hyperhidrosis. Unlike athleticwear, they’re made for day-to-day use and are designed to look just like any other shirt so that your wardrobe doesn’t scream, “I have hyperhidrosis!” to the people around you.
While each brand and style is slightly different, sweat-resistant shirts typically tackle the sweat problem from multiple different directions.
First, they’ll be made of a fabric that is both highly breathable and not water-absorbent, so that when you do sweat, there is enough airflow to keep your clothes dry. Beyond that, sweat-resistant shirts will also usually have some kind of specially-designed barrier in the underarm area meant to absorb sweat, eliminate odor, and prevent visible sweat stains from showing on the outside of your clothes.
It is worth noting that sweat-resistant shirts are designed to keep you dry, cool, and fresh, but they can’t actually stop your body from sweating in the first place. That being said, they are the next best thing to being able to perform that type of magic trick.
Shopping for a Shirt That Works for You and Your Body
There are many different sweat-resistant shirts on the market, which can make the process of choosing the right one for you a bit difficult. To help you out, here are some things that we’d recommend thinking about when choosing what sweat-proof shirt you want to buy.
Shirt type - Some sweat-resistant shirts are designed to be worn as undershirts under other clothing, while others are made for wear on their own like you’d wear a normal t-shirt.
Fabric - What fabric is the shirt made out of? A good sweat-resistant shirt will usually be made of a blend of a natural fabric, like cotton or wool, with a synthetic fabric, like lycra or nylon, in order to offer the benefits of both.
Design - A great sweat-proof shirt is more than just functional; it can also fit into your closet without standing out like a sore thumb. Look at the design of the sweat-proof shirts you’re considering and think about whether or not they look like another shirt you would buy.
Comfort - Many sweat-proof shirts work by using underarm pads, but they’re not all created equal. Some pads are bulky and can be easily seen from the outside of the shirt, while others are more sleek and comfortable to wear.
Special features - Some sweat-proof shirts come with special features that others don’t have. For example, those made with bamboo in them offer the extra benefit of being odor-resistant and anti-microbial.
Tips and Tricks for Keeping Your Shirts Smelling Fresh
While a single sweat-resistant shirt can cost a bit more than your basic Walmart t-shirt, they will also last much longer if you take good care of them. Here are some t-shirt care tips we recommend following to keep your shirts looking good and smelling fresh for months and even years.
- Follow the shirt’s label for laundry instructions. When in doubt, wash the shirt in cold or slightly warm water.
- Apply laundry detergent directly to the underarm pad to get it as clean as possible.
- Turn the shirt inside out during washing and drying.
- Don’t sleep in your sweat-proof t-shirt.
- Avoid using bleach on sweat-resistant clothing. It won’t stain anyway, so it shouldn’t be necessary.
- Unless otherwise specified, don’t have your sweat-proof shirts dry cleaned.
- Don’t iron your sweat-proof shirt.
- Using your sweat-resistant shirt along with an antiperspirant, even a clinical or prescription-strength one, can help the shirt last longer by reducing your sweat production and giving the shirt less moisture to fight.
- Store your sweat-resistant shirt inside out to let the inside of it breathe.
How Social Citizen Sweat Proof T-Shirts Can Help You
Social Citizen’s Social Tee is designed to help people with hyperhidrosis feel comfortable, dry, and confident in their clothing. They’re made of 95% cotton and 5% spandex in order to be breathable and sweat-wicking.
The underarm pad is guaranteed to stop 100% of sweat stains. Made from three thin layers, the pads are absorbent, breathable, and waterproof, keeping you dry without revealing anything to the outside world. Plus, they’re made with bamboo, which is able to eliminate odors while fighting bacteria.
Best of all, Social Citizen’s seamless tees fit into your closet perfectly. Made in three different neutral colors and with cuts designed for both men and women, the Social Tee will become your favorite t-shirt.
