Allergy to Sweat
Sweating sometimes causes rashes on our body, itching, and redness of the skin.
You play sports, you are nervous about this work meeting, or you are hot because summer is approaching and suddenly your skin begins to itch, blush and make you uncomfortable, and this is where you wonder; are you allergic to your own sweat?
What is sweat allergy?
Some people see their doctor for a condition called a sweat rash. According to dermatologists, the allergy to sweat is not recognized, that is, it has no scientific basis,
but in many cases, concrete and uncomfortable symptoms occur when certain people sweat or sweat excessively.
A dandruff and itches can cause skin changes in some people. This is the case with cholinergic urticaria, and the increase in body temperature is the cause of the appearance of urticaria on the skin.
These lesions appear a few minutes after you start sweating and can last up to 1 hour or more after the body has returned to normal temperature.
What are the symptoms of a sweat allergy?
- Rashes due to excessive sweating can affect any part of the body, although they are most common on the chest and extremities. They usually itch a lot with a burning sensation.
- Excessive sweating causes itching, redness of the skin, and even hives as if it were atopic skin, it is called cholinergic hives.
- These rashes caused by sweating can occur anywhere on the body, the most common being the armpits, neck, and lower abdomen. They appear a few minutes after the start of sweating and usually disappear after sweating has stopped and the skin has dried, returning to its natural state.
- Cholinergic urticaria is one of the so-called physical urticaria that is triggered during episodes of sweating, such as exercise, a hot shower, summer days or emotional stress and nerves.
- Sometimes it is not the sweat itself that causes these symptoms, but rather an obstruction of the sweat. Sometimes the ducts of the eccrine glands (a type of sweat gland) become blocked, so that sweat is retained in the epidermis, that is, sweat cannot escape through the pores of the skin, which can cause dermatitis. The skin reacts to heat and sweat when the body temperature rises.
It should also be mentioned that people who usually suffer from atopic dermatitis, atopic skin, or who have very sensitive skin, are more likely to also suffer from the discomfort of sweating.
Treatment of sweat allergy
The most normal thing is that the irritation disappears by itself when the perspiration disappears and the body temperature returns to normal, however,
in the case of people with sensitive skin, it is recommended to use an antiperspirant. Also a good remedy is the moisturizer, which helps reduce and relieve skin rashes.
Before curing, always try to prevent as much as possible by making changes in your everyday life.
- If you are prone to heat irritation, moisturize your skin with moisturizers. In addition, cold showers help prevent other rashes.
- If you are a sportsman, wear one of those breathable clothes that are so fashionable now with the heat to avoid excessive sweating.
- Certain scents or chemicals can make the situation worse. Be wary if symptoms increase with these products and try to avoid them.
How to Avoid Allergy to Sweat
As we said before, there is no scientific basis to explain sweating allergy , so there is no one hundred percent effective medical remedy,
but there are a number of things. very simple things you can do to make up for that annoying itch once and for all.
Wear cotton clothes
Cotton clothes are generally very breathable, so they will be of great help to you, especially now that the sunny days have arrived. Choose sleeveless t-shirts for the summer.
Avoid overexposure to the sun
Always avoid being exposed to the sun during the central hours of the day and always wear quality sunscreen with a physical screen.
After sport
If you exercise, take a shower as soon as you are done and apply your usual body cream, this way your skin will be dry and hydrated.
Choosing the best deodorant
Let your deodorant be alcohol-free and let your perfume be a brand that you can trust.
Good blog!
Happy every day!
Thank you 🙂
In case it helps someone figure this out… young teen daughter has always had fairly dry skin, had more skin rashes as a toddler, but never had the “sweat allergy” as a youth. She’s generally healthy with no real health issues other than seemingly sensitive skin. Come to think of it, she had reactions to chlorine pool water aka irritant dermatitis, and vasoline helped afterwards. She never has had atopic dermatitis/eczema. Also worth mentioning in case it is a fungus thing, she had “geographic tongue”, harmless but it is from a fungus, as a youngster for about 3 years maybe around age 5-8.
She developed the “sweat allergy” a few months into year 2021… coincidentally or not a few months after the first COVID-19 shot, but several months before actually contracting COVID in early 2022. She had a very very strong reaction to the 2nd covid shot which was in mid 2022.
Symptoms: Her armpits can sweat, no issue, but if she breaks out in a sudden sweat due to heat or excitement, either hives or a red rash is triggered around ankles, wrists, arms, and sometimes chest, back, and even scalp. Very itchy, stings at first, but gradually fades after about an hour. This has caused her to avoid outdoor activities, but physical education class at school often triggers it.
I’ve read that over time it gradually gets better… almost all get it over it by age 30, but wow, I sure hope we don’t have to wait that long. If it is like most allergies, more exposure should theoretically help your body adjust. Then again, if it is mostly caused by sweat getting trapped under the skin like they say, it seems like trying to sweat more often should eventually teach your pores to open up more. I say this because I’ve read that in some climates, people have this issue during the winter, think drier skin, but during the summer it fades away… likely due to less dry skin, and people probably are sweating more due to exposure to outdoor heat.
Wow. I’m known for great, healthy looking skin. I have a pricy and disciplined skin care regimen, and get compliments all the time. But, ever since my my 1st covid shot, when I sweat, the skin my upper outer arms because raws, itchy, stingy. I’ve been using Summer’s Eve feminine wipes constantly to remove any sweat….a difficult and expensie task in this summer heat. If I’m not gentle using the wipes, my skin actually tears and scars. So that the upper/outer arms are now have a darker pigmentation than the rest of my body due to scarring. I’m very sad about it.