My face and head sweat too much; make it stop?

June 2, 2009 5:41 PM

I sweat a lot when dancing, mostly from my face/head. More than other people, to the point where it's often remarked upon. How can I fix this?

So yes, every time there's a dance party, my face and head end up sweating like crazy. Like, while dancing, beads of sweat drip off my nose and chin every few minutes, which can't be attractive. And when I take a break to go get a drink or whatever, people often remark on my sweat (my face might also be somewhat red; not sure?), asking whether someone spilled their drink on me or something. This is, in a word, suboptimal.

Any ideas? Most of the threads on AskMeFi and tips elsewhere on the internet seem geared toward body-sweat, which I don't have much of a problem with (I mean, it happens, but not excessively, and deodorant/body spray takes care of the smell). Experimentally, I think moisturizer might have a small anti-sweating effect, but I'm not sure.

Other relevant info... I'm a guy; I'm wearing long pants/t-shirt; the dancing is "club-style dancing," none of that fancy/slower ballroom stuff; I use Duac and Retin-A as topical acne medications, but usually I don't apply these after my pre-party shower; I'm on Zoloft (a previous AskMeFi answer indicated this might matter); I'm vegan and eat a lot of fruit, a decent amount of it citrus (another this-might-matter-according-to-previous-AskMeFi factor); I use hairgel; my haircut ranges from very short immediately afterward to about 3 cm at the longest before I get it cut again.

posted by Jacen Solo to health & fitness (13 comments total)

You can buy an antiperspirant made specifically for people with your problem (for instance, I'm sure there are others).
posted by halogen at 6:11 PM on June 2

As a part-time professional dancer, the only thing that has helped me in this situation is to have a really, really high level of cardiovascular fitness. When I'm up on the cardio, I don't sweat as much when dancing, and my hair doesn't melt to my head (delightful!).

Can you carry some kind of discreet handkerchief-like item to wipe your face with periodically? (I can appreciate that you may not want to look like a gold miner in a John Wayne flick...if that is indeed the case, pick something that isn't a bandanna.)

I would also try hard to drink something cold whenever you can. But yeah, clubs are hot and you probably can't avoid sweating completely.
posted by corey flood at 6:11 PM on June 2 [1 favorite]

A couple of forums recommend this product.
posted by halogen at 6:11 PM on June 2

Are you hypoglycemic? Another possibility is Hyperhidrosis.
posted by 6:1 at 6:37 PM on June 2

I cut my caffeine intake and barely sweat at all anymore, at least not noticeably.
posted by ShadePlant at 6:45 PM on June 2

As a swing dancer, I'm a pretty big sweater too... Without having tried anything already mentioned, I've found simply having a rag to wipe off and standing in front of a fan helps every so often... Sometimes I bring a change of shirts.... Best of luck :)
posted by chrisinseoul at 7:06 PM on June 2

We (hubs and I) go dancing quite a bit. He is a larger person and I'm just really dancy, so sweating is a definite issue.

I suggest two things: Try to position yourself under one of the A/C vents if possible, and wipe a bit of clear antiperspirant on your forehead/entire face.
posted by Grlnxtdr at 9:42 PM on June 2

Just to add data points, I run five miles a day, I'm lean and in athletic shape, I don't drink caffeine, and I still sweat like a fountain when I go club dancing. Up to a certain point, I think this is just down to genetics. (Unfortunately, I haven't discovered any miracle cures, so I'm sorry for not being able to add to that.)
posted by mykescipark at 10:28 PM on June 2

I don't go to clubs but T.I. has led me to believe that it is perfectly ok to bring a rag. (Bonus swinging it around will probably dry it out a bit)
posted by syntheticfaith at 5:29 AM on June 3

buy a lot of cheap hats to soak it up or just say fuck it and rock a headband. if youre at the right party nobody will give a crap either way though...dancing is supposed to make you sweat, a lot.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 6:14 AM on June 3

Mattifying Oil-Absorbing Sheets (these are carried at Target and only a dollar, it doesn't hurt to try)

I see kids dressed like Richie Fucking Tenenbaum rocking these all the time. Might not work if you're not a hipster kid at a Girl Talk show.
posted by Juliet Banana at 8:21 AM on June 3

On the extreme end of things, I've seen botox used to prevent sweat. They can inject it directly into the sweat glands (which they locate with some power that turns purple) and it prevents them from producing sweat. I'm sure this is a fairly expensive procedure, and probably requires upkeep, but it's an option for those so-inclined.
*ianad*
posted by AltReality at 12:35 PM on June 3

i never had that problem until i cut my hair short. now sweat drips constantly. so i bought an 80s headband from american apparel. luckily that's trendy enough with the hipsters that nobody will think twice ;)
posted by groovinkim at 2:50 AM on August 30