Drain the swamp (ass)

July 10, 2024 5:24 PM

I am so very, very sweaty. Please help me keep my lower half dry!

I have hyperhidrosis. My dermatologist prescribed glycopyrrolate but it's been losing efficacy over time, despite taking as high a dose as I can tolerate. Most days I wear cotton underwear with Uniqlo half shorts to manage sweat/smell/chafing underneath dresses, but I've been producing so much sweat from my back and thighs that the half shorts and underwear soak all the way through - sometimes this only takes a few minutes of time outside, which I can't avoid during the work day. It might just be me but Uniqlo's quick dry technology seems distinctly lacking, so not only will the half shorts fail to wick smaller amounts of moisture away but when they are fully saturated they are very slow to dry and are not particularly breathable so my underwear stays damp for hours.

So I am hoping to find the following:

1. Anything that can be applied topically to help reduce or otherwise manage sweat, either prescription or OTC

2. Alternatives to the Uniqlo half shorts that share their best qualities (price point, light shaping) that are better at wicking moisture

3. Alternatives to cotton underwear that dry faster. I've been pretty reluctant to wear anything that's less that 90% cotton since I'm prone to yeast infections, but I'm curious about trying synthetic body/cotton gusset or bamboo underwear.

posted by fox problems to Health & Fitness (15 answers total)

Oh no, I'm non clinically sweaty and am just miserable this time of year. My heart weeps for you.

Probably you're beyond this but (cornstarch based) baby powder is my holy grail all summer. It doesn't reduce the sweat but it makes the sweaty parts less wetty parts.
posted by phunniemee at 5:32 PM on July 10

Oh but one thing I big recommend is bandelettes instead of shorts. Don't layer a bunch of fabric down there, you need air flow.
posted by phunniemee at 5:35 PM on July 10

Definitely "performance underwear" by Patagonia or similar outdoor companies. They are breathable and built to dry quickly. Not cheap but they last forever (at least 5+ years!).
posted by bquarters at 5:53 PM on July 10

I use anti-perspirant on my inner thighs in the summer and Thigh Society cooling shorts. Not a perfect solve but helps a lot.
You could also look into Botox if you want to spend that kind of money.
posted by greta simone at 6:10 PM on July 10

Drysol (aluminum chloride hexahydrate) worked well for me, though I'm not at the level of sweatiness you describe. It is available over-the-counter in Canada but may need a prescription in other parts of the world.
posted by tinydancer at 7:02 PM on July 10

You can use clinical antiperspirant (which, confusingly, can be purchased OTC and several popular brands now make their own versions) more or less anywhere, so it's worth a try.
posted by Lyn Never at 7:11 PM on July 10

Seconding performance underwear from outdoor companies (shop REI or Backcountry Outfitters or Duluth trading co or something similar) and Under armour shorts! They dry so fast and are comfortable even when saturated-- i've gone straight from a swim to hiking in them, and wear them under every dress I wear all summer. And although they don't advertise that they shape, they do offer some smoothing and shaping under the clothes I wear.

Perhaps try performance wool underwear from someone like Smart wool? Definitely way more than I spend on a normal pair of underwear, but I'll do an extra load of laundry just to wear one of my two pairs again. Although they do get stinky... but perhaps that's just a backpacking thing?
posted by Grandysaur at 7:52 PM on July 10

I don’t have hyperhydrosis, but like you I prefer cotton underpants and for similar reasons. I’ve tried bamboo/rayon underwear and it’s been fine.
posted by bunderful at 8:39 PM on July 10

I work outside and wear synthetic knickers to avoid swamp butt. They can be cheap, mine are mostly modal from Target and I have some Jockey travel undies that were on sale. Some have a cotton gusset if you find all synthetic irritating.
posted by momus_window at 9:09 PM on July 10

I realize it's not convenient, but could you just stash a few extra pairs of panties/shorts in a purse along with a watertight bag that you can put the sweaty ones into, and then just change every couple of hours?
posted by vegartanipla at 9:58 PM on July 10

Wool is my go-to in summer. I have underwear from Icebreaker, Branwyn, and Wool&. All wick amazingly, dry fast, and don’t irritate my sensitive skin. I also just got a pair of slip shorts from Wool& that get rave reviews. (And I LOVE the Brawnwyn merino bras.)
posted by rebeccabeagle at 6:20 AM on July 11

Cotton is one of the fabrics that hold in moisture the longest. If you need cotton to prevent infection, maybe a localized cotton pad over performance or wool underwear?

Wool is naturally antibacterial so it will also breed less of the stink germs.
posted by tofu_crouton at 6:28 AM on July 11

Duluth has great boxes briefs for women, which would help with chafing and mean one less layer. Cotton underwear is not your friend, I don't care what we were taught growing up.
posted by The corpse in the library at 7:52 AM on July 11

Fruit of the Loom Micro-Mesh Panties are like heaven in the summer. They are synthetic but the liner is cotton. Similar to some of the travel/performance underwear you find at places like REI, but much cheaper!
posted by c lion at 12:10 PM on July 11

Unlike everyone else on earth, I find quick-dry fabrics to be a lie (and wool no better). I mean, they dry faster on a clothesline, but on my body they are still always damp, and even if they claim they're wicking they don't absorb moisture the way cotton does. So I've been wearing synthetic boxer briefs (these men's ones from 32 Degrees; I'm a woman but these are cheaper and better than the long legged women's options I can find) with cotton pantiliners underneath. I replace the pantiliners throughout the day so I'm always reasonably dry, but even if you don't have time for that, just starting out with a pantiliner and scrapping it partway through the day gives a second pretty-dry start.
posted by metasarah at 9:13 AM on July 22