Oh my sweaty butt
October 6, 2015 5:05 AM Subscribe
Why does my butt get so sweaty, and is there anything I can do to make it less so?
Whenever I get even mildly overheated, I sweat a bit on my my head, but I also sweat on my butt. Or so it seems because my underwear gets damp round the front of the leg openings and a bit on the back.
This is not such a terrible thing, it's easy enough to change one's underwear to a fresh pair, but where it becomes more of an issue is biking. If friends want to go biking, I hesitate to go because I know I'm going to end up with a wet butt. And that can be embarrassing.
Why do I sweat so much on my butt? Is this a more common problem than I'm aware of? Is the sweat trickling down from my lower back? Is there anything I can do (short of putting antiperspirant on my butt!) to reduce the amount of sweating there, or at least prevent it from showing so I can go biking without embarrassment?
Whenever I get even mildly overheated, I sweat a bit on my my head, but I also sweat on my butt. Or so it seems because my underwear gets damp round the front of the leg openings and a bit on the back.
This is not such a terrible thing, it's easy enough to change one's underwear to a fresh pair, but where it becomes more of an issue is biking. If friends want to go biking, I hesitate to go because I know I'm going to end up with a wet butt. And that can be embarrassing.
Why do I sweat so much on my butt? Is this a more common problem than I'm aware of? Is the sweat trickling down from my lower back? Is there anything I can do (short of putting antiperspirant on my butt!) to reduce the amount of sweating there, or at least prevent it from showing so I can go biking without embarrassment?
Do you wear cotton underwear? If you're male, do you wear boxers or briefs? Tight-fitting, artificial-fiber underwear doesn't let your skin breathe, and it traps sweat and prevents it from evaporating. Wear loose-fitting (or at least not skin tight), 100% cotton underwear - this means granny panties or boxers - especially on days when you're going to be biking.
To keep the sweat from trickling down your lower back (this may be happening) - again, you want to wear a cotton undershirt or cami to wick the sweat away.
And seconding Gold Bond - that stuff is magic!
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 5:34 AM on October 6, 2015
To keep the sweat from trickling down your lower back (this may be happening) - again, you want to wear a cotton undershirt or cami to wick the sweat away.
And seconding Gold Bond - that stuff is magic!
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 5:34 AM on October 6, 2015
i don't know what sex you are, but the one piece of advice my father gave me (seriously!) was not to put deodorant on my nether regions.
anyway, to address cycling, what kind of shorts are you using? if you use the kind of thing people use on mountain bikes, then there's an inner stretchy, black liner, that will wick sweat away, and an outer pair of shorts that keep you looking presentable. if you're not wearing something like that, that's what i'd try first. i wear these (the stone colour). i think they are very good, but the sizes are silly - i have a 31" waist (although a rather large bottom) and need a size large.
posted by andrewcooke at 5:36 AM on October 6, 2015
anyway, to address cycling, what kind of shorts are you using? if you use the kind of thing people use on mountain bikes, then there's an inner stretchy, black liner, that will wick sweat away, and an outer pair of shorts that keep you looking presentable. if you're not wearing something like that, that's what i'd try first. i wear these (the stone colour). i think they are very good, but the sizes are silly - i have a 31" waist (although a rather large bottom) and need a size large.
posted by andrewcooke at 5:36 AM on October 6, 2015
You are not alone. This is the reason that cycling shorts have the chamois in them.
Also your butt sweat is probably not nearly as visible as it feels. It takes a lot to sweat through two layers and show. That feeling of damp after sitting on vinyl seats on a hot day isn't quite enough.
Lighter colors hide sweat more effectively. Performance synthetics have the advantage of drying out fast - so you spend less time with the sweat potentially visible - cotton is a permanently soggy disaster once you sweat a lot.
Loose boxers when cycling are a recipe for chaffing.
Look for causal cycling shorts. Combine with tight performance underwear. Liberal talcum powder application before riding. Use deodorant not antiperspirant when exercising (Your sweat still has to happen - better your armpits than your butt). Think about overall temperature management - wear layers and remove them the moment you feel comfortable - try to always feel just on the cooler side of comfortable. Stand up off the seat while riding every now and then to give air some access to your butt to help with evaporation.
Accept that you will have some butt sweat no matter what. Worrying about it will just make is worse and make you feel bad when you should be enjoying yourself. People who don't sweat while exercising are actually the unhealthy ones.
posted by srboisvert at 6:14 AM on October 6, 2015
Also your butt sweat is probably not nearly as visible as it feels. It takes a lot to sweat through two layers and show. That feeling of damp after sitting on vinyl seats on a hot day isn't quite enough.
Lighter colors hide sweat more effectively. Performance synthetics have the advantage of drying out fast - so you spend less time with the sweat potentially visible - cotton is a permanently soggy disaster once you sweat a lot.
Loose boxers when cycling are a recipe for chaffing.
Look for causal cycling shorts. Combine with tight performance underwear. Liberal talcum powder application before riding. Use deodorant not antiperspirant when exercising (Your sweat still has to happen - better your armpits than your butt). Think about overall temperature management - wear layers and remove them the moment you feel comfortable - try to always feel just on the cooler side of comfortable. Stand up off the seat while riding every now and then to give air some access to your butt to help with evaporation.
Accept that you will have some butt sweat no matter what. Worrying about it will just make is worse and make you feel bad when you should be enjoying yourself. People who don't sweat while exercising are actually the unhealthy ones.
posted by srboisvert at 6:14 AM on October 6, 2015
I get this too, and it's visible and uncomfortable but I have little shame.
Some things that might make it less awkward:
Is it less visible on multicolored shorts?
Wear bike shorts, and slip on looser shorts anytime you dismount?
If you can get away with it, wear a skirt which gets hitched up while you're riding but hides sweat?
Dampen the shorts before putting them on, so it's not just the crotch that is wet?
posted by metasarah at 7:25 AM on October 6, 2015
Some things that might make it less awkward:
Is it less visible on multicolored shorts?
Wear bike shorts, and slip on looser shorts anytime you dismount?
If you can get away with it, wear a skirt which gets hitched up while you're riding but hides sweat?
Dampen the shorts before putting them on, so it's not just the crotch that is wet?
posted by metasarah at 7:25 AM on October 6, 2015
I can recommend LL Bean's athletic skorts, if you're skirt-wearer, like this one, to keep things cool and breezy. They're great for hikes and bike rides.
posted by The corpse in the library at 10:24 AM on October 6, 2015
posted by The corpse in the library at 10:24 AM on October 6, 2015
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Metroid Baby at 5:32 AM on October 6, 2015