The month was July: the temperature was 91°F and the humidity was a whopping 70 percent. As I headed out the door in my new favorite outfit—a pair of high-waisted blue and white seersucker trousers with a pale yellow Dolce & Gabbana sleeveless blouse tucked in—I felt on top of the world. Then, after two blocks of walking and three subway stops, I arrived at my rooftop party destination drenched. My silk top, once the color of a perfectly ripe banana hue, now looked browned like the outside of a kiwi. I was so embarrassed by my sweating that I threw a sweater over my ensemble, despite the scorching heat. The addition shielded me from further humiliation but really only made matters worse for my beloved blouse, and by the time I returned home, the top was so heavily stained that even New York’s top dry cleaners couldn’t bring it back to life.
I’d love to say this was an isolated incident, that I was only sweating so profusely because of the unusually high temperatures, and that my darling Dolce was the only item of clothing I ruined last summer. but the truth is, this was an almost daily occurrence. Even during the city’s freezing winter months, when I’m bundled in layers of warmth, I find myself actively avoiding light colored tops, knowing my underarms will look darkened with sweat within minutes.
I was never formally diagnosed with hyperhidrosis, the excessive sweating disorder that plagues an estimated 365 million people around the world, but I decided that sartorially shunning half of the rainbow, (especially since I pride myself on being one of few New Yorkers who actually wear color) was simply not sustainable. It was time to do something. I put my research skills to use and read up on all the most common causes and solutions for extreme perspiration, I spoke with people who had similarly suffered, and I even consulted a couple medical professionals.
Sweat solution #1: clinical-strength antiperspirant
I decided that the best course of action would be to try a clinical-strength, aluminum-heavy antiperspirant. Of course, most over-the-counter antiperspirants count some derivative of aluminum (usually aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex gly) among their ingredients, since the metallic complex reacts with the electrolytes in sweat to form a sort of gel “plug” that blocks sweat glands from excreting liquid; however, antiperspirants with higher concentrations of aluminum require a prescription, and, as I learned the hard way, they have very harsh side effects like extreme irritation on skin. That’s why when I heard about Dr. Sweat, a new clinical strength antiperspirant that boasts 15 percent aluminum chloride— the highest protection available without a prescription, I knew I had to try it. Read more
