Sweating to the Oldies: An Encounter with Mr. Stinky

Traffic was a bear, so I got to the gym later than I had planned. Even though the spinning class I wanted to take didn’t start for half an hour, it was important – REALLY important – that I reserve a good spot in the spinning room. Yesterday had been the pits – literally speaking.

“Mr. Stinky” and his smelly underarms are class regulars, you see, and if I get to the gym late I might get stuck downwind of him in the biking studio. You know the guy, right? He’s the hairy one with the excessive underarm perspiration and the really strong body odor. The puddle surrounding his bike at the end of class is truly spectacular.

I feel both sympathy and revulsion simultaneously for Mr. Stinky. He’s a pleasant enough guy to speak to and his looks aren’t bad, but his old stained exercise shirt and his plumbing issues are a pretty big turnoff. …He probably looks in the mirror in the mornings and wonders why women aren’t interested.

Unfortunately, this guy is not an isolated case, and sweating problems aren’t just found in men. It seems that hyperhidrosis is an equal-opportunity ailment.

Body of Evidence
Following a scientific survey conducted by Dr. Dee Anna Glaser, a professor in the Department of Dermatology at St. Louis University, it was projected that about 8 million people in the United States have this condition. In her survey, that worked out to be about 2.8 percent of the population, based on a 150,000-household representative study. Of those individuals, females were afflicted as often as males – suffering from overly sweaty hands, feet, underarms and torso.

Dr. Glaser’s study statistics showed that 90 percent of those who had hyperhidrosis said they suffered social embarrassment because of their condition, and 95 percent said their problem interfered with daily activities. Three-quarters of sufferers reported a loss of confidence because of sweating with more than half of those people saying it made them depressed or unhappy.

Unfortunately, only 38 percent of those with excessive sweating had talked to a health care professional about the condition, according to Dr. Glaser’s study results, which appeared in the August 2004 Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

DOA – Socially Speaking

The negative social stigma for excessive sweat and bromhidrosis (foul body odor) is quite profound in our western, first-world culture. It has ramifications at the office, on the social scene, in the bedroom, and at the gym.

As a group fitness instructor, I KNOW sweat. I personally have a trigger-happy sweat response and have to be vigilant about managing it and odor. So, I do empathize with my odiferous acquaintance in the spinning room; however, he has to do his part. While I know he can’t really help the waterworks, he can do a few things to diminish the negative response from those around him at the gym…and help himself while he’s at it.

Just Say “N-O” to “B.O.”

Here are some tips I can offer from my years as a gym rat:

Shower frequently. New sweat has little if any odor. It’s when the bacteria on your body get busy that the B.O. kicks in. There is no excuse for negligent hygiene. Use a good antibacterial soap at least once a day. Use a washcloth and lather up under the arms, between your toes, and around the groin. Let the soap sit for at least two minutes before rinsing thoroughly.
See a doctor. Make sure you have had a thorough physical to rule out secondary causes of hyperhidrosis or excessive body stench. While some cases are thought to be inherited, others can be caused by hyperthyroidism, endocrine diseases, obesity, diabetes, central nervous system disorders, menopause (although not in Mr. Stinky’s case), liver disease and the use of antidepressants and other medications. Odor-causing fungal infections can accompany skin issues like psoriasis or eczema too, so see a physician.
For Pete’s sake, wash your gym clothes! It is NOT OK to hang your sweaty tank top on a hook in a gym locker so you can wear it again tomorrow. Take it home and wash it in the hottest water it can withstand. Better yet, buy white cotton shirts and use some bacteria-killing bleach each time you wash them. Although pricey, you can try buying exercise clothes featuring one of the new, high-tech antibacterial fabrics.
Keep a hand towel with you at all times. Two if necessary. Keep one draped around your neck to wipe your hands and face of excess sweat. Use the other one to wipe up your bike and any wetness you leave behind on weights or machines. Sweat is corrosive to metal equipment, plus it’s rude to leave your personal calling card on the weight bench. Some gyms supply paper towels and disinfectant spray, so use them!

Consider a bandana and absorbent wristbands. I know that sweat bands seem a little retro, but they will help you keep your grip on a barbell or the handlebars on your spinning bike. Take your bandana and tie it pirate style to decrease some dripping and bump up your fashion quota.
Park your sweat-prone self by a fan. It will help dry out the monsoon and cool you off at the same time. Ask gym management about keeping the gym and its studios properly air-conditioned and dehumidified.
Wear loose-fitting exercise clothes. Avoid tight synthetic materials, unless specifically designed to fight odor.
Eat a healthy diet. An eating plan with lots of fresh fruits, vegetables and water is essential. Limit onions, eggs, garlic and too much protein. Include zinc-rich foods in your diet to fight strong body odor. Try spinach, cucumbers, oysters, prunes, string beans, fortified cereals, parsley and collards.
Use a strong antiperspirant and a good deodorant. Apply your antiperspirant at least once a day as directed on the bottle to underarms, hands and feet. Keep an antiperspirant / deodorant in your gym bag and use it liberally. Products like Klima Antiperspirant, a powerful compound perfected by the Dermatology Institute in Europe, are shown to give relief. Not all products work for everyone, especially if you have allergies or other medical conditions. It may take some trial and error to get it right. Do some antiperspirant comparisons and find the best deodorant for you. Sometimes it takes a combination of products. Not all scents smell good on every person, so find a fragrance that works with your body chemistry.

Join a support group. Having over-active sweat glands can be personally disheartening, but don’t let your condition define you. You are SO much more than your pores! Please don’t give up. Find others who can relate to your dilemma. Share some stories, exchange some tips, arm yourself with information, and take some action.

For more information, visit the International Hyperhidrosis Society’s website at: http://www.sweathelp.org/English/ and check out the information and remedies at http://www.klimadeodorant.com.

Thank you,
Guy Kitchell
Klima Deodorant