Are You Bothered By Boob Sweat?

July

Are You Bothered By Boob Sweat?

Agent 23 asks: I hate under-boob sweat. It annoys me to no end. Plus it’s not like I can avoid it when I exercise. While sweat from everywhere else on my body evaporates within minutes, underboob sweat just sits there. I know I have the option of showering immediately after working out, but I don’t like using the gym’s shower, and I do like going to a coffee shop to relax by myself after my work out. Soooo, would it be safe to put antiperspirant under my boobs to prevent under-boob sweat?

Sarah Bellum says:

Despite all my begging and pleading, I can’t get the well endowed Right Brain to answer this question, so you’re stuck with my answer. But don’t worry, I’ll help you find a bit of Ban for your boobs, some Degree for your decollatage, or maybe even a little Arrid for under your areolas.

As the Righty previously blogged, antiperspirants really aren’t made to be used all over your body. In this case, I can think of three problems you might have if you put antiperspirant under your boobs.

Over heating

Antiperspirant stops you from sweating and that means your body can’t cool itself like its supposed to. If you put it all over your body, you might get dangerously over heated. But unless you have HUGE breasts, I doubt this will be a problem.

Irritation

I know antiperspirants can be irritating sometimes. Not sure how it might feel if some of it got up around the around the tender nippular area, if you catch my drift.

Stained clothing

You know those yellow stains your shirts get on their armpits? That’s because some aluminum salts used in antiperspirants combine with certain kinds of fabrics. If you get Secret on your Victoria’s Secret, you could ruin a bra. Or get underarm stains on your stomach, if that makes any sense.

The Beauty Brains booby…uh, bottom line

If you want my official answer, I say that antiperspirants are over the counter drugs that are designed to used only under your arms. But if you’re a wild and crazy gal, you might just ignore my advice and give it a try anyway. If you do, be sure to write back and tell us how it worked!

What do YOU think? Are you bothered by boob sweat? Leave a comment and share your titulating story with the rest of the Beauty Brains community.

47 Responses to “Are You Bothered By Boob Sweat?”

Kristen Says:

Try putting some baby powder on your breasts before you work out. It will help absorb some of the sweat. But if you don’t like the showers, you may just have to bring a shirt or bra to change into when you go out for coffee.
Juliet Says:

2nd the talc. Other good alternatives: assorted food-use powders, like rice and arrowroot. I particularly like arrowroot, find it as absorbent as talc but slightly finer-grained, and has the advantage of being unscented and wayyy cheaper. Especially compared to unscented talc/baby powder, which is very hard to find.
Comes in large tubs for small prices; easily decanted into an old talc container. Can also be quite easily scented, if you absolutely must have scented powder.
Marie Says:

I’ve found Neat Feat Action Cream to work really well – I not only use it while working out but it does a good job while you are on the dance floor too!

http://www.neatfeat.co.nz/p_3b_action_cream.htm
Agent 23 Says:

Thanks everyone for their advice! I will try using talc/baby powder first since I have it on hand. The Neat Feat Action Cream sounds cool too.

Thanks for answering my question Sarah!! I soo do not want armpit stains on my stomach and chest!!!
Joanne Says:

I’ve heard from my big-boobed friends that the Lush solid deodorants are great for under the boob.
magita Says:

I don’t get why anyone would want to hang out at a coffee shop all sweaty after working out…..everyone else there might appreciate a shower…
Emily Skin Soothers Says:

Hate when this happens–

MIKE
DRF Says:

When I don’t want to use the icky health club showers, I pack a clean shirt and bra in my gym bag(panties, too, since I sweat there as well). After working out, I wash and dry my face, dry the rest of me with that same damp towel, use the powder, and dress in the fresh clothing.
Emily Skin Soothers Says:

You know…as long as we are on this type of questions…do you have any male Beauty Brains on staff?

Being a guy, when I work out I really sweat. I was wondering, do you think it would be ok to use antiperspirant….

Only kidding. Love this site. I learn all types of important tidbits. BTW my female colleagues calls this conditions “swits” as in sweaty…”swoobs” might be as good.
Carole Says:

I often use anti-perspirant under my DD boobs and have never run into problems. First, you’re not putting it “all over your body,” just a bit under each is enough, and none has ever gotten to “the tender nippular area.” Also, I don’t exactly wear my best, lacy, fancy undergarments to the gym. They would get ruined from the work-out alone, as they don’t have enough support for all the bounces in a good work-out. Only full-support work-out bras prevent pain or injuries to the face (kidding) during my work-outs. Plus, a new bra is needed before they get a chance to turn yellow.
Another alternative is corn starch.

That said, my question involves the absorption of chemicals from the anti-perspirant through the skin. Are there side effects? Does the tender skin under breasts more readily absorb these chemicals, and are they bad for you?
anactoria Says:

Baby wipes are handy for /everything/. They are usually unscented (I was a little disappointed they didn’t smell like candy, but that’s just me) and can be used all over, not just the boobs!

Also useful are the pre-moistened facial towelettes. They usually have a nice scent and might come in useful if you need to clean your face. Imagine that. ^_~
vicky Says:

I use a dusting powder that is a combination of baking soda and cornstarch. It’s very silky (feels nice going on) and effective. I reapply after exercising and it leaves me feeling nice and cool.
Karen Says:

Baby powder works for me. I also sprinkle some on my back. I like the fact that it’s scented because it smells clean.

Love today’s picture!
Kristen Says:

Here’s a tip related to using powders:

If you are sunburned, apply your favorite after sun gel (I like the cooling blue aloe vera) and then dust yourself with Gold Bond Medicated powder. The powder acts a buffer between your skin and fabric- so you don’t have that horrible scratchy feeling, and it also keeps the fabric from sticking to your gelled skin. It works wonders. I like the Gold Bond powder because it has skin conditioners as opposed to baby powders. Just thought i’d share that tip!
Rebecca Says:

Cotton bras should help. However, the term “swits’ is so engaging that it might be worth having the problem just in order to answer “How are you?” with “Fine, except for this terrible case of the swits.”
Jean Frendreis Says:

Yes, I found that terry cloth bras help.
Krys Says:

I have had this problem. Mine would get so bad I ended up with a red rash that lasted the entire summer. This is what worked for me. My bra was holding in the mositure so I got a summer bra that breaths (Breezie from QVC). Also I do roll on my Dry Idea every day. When the rash or itching starts I will put a small amount of Hydrocortisone Cream 1% and if it gets a little worse I will spray it with Tinactin Antifungal Spray (for Jock Itch) which was reccommended bu a Nurse. It sounds like a lot but it is better than a big summer long red rash.
rubygil Says:

I have this problem too, what works for me to put on a little chaffing powder/cream before I start the day and if things get really tough to add baby powder.
lind Says:

I don’t think overheating is a problem. Sweat cools you down as it evaporates. If the problem is that the sweat just sits there, it’s not really helping you cool down.
Ally Says:

I have this problem too and it looks terrible on some of my workout bras because you can see all the sweat under my boobs when I am lifting weights! I will definitely try the baby powder idea! Thanks for asking this question Agent 23!
donnatd Says:

Stay away from the antiperspirants!
(I have extremely sensitive skin that would break out into a virulent rash after using commercial antiperspirants!)
There’s simply too many things that can go wrong. I switched to what’s called “natural’ deodorant (usually the Jason brand), and I have no problem with odor. And the sweat factor is diminished… not totally absent, but theres a biological reason why we sweat anyway.. But I digress….this question is not about pits, but breasts..

The sweat glands on the underarm area are not the same as the sweat gland in the breast. I’ve heard some physiologists say the sweat glands in the breasts are akin to the mammary glands that produce milk after the birth of a child. If you are a young woman who anticipates having children some day, you do not want to tinker with the future. Keep chemicals away from that locale!

That being said, for several years I had perspiration and rash all over my breasts and chest. It not only was annoying, but it was painful, itchy, and scary. Several trips to the derm did nothing but empty out my wallet.

I tried the fungal remedies, and yes, they worked for a while, but.. when the pores are blocked by constant sweat, these medicine do not work.

What works? Good old fashioned powder.
BAth powder, baby powder, talcum powder.
At first, I used the Gold Bond powders because they had some kinda additive that cut the irritation. But once the rash subsided (and it didn’t take long), I switched to lower priced “Shower to Shower” powder, and Johnson’s Baby powder with cornstarch.
No more dripping with sweat, no more funky odor, no more itchy rash.
Just good old fashioned powder.. after a good shower and towel dry. Lasts all day..My bras don’t get soaked now either.
Dor Says:

Thank you for this post! I was just suffering from this ’swoobs’ this week! Got a rash. Now I have a few options to try. I have been using powders all week but it just seems to mingle with the sweat and winds up looking like wet flour. I might try the natural products like Kiss-my-face since I have that right now.

Since I do suffer from a rash on my legs if I wear pantyhose. I find the Monistat chaffing gel stops it completely. Was thinking of trying that.

Thanks for sharing all!
Jen Says:

What a fabulous post. I would have to agree that an antiperspirant isn’t your best choice for “swoobs” for the same reasons donnatd mentioned.

There are some great natural suggestions here, and I think the Lush deodorants might be a great product to try as well.
Agent 23 Says:

This doesn’t occur ONLY after I work out. It gets hot and humid in the summer, and us girls with big boobs just get SWITS (I am SOO loving this term).

And to answer your question magita, well, I can’t really. You can come smell me though. I really don’t smell. Honestly, I don’t smell. 100 degrees out, sweat pouring from every sweat gland on my body, and I don’t smell. So rest assure, my fellow coffee shop patrons have nothing to complain about. I’ve probably hung out at your local coffee shop, and you wouldn’t have even known that I was at the gym. You’d probably just think I had too much blush on.

And again, thanks everyone for their suggestions. I tried baby powder today, and it worked great. I’m also changing out of my sports bra afterwards, and that’s been helpful.

-Agent 23
Carole Says:

I have a problem with this every time I get out of the shower, I just keep sweating, especially under my breasts. I have to stuff kleenex under each one until they get soaked and then replace them. I hate this problem. I did use the deodorant under my boobs and it didn’t work. So if someone finds a solution, PLEASE let me know, thank you.
faux Says:

my triple d’s really hate the summer heat as well — i do use the monistat chafing gel on the entire bra region as well as a bra full of cornstarch to start the day.

thinking of changing my name to l’retta swit, just for kicks
Kimberly Says:

I’m with Carole. I’m allergic to corn, so corn starch is out. I do use deodorant under my 38D’s, but I’m not too concerned about stains on my sports bras. After all, who’s going to see it?

Also, Carole, I have a similar problem, but rinsing in the shower with cold water helps lower the body temp before you hop out. My prednisone has this awful side effect of excessive sweating.
Non Ame Says:

donnatd;
Unless your smearing it on your nipples, your antiperspirant isn’t even going to have the chance to affect your mammary glands.
valerie whyte Says:

I find that using a natural crystal deodorant on areas of my body like under boobs and the leg pits works really well, stops the sweat and odor from forming, just buy one from your health food shop, dampen the tip and apply.They last for ages as well.
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Courtney Says:

Bring baby wipes to wipe yourself down and then change your bra/top. I tend to break out between my boobs if I don’t remove my sweaty sports bra right after I work out, and using baby wipes as a quick-clean option really helped me.

Also, wearing a bra made of moisture-wicking fabric helps a little, too. Cotton just gets uncomfortably wet to me.
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Xtina Says:

If you’ve got large breasts, try CORN STARCH, it’s a bit better than talc powder and much fresher feeling.

Advice for all you big-boobed girls…DON’T JOG ON THE TREADMILL BECAUSE YOU’LL GIVE YOURSELVES A BLACK EYE!!
tina Says:

I thought I was the only one with this problem. I’m only a 34b but always have to wear antiperspirant under and in between my swoobs each summer. It can’t be any worse that putting it under my arms every day of my life.
meerkatsrock Says:

i share carole’s problem. whenever i get out of the shower i continue sweating, especially under my breasts. even if i do a cold rinse at the end of my shower, i still end up standing in front of the fan for a while, doing my hair, make up, etc. hoping to cool down before i need another shower. ugh…
thanks everyone for the powder tip. i’ll be trying that next time i work out. sounds like it works great.
Nicole J. Butler Says:

Can’t you just towel off, use a baby wipe and take along a clean bra and tee to change into?
Crazy Gal Says:

I had augmentation done a few years ago.
Little did I know that I would actually have a problem with sweating under my boobs.
It is annoying and depending on what type of fabric you have on it can be embarrassing to have two half moons under each breast.
I use Dove antiperspirant and just for the hell on it one day I did a swipe under just one breast. Wow it works it is not uncomfortable just one swipe and just under the area where a wire would sit. Try it it works it has made life much bare-able.
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swits or swoobs Says:

I used to use baby wipes on them (36F) after a cycle but I found that the wipes worked too well, and within a short time I had a nasty, very red open wound there! Not so nice! Now I use a soft tissue and some baby talc. So far it’s working without stripping the skin off.
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Princess Amy G. Dala Says:

This bothers me even with my modest 36Bs. The Lush solid deos are all right, but for long days or tight dresses I swipe on the antiperspirant.
Peri swits Says:

I recently reduced my 36F’s to C’s. Even with the smaller size, I am perimenopausal and get swits with my hot flashes. Powder is not enough. My derm suggested I wash with antibacterial soap there since you don’t stink until there is bacteria. I’m going to try the crystal thing – keep you posted.
Running Bear Says:

Sweat s not the problem (unless you are worried over wet marks) it is stale sweat that lingers, irritates and smells. Accept that sweat is natural and cools you. Breasts need to be exercised like any part of the body. A simple exercise to allow your breast tissue to ‘have a drink’ is to bend forward placing your chest wall horizontal to the ground (hips at right-angles). Stay here for 5-10 breathes. Avoid if medical problems ie hypertension. Allow mother earth to work via gravity. Chest opening exercises and backbends also help. Topless dancing, massages or wiggles that allow the breast to freely move also help. Learn to love your natural anatomy do not hate it as an inconvenience. Yoga teacher and medical professional.
Conclusion: exercise.