How to Prevent Sweat Stains

Dealing with sweat stains is a pain.

But it doesn't have to be.

It turns out that getting rid of unwanted sweat stains is easier than you'd think.

Today, you'll learn everything you need to know about how to prevent sweat stains. All you need to do is follow these 7 steps.

Step 1: Groom Your Underarms
Your underarm hair collects sweat and bacteria, often resulting in sweat stains. By trimming or shaving your underarms, sweat and bacteria won't linger.

Step 2: Switch to an Antiperspirant
Antiperspirant is designed to reduce excessive sweating, while deodorant is only designed to eliminate body odor. If your excessive sweating has caused sweat stains, then you'll want to start using an antiperspirant.

Step 3: Use Antiperspirant Correctly
Most people don't know that antiperspirant should be applied before you go to bed. It takes time for it to kick in and will then provide 12-48 hours of protection. If you are applying antiperspirant in the morning, then it may not be as effective because it won't kick in until the late afternoon. Also, make sure that you don't over apply. Just use a thin, even layer on your skin. If you use too much, the antiperspirant is not as effective.

Step 4: Wear an Undershirt
One of the best ways to avoid sweat stains is to wear an undershirt. You might sweat through your undershirt, but no one can see that.

Related: 6 Common Myths About Excessive Underarm Sweating (a.k.a. Hyperhidrosis)

Step 5: Wear Loose-Fitting Shirts
Try to find shirts that aren't as tight or constrictive. You'll sweat through those quicker and stains will show easily. Plus, you might end up rubbing your deodorant or antiperspirant on your shirt, which could cause stains.

Step 6: Avoid Certain Fabrics
Certain fabrics not only show sweat more, but also cause excessive sweating because they don't breathe well. Fabrics like silk, polyester, and nylon to name a few. Consider wearing cotton or linen because they won't cause you to sweat as much.

Step 7: Wash Sweaty Shirts Immediately
In order to avoid a stain, be sure that you wash your sweaty shirts as soon as possible. The longer the sweat stays on your shirt, the more time it has to set in and stain.

Related: 4 Unexpected Tips for People with Too Much Underarm Sweat

Overall, there are several things you can do to prevent sweat stains. If the tips above don't help, you might be experiencing excessive sweating (a.k.a. hyperhidrosis). If that's the case, you'll want to seek hyperhidrosis treatments, like miraDry®. miraDry® is a long-lasting, noninvasive treatment that targets and destroys the sweat glands in your underarms. It's a nonsurgical treatment that gets rid of your sweat glands for good.