Why stress gets us in a sweat

Why do we even need to sweat?

Dead simple, really: because it's a good thing, and actually vital for staying alive. Every person *needs* to sweat, and should do. For instance, we sweat when we're doing exercise, if we've got a temperature, when we're in a warm environment, or if we're all wrapped up in too many layers.

In these situations, sweating makes sure our bodies don't overheat. The sweat evaporates off the surface of our skin, and that's what cools us down.

So, put simply: our skin's like the air conditioning... and sweat's the coolant, making sure the whole system works properly. When we sweat, it gets rid of any excess heat from the inside out.
It's not just physical effort or being too warm that gets our bodies heated up, mind you. Things like really spicy food, too much booze or caffeine can do it too – and so can too much stress and being wound up. The reason we sweat is always the same, even if it doesn't feel all that hot:

Your body's getting hot under the collar

Here are a few examples. You'll probably recognise one or two of these, eh?

1. My first job interview – really want to nail this one, because I'm desperate for this trainee position. Crikey! I'm so nervous – my hands are already clammy!
2. Giving my first speech in front of a big crowd. This is stressing me out more than I thought, and I can feel the beads of sweat on my forehead.
3. Normally, I don't get sweaty hands at all, but every time I know I'm about to shake hands with my extremely important client for the first time, my palms get absolutely soaking – properly wet, they do! What an awkward situation!

Our nerves playing a blinder (and making us sweat)

You've got sweat glands pretty much all over your skin. And there are loads of them on the palms of your hands, the soles of your feet, your forehead, and under your arms in particular.

When you're in stressful or threatening situations, your body chucks out more stress hormones. This gets the nerves that control sweat production all fired up, and they tell the glands to get sweating via a chemical messenger called acetylcholine.

People sweat in wildly different ways, mind you. One person might start sweating over the slightest little thing – while another won't even break a sweat after really hard work. But it's not just your physical state that matters; your mental state (like stress or mental exertion), changes in your life (like puberty and the menopause), and everyday habits (like spicy food, loads of coffee or alcohol) all affect how much you're prone to sweating and how often and heavily you do it.

Top tips for tackling stress sweat

Antiperspirants to stop the sweating

Antiperspirants are effective cosmetic products that reduce the activity of your sweat glands, and that helps to prevent nasty body odour too.
Have a look at everdry antiperspirants for long-lasting protection and immediate action against heavy sweating and smelly sweat.

Using the power of nature

A healthy diet doesn't just boost your immune system, it can also help you get a better handle on your sweating.

Off the menu: fags (cigarettes), booze, spicy grub, and too much meat.

On the menu: more fruit and veg.

For stress-related sweating on your hands and feet, alternating hot and cold foot baths with essential oils can also help.

Sage tea treatments can be promising too. For a treatment, it's best to drink at least a litre of it spread throughout the day for two weeks. A particularly good thing about sage is that it really calms your nerves!

Keep calm and carry on

I know, easier said than done. But the absolute best way to deal with stress sweat is naturally:

Don't let yourself get stressed out in the first place!

Stress and getting wound up are just part of life, aren't they? And if you learn to deal with everyday problems in a more laid-back way, then not every tricky situation will lead to an embarrassing sweaty outburst.

Take a bit of time out now and then and have a good deep breath. Treat yourself to something nice. If you can't find your inner peace on your own, why not give autogenic training or yoga a go?

It's really important to be able to handle stress and getting worked up better, and that starts with realising: what exactly stresses me out and then makes me sweat? Have a proper think about yourself and figure out what makes you feel good and what doesn't. You should do more of the good stuff and avoid the bad stuff if you can.

And even though it might sound a bit odd: getting enough exercise doesn't just train your body and mind, it trains your sweat glands too.

Clothes maketh the man (or woman)

Avoid clothes that are too warm, or clothes and shoes made of synthetic materials. Loose-fitting, airy, breathable clothes made of cotton or technical fabrics are better, as are open shoes or shoes made of real leather.

Daily washing and changing your clothes every day should be a given, really.

First published: 12/05/2011

Updated: 27/05/2025