Excessive Sweating in Winter

Causes of Excessive Sweating in Winter

It's really not that unusual to experience a bit of sweating in winter, or generally when it's chilly, and in most cases, it's nothing to do with being ill.

Often, it boils down to the wrong kind of winter clothing that we tend to go for when it's cold. We want something nice and warm, and ideally windproof and waterproof. The trouble with choosing these sorts of clothes, though, is heat build-up! Your body can't get rid of moisture properly. So, when you're wearing clothes that don't let air through, your body feels like it's overheating in those covered areas, even if it's freezing outside. This triggers sweating to cool down, and sometimes you end up sweating too much. The result? You feel the cold!

This is obviously made worse when you step into a heated room. It doesn't even have to be overly warm; just coming in from a cold winter's day is often enough. And there it is: a sweat attack! Again, the culprit is almost always the wrong winter gear! Because clothes are often too warm and don't breathe, your body gets the impression it's constantly warm in winter. So, when you walk into a heated space, your body registers a significant jump in temperature, and it reacts by sweating more. It's like your skin's air conditioning gets switched right on!

What You Can Do About Sweating in Winter:

• Technical clothing: Choosing the right technical fabrics can often be the answer. They allow your skin to "breathe" and quickly wick moisture away to the outside, helping your body regulate its temperature properly. In winter, people often prefer clothes with a high percentage of merino wool or other types of wool because they keep you warm while also allowing air to circulate, so you avoid excessive sweating and bad body odour. You'll be nice and cosy – but without getting all sweaty!
  
• The right deodorant makes all the difference: There's a massive range of different deodorants on the market. However, most of these mainly just provide a pleasant smell, which might be perfectly adequate for many people. But if you suffer from heavy sweating or bad body odour, you'll need something more effective: special deodorants called antiperspirants. These contain carefully selected ingredients that narrow your skin pores and reduce the amount of sweat produced.
  
• Ventilation: If you're prone to sweating, make sure you get enough "ventilation". As soon as you go into a warm room, take off your heavy layers so your body can quickly adjust to the new temperature.
  
• The right diet: The simplest way to protect yourself from annoying sweat attacks is often by eating the right things. And this isn't just for the summer months. If you tend to sweat easily anyway, you should try to avoid spicy and heavily seasoned foods. Lighter, cooling foods like fruit and vegetables are better.
  
• Losing weight: For many people, losing weight is a good way to reduce excessive sweating. Being overweight almost always requires significantly more energy reserves from your body than it does for people of a normal weight. So, if you're carrying a few extra pounds, you should aim to get your weight back into a healthy range. Then you'll probably find those annoying sweat attacks become less frequent.
  
• Avoid stimulants: Alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine stimulate your body and contribute to increased sweat production. So, you should keep your consumption of these substances to a minimum. Giving them up completely is, of course, the best solution – and your overall health will thank you for it sooner or later!
  
• Sauna visits: It might sound hard to believe, but it's true: regular visits to the sauna can also help you sweat less in the future. The high temperatures in the sauna train your body to better control the activity of your sweat glands, or to use them more efficiently. This can significantly reduce the amount you sweat in everyday life.
  
• Drinking plenty is important: People who sweat a lot and easily often mistakenly believe that the more they drink, the more they'll sweat. That's complete nonsense. In fact, you risk serious damage to your health. The fluid lost through sweating can no longer be balanced, which can lead to circulatory problems and other physical issues. Everyone should drink at least two litres a day, ideally water or unsweetened teas or fruit juices.
  
• Sport against sweating: Can exercise that makes you sweat actually be a good way to combat heavy sweating? Absolutely! Sport not only trains your muscles but also the function of your sweat glands. Regular exercise usually helps to regulate everyday sweat production back to a normal level. So, get off your backside and get training!
  
• Conquering anxiety sweat: Do you have problems with excessive sweating? Then you'll almost certainly know this feeling: the fear of sweating. The worst thing about it is that this anxiety actually makes your body sweat even more in the end. In this case, it's a good idea to seek advice from an experienced expert – for example, a psychologist or psychotherapist. They can help you get your fear of sweating under control.

First published: 12.05.2011

Updated: 27.05.2025