The puberty stage is the period when the hormones become active and the development of secondary sex characteristics contributes to a young person’s self-consciousness. There are many factors that make him feel anxious and uncomfortable. When this happens, he begins to sweat excessively, usually in the face, hands and armpits. Sweating becomes profuse sometimes that the acidity of the sweat fluid reacts with the bacteria in the body by spreading rapidly and causing bad odor.
Because teens are still young and their skin is easily irritated by strong ingredients, using over-the-counter deodorants and antiperspirants may not be advisable. Some natural deodorants can be made at home using baking soda.
Baking soda is chemically known as sodium bicarbonate or sodium hydrogen carbonate. It is crystalline white fine powder. Because baking soda is a base, its function in personal hygiene is to neutralize the acid produced by the sweat glands and serves as antibacterial which stops the bacteria causing bad odor. Unlike deodorants and antiperspirants, baking soda does not leave any stain on the clothes. Here are few simple baking soda remedies to hyperhidrosis:
Baking Soda for Underarm Sweating
Some have tried dabbing baking soda using powder puffs to the underarms. Use the powder puffs as your applicator. It works and keeps the armpits dry and without smell for many hours.
A mixture of baking soda and cornstarch can help reduce sweating. Baking soda is an alkaline that promotes evaporation of sweat. Mix equal quantities of baking soda and cornstarch. For fragrance, add a few drops of essential oil of your choice and apply on dry armpits.
Baking Soda for Sweaty Hands and Feet
For palmar hyperhidrosis or sweaty palms, follow this simple procedure:
- In two separate bowls or aluminum pans, fill them with warm or hot water. Pour in equal parts of baking soda to make a very cloudy solution. The baking soda will settle at the bottom so mix the solution thoroughly.
- For 25 minutes, dip your hands in the solution. The water must be warm or hot so that the pores will open up and the baking soda can penetrate your skin. Occasionally rub your hands together with clumps of baking soda from the pan.
- Remove hands from the solution. Just towel-dry them and do not wash with soap and water. As much as possible, retain the residue of baking soda on your skin.
This may also work well with plantar hyperhidrosis or excessive foot sweating. Try the procedure for five consecutive days and you will notice reduced sweating in these areas.
Baking Soda of Excessive Generalized Sweating
If you seem to sweat all over your body even after shower or bath, having a baking soda bath can help.
- During bath or shower, wash with clean soap and water; then exfoliate your skin using loofah or dry sponge. Exfoliating will open your pores so that the baking soda can penetrate effectively into the pores.
- Add ½ to 1 cup of baking soda to the tub filled with warm water.
- For 15-20 minutes, soak yourself in the tub. Grab some clumps of baking soda at the bottom of the tub and rub into your body especially the armpits, hand, feet, chest and back.
Success in reducing excessive sweating can be evident after trying this procedure for five days or more. Skin drying or chaffing will be the common side effect but you can always use moisturizer to treat dry skin.
Does this really work and if so can it stop the sweating for good if done every day?
I sweat a lot and the smell is not good. I’ve tried different kinds of deodorant/antiperspirant but it all didn’t work. Then, somebody had told me to use alum instead, again it failed me. So I figured if baking soda baking soda is so good in getting rid of smell and use to clean somany things why not use it on my armpit instead. I tried it and amazingly it works! My armpit stays dry and odor free throughout the day. After taking a shower I just dub a little bit and that’s it. It’s cheap and it works great.