Excessive Sweating During Exercise

Anyone can develop excessive sweating during a workout, no matter their fitness level. Excessive sweating during exercising does not mean that you are out of shape -- in fact it can sometimes signal the contrary. In order to properly prevent and treat excess sweating, it is important to understand what kinds of conditions cause it to occur in the first place.

Symptoms

Symptoms of excess sweating while exercising can vary from person to person. You can notice frequent, excessive wet spots that soak through your clothes. This perspiration can appear anywhere on your body including your face, back, chest, underarms, feet and hands. This abnormal amount of sweating can disrupt your exercise routine, causing you to lose grip on exercise equipment or weights. It can also be embarrassing, making you self-conscious about exercising in public.

Causes

According to the America's Authority on Fitness website, excessive amounts of sweat during exercise develop when your core body temperature elevates. The eccrine sweat glands then release the body's fluid, forcing it to the skin's surface to cool down the body. This sweat is supposed to evaporate, but in humid environments, it can be difficult. As a result, more sweat remains on the body. In addition, excessive sweating can be a sign that you are physically fit. This is the way the body adapts to consistent physical exercise.

Treatments

To stop excessive sweating during exercise, take a break to wash your face and wipe yourself with a towel or wet wash cloth. Turn on a fan, lower the air conditioning or open a window to reduce the humidity in the air. In addition, use an over-the-counter antiperspirant to prevent excess sweating. If these do not help, a doctor can prescribe an antiperspirant containing aluminum chloride.

Warnings

The MedlinePlus website warns that you should contact a doctor if excessive exercise-induced sweating is accompanied by a fever, pain in the chest, extreme shortness of breath or a rapid heart rate that lingers after you stop exercising. In addition, seek medical attention if excessive sweating develops even when you are not exercising or occurs while you sleep. These symptoms could be signs of a serious medical condition such as a heart attack, infection or hyperthyroidism.