Sweat marks suck! That’s why we all try to avoid or secretly hide them.
Nearly 5% of the world’s population(400 million people) suffer from excessive sweating or hyperhidrosis – it’s literally a pain in the butt!
And it’s even worse now, as our lifestyle pushes us to spend long hours sitting on chairs (for work, school, and gaming to name a few).
But don’t worry, there are some secret solutions to beat the bum sweat on chairs and pants:
Let me explain: 👇
What Causes Bum Sweat?
Before heading to the solution, let’s briefly discuss why it happens in the first place:
Sweating is the body’s natural cooling mechanism. But, the amount and the distribution of sweating varies for each person based on:
- Genetics
- Sweat glands distribution throughout the body
- Body fat %
- Sitting for long hours
- tight or thick clothes/underwear
- Spicy foods, alcohol, and caffeine
Additionally, other factors like feelings stressed, staying in hot & humid places, and sitting on leather or plastic chairs can worsen the problem.
There are two types of sweat glands in the body:
- eccrine glands: Located all over the body(including your butt) – eccrine sweat is just water and salt and doesn’t have any smell.
- apocrine glands: Located in the armpits, groin, and around the nipple area – apocrine sweat contains proteins and lipids which smell bad
As I mentioned above, although butt sweat can be visible on your back or the chair, fortunately, it doesn’t have any smell – but still, a pain in the butt!
Now, let’s see how you can get rid of the sweat marks:
How to Stop Bum Sweat on Chairs?
Answer:
To stop bum sweat on chairs, use antiperspirants to keep your skin dry, wear breathable clothes and underwear, take frequent breaks to walk, and use standing desks. Also, avoid spicy foods, caffeine, and alcohol, and make sure to stay hydrated throughout the day. Additionally, you can use cooling accessories like desk fans, gel cushions, and cool towels.
Now, let’s discuss each in detail:
1. Antiperspirant or Baby Powder
Antiperspirant is a skincare product that helps reduce sweating. antiperspirants usually have aluminum salts that create a barrier on the skin and block your sweat glands.
NOTE: Do not mistake antiperspirants for deodorants. You should not use deodorants. They don’t reduce sweating, they just cover up the smell.
Baby powders are another lighter option to prevent sweat. Usually made from talcum, Baby powders can absorb moister and reduce sweating too.
However, they may not be as effective as antiperspirants, since they lack ingredients like aluminum.
To achieve the best results, make sure to clean and dry your body before applying these products.
NOTE: Do not overuse these products. Try to find the right balance between your body temperature and sweating.
NOTE: If you have sensitive skin, test these products on small patches of your skin before using them on large areas.
2. Loose Clothing
When you wear tight jeans, there is no airflow on your skin, and the sweat keeps building up on your butt which leads to wet spots on chairs and your butt.
Avoid tight clothing, leather, and synthetic materials. Instead, opt for looser/breathable ones that are made from cotton or bamboo.
Also, if you’re always worried about your butt sweat being visible, avoid light-colored clothes, and stick to darker colors. Moister in dark clothes is almost non-visible.
3. Breathable Underwear
Just like I discussed for clothing, when choosing underwear, avoid tight synthetic products and stick to natural cotton ones.
Additionally, some people have mentioned that Silver-Infused Underwear has solved their sweating problem.
This type of underwear has several potential benefits including moister-wicking properties that draw moister from your skin and speed up the evaporation process. You can try them yourself and see if they work for you.
On top of that, you can take extra underwear in your bag if the sweating is very excessive. Just take a quick break to the bathroom and change your underwear.
4. Cooling Accessories:
Here are some useful products that can effectively prevent bum sweat on chairs:
A. Gel Seat Cushions/Pads:
Gel seat Cushions or Pads are designed with breathable covers and gel inserts that absorb heat and promote airflow. They also reduce the pressure on your butt too.
B. Secret Hack: Cooling Towels!
Cooling towels are made of specific materials that stay cool as long as they’re wet.
I don’t advise putting them on your seat since they have an evaporation mechanism and need to breathe freely.
But you can wrap them on your back or even have them near and use them from time to time to lower your body temperature.
C. Desk Fans:
As I mentioned earlier, you don’t always have control over your workstation’s temperature.
But there are a lot of small, portable desk fans that provide a pleasant breeze and reduce excessive sweating.
5. Choosing the Right Chair
Comfort & ventilation. That’s all you need to focus on when picking chairs:
Comfort:
Opt for an ergonomic chair with proper height and tilt adjustments that can support your natural sitting posture.
A well-designed chair lowers the pressure on your butt which leads to less sweating in that area.
Ventilation:
Mesh chairs are excellent options for preventing bum sweat. They have the best air circulation on the back which keeps the body – especially your butt – cool and dry.
Some office chairs also have grooves on the seat and the back which work in a similar way as mesh.
But if you don’t like mesh or groovy chairs, and prefer a normal one, make sure to choose a chair with breathable fabrics to keep it cool down there.
6. Frequent Breaks to Walk
Stand up and walk around regularly if you can to stop the build-up of sweat.
you can also go to the bathroom and clean your back from sweat or even use the powders I mentioned earlier.
Taking breaks also helps circulating fluids in your body and prevents swelling in the feet.
Standing up helps with airflow circulation and prevents bum sweat:
7. Standing Desks (Changing Position):
Sitting is the new smoking!
Standing desks have a wide variety of benefits and in our case, they help to keep our butts dry 🙂
If possible, opt for a standing desk and change between sitting/standing regularly.
Standing desks usually have no drawers and therefor better airflow. So, Just like walking, standing can help with the airflow and cooling your back.
But even if you can’t use standing desks, make sure your desk has a proper height and try to change your position in the chair regularly to prevent wet spots on the chairs and your butt.
8. Diet: Avoid Spicy Foods, Caffeine, And Alcohol
While there are no specific foods that can prevent excessive sweating, there are certain foods that can even worsen the problem.
A. Spicy Foods:
Spicy foods like peppers have certain chemicals that trigger the nerves that make your body feel hot. Consider lowering spicy foods in your diet to prevent bum sweat on seats!
B. Caffeine:
Coffee, tea, soda, and energy drinks contain caffeine. Too much caffeine can result in a higher heart rate, anxiety, and anxiousness which can lead to excessive sweating.
If you’re dealing with some sweat, consider lowering your caffeine consumption or shifting to decaf drinks.
C. Alcohol:
Similarly to caffeine, alcohol increases the heart rate too. it also widens our body vessels, causing a temporary increase in body temperature, leading to more sweating.
Avoid or at least reduce alcoholic drinks. It reduces sweating, and – more importantly – it changes your life!
9. Stay Hydrated
Paradoxically, drinking adequate water reduces sweating.
when your body is hydrated, it can regulate the temperature more efficiently which leads to less sweating.
I suggest having a bottle of water on your desk throughout the day. it’s a small change, but for me personally, it has significantly increased my water intake.
10. Room Temperature
It’s common sense. The hotter it is, the more you sweat!
I know that in most public places like offices or schools, you don’t have control over the room temperature. But if possible, consider a desk fan and direct it towards yourself.
Also, if you live in a cool place, try to pick the desks near windows.
On the other hand, if you have control over the room temperature at home/office, try keeping the temperature between 68°F (20°C) and 72°F (22°C).
It’s usually comfortable for everybody and helps you beat the sweat.
11. Hygiene practices:
Body hair absorbs and traps sweat. therefore, it reduces evaporation and keeps the skin wet.
Shaving your body, especially around the butt area helps manage the sweat to some extent.
Also, make sure to take cool showers regularly especially after physical activities to lower your body temperature.
12. Consult with a Healthcare Professional
In most cases, it’s not a major problem and you can simply stop or at least reduce bum sweat by following the instructions above.
However, if it’s still bothering you and it’s affecting your day-to-day life and productivity, I suggest consulting with a dermatologist.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why does my bum sweat when I sit down?
Excessive bum sweat when sitting can be caused by several reasons including: Sweat glands distribution throughout the body, wearing tight clothing/underwear, sitting for long hours, and consuming too much alcohol or caffeine.
Additionally, other factors like feelings stressed, staying in hot & humid places, and sitting on leather or plastic chairs can worsen the problem.
2. Is it normal for my bum to sweat?
Yes, it is entirely normal for your bum to sweat. Sweat glands are distributed throughout the body and help your body to regulate its internal temperature by producing sweat.
Having said that, based on genetics and other factors I mentioned earlier, the amount and the distribution of sweat is different from one person to another.
So, if you’re struggling with excessive bum sweat and it’s affecting your comfort and productivity, consider utilizing some of the strategies mentioned above to manage your sweat.
3. How do you get rid of the sweaty bum smell?
The good news is that bum sweat is produced by eccrine glands. Unlike apocrine sweat containing smelly proteins and lipids, Eccrine sweat is just water and salt and doesn’t smell.
However, when mixed with the bacteria on the skin, eccrine sweat can become a bit smelly too.
So, keeping those areas clean and dry, wearing breathable underwear, and applying antiperspirants can help you get rid of that sweaty bum smell.
4. What type of clothing to wear to stay sweat-free?
Avoid tight clothing, leather, and synthetic materials. Instead, opt for looser/breathable ones that are made from cotton or bamboo.
Also, if you’re always worried about your butt sweat being visible, avoid light-colored clothes, and stick to darker colors. Moister in dark clothes is almost non-visible.
5. What Chair to Use to Prevent Bum Sweat?
Office chairs with mesh seats and back are the best choice as they help with the airflow and prevent the buildup of sweat on your back.
However, if you don’t have access to mesh chairs, pick one with breathable fabrics and avoid leather. Make sure it’s ergonomic and has a well-balanced weight distribution to reduce the pressure on your butt.
Conclusion
Over 5% of the population (400 million people) deal with excessive sweating in the world. Is your seat wet when you get up from the chair?
Well, here’s how you can prevent sweat on chairs:
- Antiperspirants & Baby Powder
- Loose Clothing
- Breathable Underwear
- Using Cooling Accessories
- Choosing The Right Chair
- Frequent Breaks to Walk
- Standing Desks(Changing Position)
- Diet: Avoiding Spicy Foods, Caffeine, and Alcohol
- Staying Hydrated
- Controlling Room Temperature
- Hygiene Practices
- Consult with a Healthcare Professional
If your bum sweat is very excessive, one method alone, may not be enough. But combining some of the techniques will do the trick.
I hope this article helps you get rid of the sweat 🙂
