I'm about to talk about sweat and armpits.

I'm about to talk about sweat and armpits.

It has just dawned on me at my big age that I may have hyperhidrosis (in my armpits, specifically).

When I did a post (probably 2020-ish) about Lume deodorant, I mentioned that I had stopped using antiperspirants even more years ago.  There were several reasons I gave for that, and one of the main ones was that the antiperspirants containing aluminum made me itchy and miserable.  I'd tried regular ones, and then tried Dove Clinical, Mitchum, etc., and I'd still sweat through them all.  I didn't have insurance back then, had bigger things to worry about, and had no idea that this was really not normal, so I've just been living with it.

Going aluminum-free feels a lot better to my skin, so I've been using various deodorants.  That's fine.  I'm not smelly as long as I stay on top of my hygiene.  But the sweat...  Yikes.

Now that I am medicated, insured, and life doesn't feel like a struggle, I have the bandwidth to figure this out.  I also have more incentive to.

I am trying very hard to be my best self, especially regarding my career... and I am sitting in an office, cold as usual, and sweating through my clothes in a very obvious manner.  I am in the desert and it's not even evaporating faster than I'm sweating.  It's embarrassing.  It makes me feel colder, which makes me want to put on a coat/blazer, which only makes it worse.  I feel like I can't win.

I have some armpit pads (that are like pantyliners for your armpits), and I have to use 3 per armpit to keep a stain from showing through.  I don't love creating waste, it feels bulky and uncomfortable, it may be visible to others, and overall I am not enjoying it.  I also have these washable tops that you can wear... they're like tiny shirts, but with padded armpits to catch the sweat.  I am sweating through those, as well.  Even right now I am dripping sweat.  I am currently in a nightgown only, feeling slightly chilly, and yet...

Clearly, this is an issue.  I'm going to bring it up with my dermatologist.

I've read that there are medicated wipes, so I would like to start there.  The downsides could be dry eyes and mouth, which may not be ideal in this climate, but I think it's worth trying and seeing if I get those symptoms.  There's a procedure called MiraDry, but I've ruled that out because it can cause your armpit hair not to grow, and mine is very affirming to me and I want to keep it.  There is also botox, which would have to be repeated maybe 2-3 times a year, but it wouldn't affect my hair and I'm unbothered by needles, so that may be worth looking into if the wipes don't work out.

Anyway, that's what is on my mind right now.  It's so wild how you can live with something and not even be aware that it could be an actual medical issue.  Much like ADHD.  😂

I have always been such a mess (or at least have felt like I was), so the fact that I am now able to take better care of myself feels amazing.  Maybe I won't feel like a messy goblin forever.  That would be nice.