8 Pads for Underarm Sweating

Sweat glands strike at the worst moments possible. You've probably felt that flash of heat and instant sweating when pitching a client or trying to impress a first date. Pads for underarm sweating help eliminate embarrassing sweat marks, pit stains and deodorant marks to keep you confident.

Beyond fueling your confidence, investing in underarm pads or shields also saves you on dry cleaning. Because these sweat shields act as a barrier between your body and dress shirt, sweat wears down the sweat pad and not your favorite shirt.

Pads for Underarm Sweating

You’ve probably browsed armpit pads online or maybe even tried one. In either case, here are some common pads for underarm sweating and what to expect when wearing each:

Skin-Adhesive Sweat Pads

Purax Pads: 30 count (2.4” x 3.9” x 3.2”)
MONDSS Underarm Sweat Pads: 10 count (size undisclosed)

Some adhesive sweat pads stick to your skin to prevent sweat from reaching your shirt and keep odor in.

To be discreet beneath your clothing, this type of underarm pad is lightweight and typically made of cotton or fleece material. In turn, they can only absorb light to moderate amounts of sweat.

How to Use Adhesive Sweat Pads:

When wearing sweat pads that stick to your skin, directions say to apply the pad to clean, dry and shaven armpits. Brands typically recommend you skip deodorant or antiperspirant because it can weaken the adhesive qualities. If you rely on deodorant for odor protection, the sweat pad will be less effective.

Brands like Purax only offer one shape of underarm pad, so they won't fit perfectly for everyone. For added coverage, place two pads side-by-side.

To apply, peel the pad, lift your arm above your head and press firmly against the skin for at least 10 seconds.

How to Remove Adhesive Sweat Pads:

Removing sweat pads from your underarms is like removing a Band-Aid. Ripping off the adhesive can hurt and leave a sticky residue behind. To avoid the painful separation of sweat pad and skin and eliminate unwanted residue, apply baby powder to your skin before the sweat pad.

Dabbing alcohol on a cotton ball and saturating the adhesive can also help lift the adhesive from your skin. Rubbing alcohol against your skin can cause burning, irritation or other reactions, so apply lightly.

Disposable Dress Shields That Stick to Your Shirt

StillCool: 50 count (3.74” x 4.72”)
Garment Guard Underarm Shields: Large 10 pack (5" x 3.9" oval)
Kleinert Underarm Shields: 24 count (5" x 5.75")
Disposable Underarm Sweat Guard By Kikar: 40 count (5” x 7”)

Other pads for underarm sweating stick directly to your shirt. These shields capture armpit sweat to prevent wet marks and yellow stains from forming on your shirt.

How to apply disposable dress shields:

To apply, peel off the adhesive strips and attach to your clothing under the arms (along the seam between the inner sleeve and the body of the top.) You can trim dress shields and pads for a more discreet fit.

Adhesive underarm pads work best when applied to cotton clothing. Stretchy fabrics and polyester or nylon blends don’t always mesh well with the adhesive. Also be cautious when wearing sweat pads with short sleeves because they could potentially fall out.

To ensure the pad stays stuck, spend extra time pressing down the edges — especially with oval-shaped pads like Garment Guard. Natural arm movements can loosen the edges of the sweat pad from your garment so they stick to you instead.

Like sweat pads that stick to your skin, disposable dress shields typically offer only one or two sizes. Because the pads are thin, dress shields aren't very absorbent and can shift around. For more coverage and sweat protection, you’ll likely need to apply two pieces per underarm.

Dress shields and skin-adhesive sweat pads are not made to last the entire day. Most brands recommend replacing the pad after a few hours.

When working with adhesive, sweat can also loosen these properties. If you sweat heavily, the pads might only last an hour or as little as a few minutes.

How to Remove disposable dress shields:

To take off the dress shield, simply remove your shirt and lightly pull off the pad. If left on your clothing for too long, the adhesive from the pad can permanently stick to your shirt. To avoid potentially ruining suit jackets and dress shirts, remove the pad immediately after use or simply don't use adhesive dress shields with these garments.

Because dress shields are often visible beneath white or light-colored clothing (like yellow or baby blue), steer clear of these colors when wearing both disposable and reusable dress shields.

Reusable, Machine-Washable Dress Shields

Kleinert’s: 1 pair (6” x 7 1/2")
Thompson Tee: 1 sweat proof undershirt

These machine washable, reusable dress shields from Kleinert’s are made from double ply 100% cotton and include a vinyl barrier.

Securing dress shields requires a few additional steps. You must either sew, pin or tape the pad into your shirt to secure it. If you sweat through the pad during the day, you will have to repeat these steps to replace it.

The Only Integrated Pad for Underarm Sweating

Unlike traditional sweat pads, Thompson Tee sweat shields are integrated into a soft, breathable undershirt. Instead of pinning, sticking or sewing the pad to your clothing, you simply throw on an undershirt and go.

Because Thompson Tees absorb 100% of underarm sweat and release it as vapor, you don’t have to swap out underarm pads during the day; sweat never shows through.

Thompson Tees also don’t compromise your skin or clothing with unpredictable adhesives. The premium combed cotton and rayon from bamboo undershirts feel luxurious against your skin, and the integrated underarm pad does all the heavy lifting for you. Unlike underarm pads you throw away after each use, Thompson Tees last up to a year — saving you time, money and headache.

Have you tried pads for underarm sweating? We'd love to hear about your experience in the comments below!