Sweating in Class? 11 Ways to Prevent Pit Stains at School

If doing homework on how to not sweat at school is on your to-do list, you’ve come to the right place.

Perhaps you’ve had your share of stressful situations:

  • Giving a presentation to a crowded classroom
  • Asking your crush to prom or a classmate on a date
  • Running the mile on during gym class

Sweating at school is common, but that doesn’t make it any less uncomfortable or distracting. Here are 12 tips on how to keep your cool and not sweat a lot at school: before, during and after.

  1. Keep your body clean
  2. Swap out your deodorant for antiperspirant
  3. Keep your underarms groomed
  4. Drink lots of water
  5. Avoid spicy foods at lunch
  6. Avoid energy drinks
  7. Dress in layers
  8. Wear colors that hide sweat
  9. Stick to a laundry routine
  10. Wear a sweat proof undershirt
  11. When all else fails, consult your doctor

1. KEEP YOUR BODY CLEAN

Showering or bathing every day is one of the best things you can do if you don’t want to sweat too much at school. Not only does keeping your armpits clean help keep body odor under control, it just makes you feel good in general. Make sure your armpits are clean and dry before applying antiperspirant for the best results.

Read:  6 Ways to Stop Sweating During Puberty from Taking Over Your Life

2. SWAP OUT YOUR DEODORANT FOR ANTIPERSPIRANT

You might think that deodorant and antiperspirant are the same. But deodorants only mask body odor, while antiperspirants are designed to prevent sweating.

If you’re looking for a way to prevent pit stains at school, an antiperspirant is your first line of defense. Antiperspirants contain aluminum chloride, an ingredient that blocks sweat from escaping your pores.

Here are some DOs and DON’Ts on using antiperspirant:

  • DO apply antiperspirant before bedtime: Your body temperature naturally cools down at night and you sweat less, enabling your skin to absorb your antiperspirant and block your sweat glands. When you apply antiperspirant at night, it creates a sweat barrier that lasts into the next day.
  • DO apply on clean, dry skin: Keep this in mind if you shower at night. And, you won’t have to reapply in the morning, even if you shower again.
  • DON’T over-apply antiperspirant: Over-applying deodorant or antiperspirant can cause the product to flake off into your clothes or cause white streaks on your shirts. Yuck. For best results, apply a thin, even layer of antiperspirant to dry skin once per day. Wait for it to dry completely before putting your shirt on.
  • DO try a prescription-strength antiperspirant: If regular antiperspirant doesn’t cut it, try a stronger over-the-counter brand like SweatBlock or Certain Dri. You can also talk with a doctor about trying a prescription-strength antiperspirant.
  • DON’T use on irritated skin: Sensitive skin can get irritated by antiperspirants. Don’t use antiperspirants on broken skin or immediately after shaving to avoid stinging and rashes.

3. KEEP YOUR UNDERARMS GROOMED

Armpit hair can trap excess moisture. Trimming or shaving your pits regularly will reduce wetness and keep your pit stains under control.

4. DRINK LOTS OF WATER

Drinking plenty of water and fluids is a simple and natural way to keep sweating under control. Try keeping a reusable water bottle nearby so you can remember to drink throughout the day.

Sometimes drinking enough water is difficult. Do you wear your teachers out asking for bathroom passes every other period? Eating fruits, veggies and other foods with high water content can also help you hit your hydration goals.

5. AVOID SPICY FOODS AT LUNCH

Spicy foods trick your nervous system into believing you’re hot, causing you to sweat to cool down. If you sweat a lot during meals, you may want to avoid or cut back on the following:

  • Spicy foods like hot sauce and jalapeños
  • Spicy snacks like Flamin’ Hot Cheetos or ghost pepper chips
  • Pungent foods and spices like curry, pepper and garlic
  • Hot beverages like hot chocolate and soup

6. AVOID ENERGY DRINKS

Drinking caffeine increases brain activity, which helps to reduce tiredness and increase alertness when you’ve stayed up too late studying. Caffeine also stimulates your central nervous system, which can kick your sweat glands into high gear.

Caffeine in energy drinks is much higher than coffee, which has about 95 milligrams of caffeine per serving. Caffeinated energy drinks like Monster, Rockstar, and 5-Hour Energy have up to twice as much caffeine as coffee, setting you up for an energy burst and extremely sweaty pits.

7. DRESS IN LAYERS

Dressing in layers helps you avoid getting cold or overheating once you start sweating. When you wear a single layer of tight clothes, the fabric constricts your armpits and shows stains quicker.

Deodorant and antiperspirant also rub off more easily on tight clothing. Wearing loose, layered shirts made of cotton and linen can help with airflow and keep your pits cool and dry.

8. WEAR COLORS THAT HIDE SWEAT AT SCHOOL

Some colors are better than others when it comes to disguising sweat. When looking for shirts that hide sweat stains, go for the extremes — super dark colors (black, navy, dark gray), very light colors (white, pale pink) and bold patterns like plaid are good choices.

9. STICK TO A LAUNDRY ROUTINE

Now that you’ve found the right shirts to wear, keep them clean! The longer a sweaty shirt sits in your hamper, the stronger the stain will set in. Washing your shirts and school uniforms regularly will help keep sweat stains in check.

If you can’t get a load of laundry done right away, wash your sweaty shirts by hand in a clean sink with a little bit of detergent and cold water.

Tip: If you find icky yellow stains on your shirts, don’t treat them with bleach – it will only worsen the stain. Check out these tips for getting sweat stains out of your shirts.

10. WEAR A SWEAT PROOF UNDERSHIRT

One of the best ways to protect your confidence and shirts at school is by wearing a sweat proof undershirt.

A sweat proof undershirt provides a barrier between your skin and your clothing. The Thompson Tee for men and women boasts Hydro-Shield sweat proof technology that absorbs sweat and prevents gross pit stains from appearing on your clothes.

thompson tee undershirt

11. WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS, CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR

A certain amount of sweating is normal. But some people have a medical condition called hyperhidrosis, which causes excessive sweating for no reason. If you sweat a lot even when you’re sleeping or resting, you may want to talk to your doctor about treatment options for your sweat.

THOMPSON TEES KEEP YOU COOL AT SCHOOL

If you struggle with how not to sweat a lot at school, remember: It’s not you; it’s your hormones. Puberty is hard on everyone, and not everyone can pass the test on knowing how to not sweat at school.

Try wearing a Thompson Tee and you’ll never have to worry about raising your hand or being a sweaty mess in class. The Thompson Tee is the only patented sweat proof undershirt guaranteed to keep you sweat mark-free at school.

Try a Thompson Tee risk-free! Our shirts are backed by a 30-day guarantee — wear it or wash it to decide if it’s right for you.