3 Clothing Checks When Sweat Is Planning Your Workday

If getting dressed means checking which shirt will show a sweat mark, include that extra work when you describe the problem. Choosing clothing can be part of managing the day, alongside seeking care for the sweating itself.

Three clothing checks

1. Does the fabric feel comfortable? The AAD recommends breathable fabrics such as cotton. Check the garment you plan to wear, and tell the clinician about any clothing choices you have started avoiding.¹
2. Can you change into something dry? A spare set of clothes is another AAD suggestion. Pack the item you tend to need, then decide where you could change and where the worn item would go.¹
3. Would a clothing shield help? Underarm or dress shields help protect clothing from sweat. Check the product’s placement and care instructions before planning to wear it for a whole day.¹

Build a plan you can use

Set out the chosen outfit and any spare the evening before. Keep the spare in a bag you already take to work so that the arrangement does not depend on remembering a separate item.

Think about the hardest part of the day. It might be the walk from the parking lot, taking a jacket off during a meeting or finding somewhere to change. Tell the clinician which situation you want the care plan to address.

A sweat journal can help identify individual triggers. Record when sweating occurs and what you were doing. If the burden is affecting your mental health, counseling or a support group may help.¹

You do not have to justify seeking help by showing the worst shirt mark. Explain the planning, clothing purchases or avoided activities that concern you.

Arms Up includes a Fresh Log, a four-point sweat scale and a visit script. Use them to organize your observations and the workday questions you want reviewed. See the book.