Excessive Butt Sweat: Why and How to Stop?

What is excessive butt sweat?

Hyperhidrosis is the name of a medical condition, with its primary symptom being excessive sweating. This excessive sweating can affect a single part of the body, multiple areas, or the entire body (referred to as generalized hyperhidrosis).

The buttock region, specifically the buttock crease, is one of the areas of the body that can be affected by hyperhidrosis.

The diagnosis of hyperhidrosis is typically made through a simple interview conducted by a general practitioner or dermatologist. They may use the HDSS (Hyperhidrosis Disease Severity Scale) score to quantify the severity of hyperhidrosis.

Is excessive butt sweat common?

There are no studies describing the frequency of excessive sweating specifically in the buttock region. In fact, this is not a body area that is often listed in questionnaires that inquire about excessive sweating, unlike, for example, hyperhidrosis of the hands or intimate areas.

In 2013, I conducted a survey among people visiting my website on hyperhidrosis in french. Several individuals mentioned sweating from their buttocks, under their buttocks, or the buttock area.

It is reasonable to assume that some people do experience excessive sweating in the buttocks, but it may not be the most commonly affected area.

Why do the buttocks sweat a lot? Causes

Sweat is produced by sweat glands, which are found throughout the body, with higher concentrations in certain areas.

The body regions that sweat the most are those where:

1. There are a lot of sweat glands.
2. The body part is less ventilated due to skin folds, making it warmer.
3. The area is often covered with close-fitting clothing.

Therefore, the buttocks can be a source of excessive sweating, especially when individuals spend long periods sitting, which further reduces ventilation to this part of the body.

How to sweat less from the buttocks and mask odors?

Let’s explore everything that can be done to reduce excessive sweating of the buttocks without medical treatment. Later, we’ll discuss medical treatments.

Choosing the Right Seating (because butt sweat on chair)

You’ve probably noticed that the longer you sit without moving, the more you sweat from your buttocks. This is even more true if the seat is made of non-breathable fabric or plastic and is very enveloping.

Certain seats can help reduce sweating. Here are the features to look for:

• A seat with openings or spaces in it.
• A less enveloping seat that requires you to change positions frequently.
• Wooden upholstery rather than thick fabric or plastic.
• Patterns or wood grain instead of solid colors (to make potential sweat marks less visible).

Wearing Loose, Breathable Clothing that Wicks Away Moisture

I detailed in the article on sweating in groin areas what types of clothing to prefer. The same reasoning can be applied to buttock sweating.

Opt for clothing that is:

• Loose-fitting.
• Does not cling to the skin.
• Multi-colored (to make sweat marks less visible).

Wearing Antiperspirant Underwear

Perhaps you’ve already noticed that wearing certain types of underwear can make you even more uncomfortable. There are underwear designed to better absorb sweat, both for women and men.

Choosing cotton or linen textiles

There are textiles available in various materials. Here are the materials to prioritize for your clothing and underwear:

✅ Cotton;
✅ Linen;
✅ Bamboo.

These three materials are more breathable and can partially absorb sweat.

Conversely, it’s better to avoid:

❌ Silk;
❌ Velvet;
❌ Terry cloth.

These materials are less breathable, and sweat is not well-evacuated, resulting in a more noticeable feeling of moisture.

Polyester clothing is unique: it dries faster but can also more easily develop unpleasant odors. You’ll need to consider which is less uncomfortable for you.

🔗 On a related note:

• Sweat-resistant sheets;
• Sweat-resistant slippers.

Changing multiple times a day

Some people with excessive sweating are required to change their clothes several times a day, especially those affected in multiple body areas. This can be an option for those bothered by buttock hyperhidrosis, although it can be inconvenient. Having a spare outfit “just in case” and a place to dry your clothes can help avoid some awkward situations.

Can I use deodorants and antiperspirants on my buttocks?

Many people rightly ask this question. Why should antiperspirants be reserved for the armpits? Some brands do, in fact, develop products specifically for other parts of the body, such as Carpe (see on Amazon).

Their mode of action remains the same, as do the molecules used. Only the concentration and form may vary to make them more suitable for the targeted body part.

There are specifically designed for the buttocks or there is one for the thighs and for the buttocks:

Please follow the instructions applicable to any part of the body:

• Apply on dry skin.
• Apply in the evening before bedtime (to allow the product time to penetrate).
• Monitor your skin’s reaction (risk of irritation).

What is the medical treatment for butt excessive sweating?

Only one study specifically addresses buttock hyperhidrosis (Eivelis 2014), suggesting the use of botulinum toxin injections. Let’s review the treatments for hyperhidrosis and whether they are suitable for use in the buttock area.

Local Treatment

It is possible to use antiperspirants containing oxybutynin or aluminum salts on the buttocks, as mentioned earlier in the article.

Iontophoresis is another local treatment for hyperhidrosis but does not apply to the buttock area, similar to Miradry.

The last local option is botulinum toxin injections for sweat, although it is less common to perform injections in this body area than in others.

General Treatment

Some individuals who are severely affected by hyperhidrosis turn to medication, especially if hyperhidrosis affects multiple parts of the body. Two main medications, available by medical prescription, can be taken:

• Oxybutynin (commonly known as Ditropan).
• Glycopyrrolate (or Robinul/Avert for its commercial name).

To do this, you will need to consult a dermatologist who “specializes” in or is knowledgeable about hyperhidrosis or a general practitioner.

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Do you have any comments or questions? Your comments are welcome 🙂 !

You may also like:

• My blog on hyperhidrosis
• Excessive sweating in groin

 📚 SOURCES

Lear W, Kessler E, Solish N, et al. An epidemiological study of hyperhidrosis. Dermatol Surg 2007;33(s1):S69–75

eivelis MP, Wolosker N, Krutman M, Kauffman P, Campos JR, Puech-Leão P. Treatment of uncommon sites of focal primary hyperhidrosis: experience with pharmacological therapy using oxybutynin. Clinics (Sao Paulo). 2014 Sep;69(9):608-14. doi: 10.6061/clinics/2014(09)06. PMID: 25318092; PMCID: PMC4192402.

Glaser DA, Galperin TA. Botulinum toxin for hyperhidrosis of areas other than the axillae and palms/soles. Dermatol Clin. 2014 Oct;32(4):517-25. doi: 10.1016/j.det.2014.06.001. Epub 2014 Jul 28. PMID: 25152345.

Totonchy MB. Onabotulinum Toxin A for Sacral and Intergluteal Cleft Hyperhidrosis. JAMA Dermatol. 2020 Apr 1;156(4):470-471. doi: 10.1001/jamadermatol.2019.4757. PMID: 32074252.