Sweaty Betty: The Struggles and Embarrassment of Excessive Perspiration

For some people, sweat is just another bodily fluid, but for others, it is a daily struggle that can lead to embarrassment and frustration. If you fall into the latter category, then you know that sweating can impact your confidence and self-esteem. Even on a fairly warm summer day, do you sweat so much that you resemble a champagne bottle that has been taken right out of the cooler and left to condense? Do you look like Queen Latifa after a mile-long run, even though you just walked out the door? Do you look like someone who’s been doing their college paper at a place where there’s no air conditioning? Can people have trouble figuring out if you just came right out of the shower or out of the gym? For people who sweat a lot, life can be difficult. These circumstances can be embarrassing. While people smile and welcome a sunny day in the month of May, you cheerfully wave it goodbye until August slowly – and thankfully – comes to an end.

The struggles of excessive perspiration are not just limited to warm weather or exercise. People who sweat a lot can feel the effects of their condition in everyday situations. Here are ten things only people who are prone to perspire would understand.

1. The Fear of the White T-Shirt
Thanks to your pit-stain problems, you dread the white T-shirt more than any other color. They won’t last a day, much less a week when it comes to “being spot-less”. The only white shirts you own are either huge mistakes or not-so-welcome gifts. With so much whites in your closet, you must own a bottle of bleach. And of course, if you don’t have the time to bleach away the yellows from the whites, you’d much rather throw away the shirt. Unless of course, you prefer to show off the size and color of your stains.

2. Unsuccessfully Trying Too Many Antiperspirants
The deodorant manufacturers talk about the “aluminum salts” that are believed to magically cure perspiration. You know it’s a sham, but you will still give it a try. No, not just one kind. You have tried, tested, and failed with several kinds. The roll-ons, the sprays, the cream-ish ones, and what-not. Yep, you’ve tried everything that should work to seal the sweat. What makes it even worse is when someone ever-so-kindly advises you try a product you are positive doesn’t work on you. Unfortunately, it doesn’t. For you “anti” with “perspire” is like “life” with “easy”. Is life ever easy? Thought so. Okay, let’s be thankful of the fact it helps mingle the smell with your own reek. At least, it works to conceal the secretions in its deceptive ways, right?

3. Envy of Models With Everlasting Makeup
It’s baffling how make-up can actually stick to the face. Your face? Not suited to make-up at all. The only thing that sticks to you is your own salts. Being a Sweaty Betty has caused you to hate makeup altogether. Black eyes, under eye circles, smeared lipstick, and a melting foundation – you end up looking worse than you did in the morning, thanks to a layer of powders lathered onto your face. You wonder how the head-banging punk-rock female celebrities (Britney-types) manage to keep their face looking pretty throughout their stage performance. You know all there is to know about “melt-proof makeup”. However, even with that mascara and liner they promised wouldn’t “bleed”, you’re still crying black in no time.

4. Avoiding Raising Your Hand High
Waving your hand high up in the air like a brainy Hermione is out of question for you. For you, flying a hand straight up towards the roof means revealing the sweat-soaked underarms. Except for in front of cab drivers – who are probably too busy wondering how much you’ll pay them to get out of sun-struck agony. Let’s be optimistic. Let’s hope that’s all they care about and not their brand-new seat covers. You also avoid flailing arms at all costs. To be nice to yourself and others, you keep the arms low. Better safe than sorry.

5. Showering Multiple Times a Day
You envy anyone who speaks of showering only once a day – and means it. God gave them compassionate sweat glands, unlike your own. Stressful situation or not, you are likely to “break a sweat” at any time or place and in any manner. Showering to rid yourself of that stinky situation is your only chance of seeming “calm”. You shower before work, you shower after work, you shower before bed, and (quite possibly) wherever you find a shower. A great portion of your day is comprised of showering and worrying when on earth you’ll get the chance to do so.

6. Never Being Known to Sunbathe
For you, it would be a pleasure to heavily lather a sun tan lotion, lay on a deck chair, and give yourself a “sunbathe” like every other normal person out on the beach on a fine summer day. Unfortunately, you can’t sunbathe because you know you’ll drown in your sweat within the first few minutes of “sunbathing”. Your sunny friend won’t let you get tanned. Oh no, my friend, you only get to bathe in your own sweat every time your sunny friend is around.

7. Dread of a First Date
You sincerely hope that your date would either be the understanding type, or much like you, they also have a serious sweat problem. Nervousness and all, you’re always worried about your first dates turning out to be one of your worst sweat-soaking episodes. Checking your arms to see how much you’ve perspired is going to be tricky. If your date is not perceptive enough, expect them to ask you why you’re occasionally peering into your arms.

8. Frequently Asked if You’re Nervous
Even on a normal day and in a very normal situation, you run the risk of looking like a nervous wreck. Thanks to your sweaty palms and sweat-dripping forehead, you are often approached and questioned about your not-calm composure. People tell you to relax or ask you if you’re okay. You are okay, of course – except for the perpetual and unconditional physiological response of sweating.

9. Not Dressing to Impress at Nightclubs
Hey, a sleeve-less tank top would do. The last thing you want to do is wear a full sleeve shirt to a nightclub where even practically bare outfits would get you sweating in no time. Moving while you’re grooving and being the life of the party is great. But once the sweat starts to drip on the dance floor, you’re glad the lights aren’t bright enough to display your sticky condition. Dirty Dancing anyone? Out of the question for a crazy sweater. Unless of course, your partner suffers from the same blessing.

10. Damp Ass From Sitting
Sitting on your butt on a warm, sunny day can be quite bothersome – and embarrassing too. The last thing you want to sit up from is a damp-ass, sweat-soaked seat that you sat on for too long. To save yourself from the embarrassment of questionably sopping up a chair, you prefer walking around every once in a while and cooling off your rear. Not only is it unpleasant to let your sweat make a crime scene-like chalk outline complimenting your butt size, but it’s also inconsiderate to leave behind a swamp for the next person willing to sit on the chair.

In conclusion, excessive sweating can be a daily struggle that can impact your confidence and self-esteem. Dealing with perspiration can be embarrassing and frustrating, ranging from the fear of the white t-shirt to not raising your hand in school. Sweaty Betty can be tough, but it’s possible to find ways to manage and handle excessive perspiration. Whether it’s antiperspirants, changing your wardrobe, or embracing your unique sweat glands, remember that you are not alone in this struggle.