How to Deal With Boob Sweat

Today it’s 32°C / 89.6°F, and I just got back from a hike in the woods with my dog. You can bet I’m feeling the heat - it's summer after all. And going from the hot and humid outdoors to my air-conditioned apartment makes me feel temporarily like I’m surrounded by the atmosphere of a rainforest.

We all sweat. Many of us use underarm deodorant daily, even in winter, to prevent moisture and odor. And we’re not really surprised when a hot day or extreme exertion makes us sweat more than usual. But boob sweat? Well, we don’t talk about how to deal with that quite as often.

Is Boob Sweat Normal?

The reassuring news is that breast sweat or boob sweat is entirely normal. After my hike, I hopped in the shower. My t-shirt, bra, and underwear were all damp with sweat. It’s nothing to be ashamed or surprised by. 

Our bodies sweat. Our underarms sweat. Our lower back sweats. Our boobs sweat too. It tends to be worse in summer.

Women with large breasts may feel this more keenly as there’s more boob surface to sweat from. Plus, moisture can more easily become trapped beneath or between the breasts, what's called 'underboob sweat.' Underboob sweat can be particularly bothersome as the skin beneath the boobs is very delicate and can chafe easily.

Breast sweat in itself is not something to worry about. It’s part of an active life, really. But it can cause:

• Chafing 
• Rashes
• Body odor/boob sweat smell
• Irritation/skin infections / bacterial infections / yeast infections
• Self-consciousness due to excess moisture
• Sweat stains on your favorite garments

… and that’s when you’ll want to do something about it.

How to Manage Underboob Sweat

As much as we want you to understand that sweating and boob sweat is normal, we also understand that there are times when we all want to keep it under control. 

Here are some to minimize the dreaded boob sweat:

Choose the Right Bra to Absorb Moisture

You might be tempted to think a sports bra is a great option if you’re experiencing sweaty boobs. After all, they’re designed for activities that make you sweat. This is true; they definitely absorb sweat. But they’re also designed to keep your boobs from moving about during high-impact activities.

This means they can be very constrictive to wear (indeed, they’re not recommended for normal wear for this reason). Moreover, the fabric of sports bras is often thicker than a normal bra. So they can also make you feel hotter. Again, another reason to keep them for sports.

Instead, opt for a light-fabric bra in a moisture- and sweat-wicking or natural fabric. Cotton bras can be great, and you might want to skip padded bra cups. Also, make sure your bra fits. Chafing will be exacerbated if you’re wearing the wrong size bra altogether.

Change Your Bra Often

One thing that can lead to increased odor and irritation is wearing the same bra continuously. On sweatier summer days, you might want to change your bra more often and make sure you wash your bras regularly.

Keeping the skin clean and dry is key, so make sure your bra is clean too, and once it gets damp, into the laundry it goes. Bonus: This will also help your bra last longer as sweat can degrade the material of your bras.

Use Wipes to Keep Sweaty Boobs Clean and Dry

We get it: Hopping into the shower isn’t always an option. You’re on the go, out and about, in the office, on the town. Carry body wipes in your purse and give yourself a little wipe down in the washroom. 

In a pinch, even baby wipes will help. Again, sweating itself isn’t a problem, but moisture can become one. So if you can keep your skin clean and dry, hopefully, you will protect yourself from chafing and irritation.

Wear Natural Fabrics & Loose-Fitting Clothes to Minimize Boob Sweat

Workout clothes are often tight and synthetic material, made of high-performance moisture-wicking fabric. And they work; they absorb sweat amazingly.

But tight, synthetic nylon or poly-blend fabrics can also be your enemy when it comes to sweat. Instead, allow your skin to breathe with loose-fitting, naturally breathable fabric. Just as linen bedding can feel cool and crisp on hotter days, so can a loose linen or cotton dress or shirt.

Be Gentle with Your Skin

Don’t let the fact you’re sweating send you into overdrive with harsh soaps and products, excessive scrubbing, or aggressive towel drying. 

Remember, your boobs and underboobs have some of the most sensitive skin on your body. You still want to care for your skin, and to agitate it may make matters worse. Use mild soaps and light, unscented moisturizers and lotions to keep your skin clean, calm, and healthy.

Try Anti-Chafing Powder Products to Absorb Excess Sweating

There are a few different powder products on the market that are specifically marketed as solutions for boob sweat and being anti-chafing. Lush Cosmetics Silky Underwear, Megababe Bust Dust, Fresh Body Fresh Breasts are just some of the powder products we’ve discovered. 

(Note: we haven’t tested these, so sharing these as resources to research rather than recommendations.)

You could also try body powder products not specifically aimed at boob sweat, like Gold Bond No Mess Powder Spray or baby powder, and focus especially in any skin folds.

A possible downside of powders, including baby powder,  is that they can cake (form a paste with sweat) and stain darker colored fabrics. So don’t apply them too liberally, and if you start to sweat excessively, you should still clean, dry, and reapply another light dusting.

Consider Aluminum-Free Deodorants / Anti-Perspirant to Stop Boob Sweat

Deodorant or antiperspirant doesn’t have to be just for your underarms. That’s right; you can apply it beneath your breasts too. 

Now, we realize that many women are trying to switch to natural deodorants, and here we come giving you another use for antiperspirant. Don’t fret: You can try your aluminum-free antiperspirant or natural deodorant here too. 

In fact, there’s a line of deodorants called Boobalicious aimed at your breasts (again, sharing as a resource, not an endorsement). 

Obviously, avoid potentially harmful ingredients (if you're unsure, talk to your doctor or dermatologist.)

Try Bra Liners

More sweat-wicking options: A reusable bra liner is another option to both absorb excessive sweat and to protect your bra from the damage of perspiration. 

While it may seem counter-intuitive to add more bulk (and therefore heat), these liners are usually made of natural materials like cotton or bamboo that help you stay cooler, dry, and prevent chafing and further irritation. Plus, these products are practically invisible. 

Some even use nursing pads to stop sweat and prevent irritation.

Other Suggestions...

If the internet is reliable for one thing, it’s for a lot of opinions around what works. While we definitely recommend going with the suggestions above, we want to share some other popular approaches:

• Putting panty liners in your bra: While we can see this working, it also creates a lot of environmental waste—ditto for paper towels.
• Applying foot cream: While it depends on the brand, foot cream is often cooling and anti-fungal, so it makes sense that this is a popular recommendation.
• Moisturizing with Moroccan argan oil: Some beauty insiders swear by this as a way of healing chafing and even preventing sweat. A few drops, and you get the bonus of moisturization. There’s nothing wrong with trying this as argan oil has many excellent properties.

Talk to Your Doctor or Dermatologist

If all of these solutions sound small fry compared to what you’re dealing with, it might be worth chatting with your doctor about excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis) and how to prevent sweat altogether.

Some of the more advanced solutions for hyperhidrosis include,

• Medication that reduces sweating
• Treating the areas with a weak electric current passed through water or on a wet pad (iontophoresis)
• Having Botox injections to temporarily close pores and prevent sweating under the armpits
• Surgery, for example, removal of the sweat glands

However, these are more extreme solutions, and such decisions should be made in close consultation with your healthcare provider.

In Conclusion: There's Nothing Wrong With Boob Sweat

But to come full circle: There’s nothing wrong with sweating. It’s a natural by-product of an active, healthy life or hotter weather. It’s how our body regulates its temperature. 

Outdated perceptions may linger that it’s not “ladylike” to sweat, but you know they were probably the same people (Uhm, let’s face it: men) who said women had to ride sidesaddle… so let’s just call it a day on such nonsense. For the most part, we say “sweat it and forget it.”

Written by Jane Flanagan — Updated on March 1, 2022.

We hope you found this post informative — but remember: we’re not doctors and this post is not medical advice! While all posts are fact-checked and well researched, we always recommend you chat with your doctor about any questions or concerns you might have regarding a medical condition. We’re here to support and educate, but never with the aim of disregarding professional medical advice you’ve been given. Phew, now that that’s out of the way, you can go on living unapologetically free.