When hyperhidrosis makes office life awful: 18 coping strategies I learned over 15 years

My boss stood over me. In a booming voice, he dictated the quote he wanted me to include from him in the company press release I was drafting.

He was in a rush as usual, but he kept changing his mind about what he wanted to say. My fingers were flying across my keyboard, trying to keep up with the words he was barking out.

As we went, my hands were getting sweatier and sweatier with every word I typed.

Great, I thought. Here we go.

I looked down and started seeing small pools of sweat forming on my keyboard. It was happening.

Every time I lifted my right hand from my keyboard to my mouse, I started leaving behind sweat. The pool was getting bigger.

There’s no way he’s not noticing, I thought to myself.

I tried to stay focused on the words he was chirping out, but my anxiety levels were rising. My sweating has set in and it was getting bad.

He’s gotta be seeing this.

The shame spiral started, and I could feel myself starting to retreat inwards. It was hard to focus on the words he was saying, as I tried to hold it together.

By this point, my keyboard was soaked. My fingers were sliding around as I tried to strike each key. The sweat on my mouse had accumulated and was dripping down the sides.

I felt trapped.

And embarrassed.

I could barely focus on what was happening.

I wanted out of this small, grey, stuffy cubicle. Out before my boss could comment on my sweating. Out before I lost my focus entirely, overwhelmed with shame.

I thought about making an excuse and running to the bathroom. Except, the trouble was, the backs of my legs were sweating too. The sweat had soaked right through my black pants. If I stood up, I would leave a wet puddle on my black leather chair.

I scanned my body. My armpit were dripping, my feet had become wet and swollen in my flats. My whole body was turning on me. I felt like a mess. And my shame was feeling unbearable.

Finally, my boss landed on the quote he wanted.

In a flurry, he whirled out of my office and off to his next meeting.

I looked at the blinking cursor on my screen. Somehow I had managed to type it out. There were a few mistakes, but I could correct them.

I had been partially spared. He hadn’t commented on my sweating.

But there was absolutely no way he didn’t notice it.

My keyboard and mouse were soaked.

I looked down at them, in partial awe about how much sweat my body could produce in a matter of minutes.

When a sweating episode hits, it hits hard.

My boss hadn’t commented on my sweating, but he saw it.

I wondered what was worse. Him pointing it out, or him staying silent? Did he take pity on me? It must be pity, right?

If you have hyperhidrosis and have worked in an office setting, chances are you’ve experienced moments like this. In fact, you’ve probably experienced dozens of them. Likely even hundreds.

Hundreds of moments where you’ve been distracted by your sweating.

Hundreds of moments where you’ve wondered, do other people see this?!

Hundreds of moments where you’ve kept your arms glued to your side to hide armpit stains, sustained water blisters from being overly optimistic about a new pair of shoes, hidden in the bathroom trying to soak up the sweat from your clothing with paper towels, avoided handshakes and then felt unprofessional about doing so, tried to act normal when really you were shrinking inside — wishing you could just go home, have a shower, and crawl into bed in dry clothes.

Dealing with hyperhidrosis in an office setting can be extremely challenging.

Office environments bring together all the common sweat triggers: Stuffy air conditioning. Plenty of social interactions. A sprinkling of stress. Uncomfortable clothing. Coffee.

For 15 years, I worked in an office setting, and there wasn’t a day that went by where I didn’t think about my sweating.

When I switched to working from home, my quality of life improved dramatically.

Over my time working in an office, I learned some coping mechanisms. If you’re currently struggling with office life, maybe one or more of these tips will help bring a little more comfort to your days.

18 tips for working in an office environment when you have hyperhidrosis

Choose comfy clothing

• Opt for breathable fabrics like cotton, linen, or moisture-wicking materials. Polyester can work work well too for wicking and hiding sweat, but it tends to be less breathable and can result in odor quicker.

• Darker colors, like black and navy blue, can help conceal sweat marks if you’re concerned about them showing. So can darker patterned tops, as well as black or white lace or gauzy tops layered over a tank top.

• Consider wearing sweatproof undershirts designed to absorb and block sweat in the underarms.

• Although it’s tempting to wear heels, if your feet get sweaty and swollen, heels can cause painful water blisters. Instead, find a cute pair of flats that reduce rubbing and that can be worn with no-show socks or disposable, sweat-absorbing sole inserts.

• If possible, kick off your shoes under your desk and pull on a pair of dry, cotton socks while you’re sitting and working. Working like this can be more comfy than wearing sweat-filled shoes all day. When you have to get up, do a quick change back into your shoes.

Find your fave hyperhidrosis products

• Assemble a “sweat kit” to keep at your desk with items like extra antiperspirant, feminine wipes, and clean socks for when you need a quick physical and mental refresh.

• Keep absorbent towels on hand for slipping under your bum to sit on or for wiping your hands with. If it feels weird or too noticeable to sit on a towel, try a black pashmina instead.

• If possible, use a white mouse, which hides sweat better than a black mouse. If sweat is ruining your keyboard, you can also get keyboard protectors that you can lay over the keys and wipe off easier.

• If you can choose your chair, choose one that has a mesh seat for better airflow. If that’s not an option, you can get chair pads made of wooden beads that you can sit on.

• Spend some time doing research on the different treatment options available. Although hyperhidrosis can feel hopeless at times, there are options available including prescription antiperspirants, at-home iontophoresis machines, and medication.

Manage your stress levels

• Stress and anxiety can exacerbate hyperhidrosis, so deep breathing, meditation, or mindfulness might ease things a little. But it also might not. Hyperhidrosis can be fierce, so don’t blame yourself if you can’t “calm yourself” out of sweating.

• If you feel comfortable, consider informing your boss about your condition. Getting it out in the open can help reduce the stress of hiding it. Also consider asking for accommodations, especially if doing so will help you be more productive or comfortable at work. You don’t need to suffer in silence.

Keep your environment in check

• Keep a small desk fan (or fans) to circulate air and help keep you cool. I like to keep one fan on my desk pointed at my hands and another under my desk pointed at my feet.

• If possible, adjust the thermostat in your workspace to a cooler temperature. But, don’t set it too cold or else you might get those uncomfortable hyperhidrosis shivers due to being wet and cold.

• Ensure you drink plenty of cool water to stay hydrated and help regulate your internal body temperature.

Avoid your known triggers

• If coffee is a sweat trigger for you, try taking a break from it to see if that helps. If this sounds like an awful idea (lol!), try switching to iced coffee.

• Try to avoid walking in the heat to your office. If you can, take transit or drive to work, and save walking for after work.

• And finally, learn your other triggers so you can try to manage them. It can be helpful to keep a sweat tracker to understand what triggers or conditions cause you to have a sweating episode.

Working in an office when you have hyperhidrosis isn’t for the faint of heart. There are many daily challenges to overcome. But, sweaty girl, you’re not alone, and there are actions you can take to make life a little bit easier.

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