How to Battle Summer Sweat

The first step to battling summer sweat is to acknowledge that it's a problem. Once you recognize and embrace that you're a sweaty bastard, you can start taking the necessary steps to both combat and disguise your leaky ways. If you follow these tips and methods, then news of pending heat waves won't have you shivering with fear and losing sleep over anxiety.

Some of these are minor tweaks on things you might already be doing. Others involve complicated science that doesn't really make sense to us, except that we know it works. If you're tired of always bringing a second shirt with you to get rid of sweat marks, read up on How to Battle Summer Sweat.

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If you're constantly leaking from the pits, chest, back, or wherever, there are ways to hide this issue. Dark colors like navy and black won't show wet stains that badly, and neither will very light colors like white. Grays, blues, and bright colors are the worst options for hiding sweat, and they'll definitely show the world that you can't stand the heat.

Necessary purchases: J.Crew slim seersucker shirt in navy, $80

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Patterns, too, can hide sweat. Switch it up from the usual solid colors, and the dark patches of sweat will disappear behind the patterns and prints you're rocking. Not only will you be masking your sweatiness, but it also gives a perfect excuse to try out some style risks you know you've been wanting to take anyway.

Necessary purchases: Stussy batik pattern shirt, $66

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It might seem like adding a layer in the summer heat is the last thing you want to do, but cotton undershirts will actually help cool you down while keeping sweat from saturating your outer layer. Definitely go cotton, since the fabric will wick moisture away from your body and retain it, meaning sweat won't be transferred to your outer layer. Having an underlayer will also create a pocket of air between itself and the outer shirt, which will keep you cooled down when it's blazing outside.

We don't normally endorse V-necks, but for undershirts a grey V-neck will be the least conspicuous option for anyone looking to stay sweatstain-less and stylish during summer's hottest weeks.

Necessary purchases: Gap V-neck T-shirts, $20 for a two-pack

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These days, athletic companies are putting out gear that stands up to critics in the streets as well as the rigors of whatever sport you do battle in. Advances in materials and style execution mean you can do a bunch of your shopping at your local running store to up your steez and stay dry. These fabrics were born in a lab, and will remove sweat from your body and transfer it into the air, remaining dry in the process.

However, avoid using these pieces as base layers and undershirts. Materials that wick sweat away from the body are great when you're only wearing that one top. But when you're layering clothes, you don't want to wick sweat away from your body and onto your outer layer of clothing. If you commit this error you're only accelerating how fast your shirt becomes a sopping rag of sweat.

Necessary purchase: Nike Dri-Fit knit T-shirt, $70

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Your armpits aren't the only place on your body that sweats. If by the end of the day it feels like you've been sloshing through puddles, then it's time to take some steps to combat foot-sweat. First, make sure you're wearing the proper shoes. Canvas kicks aren't as breathable as leather shoes or airy sneakers, and they'll retain moisture and odor.

Products like Gold Bond and other powders can help your feet stay dry and fight odor, but some dudes who really sweat will have this treatment turn into a disgusting paste by day's end.

Our suggestion? Go with moisture wicking socks and/or insoles that will transfer sweat away from your feet and cut the odor from the accompanying bacteria. Your feet will stay high and dry, but just make sure you hang up the socks and insoles to dry out at the end of the day.

Necessary purchase: Dr. Scholl's odor fighting insoles, $17 for a four-pack

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Nothing ruins your day or night like a case of swamp-ass, and this is an undercarriage condition that can affect anyone in summer's gross temperatures. Lucky for us, Uniqlo decided to charge head-on at the swamp-ass problem, and after years of research the Japanese retailer has produced Airism underwear. These bad boys will combat sweat, odor, and any other discomfort that arises when you add nasty humidity and moisture to a very senstive area. Ultra-fine fibers are super soft to the point that you think you're going commando, and they'll remove sweat from your body while eliminating odor. Underwear is on the front lines of the battle against swamp-ass, so make sure you're using the right weaponry.

Necessary purchase: Uniqlo Airism boxer briefs, $17

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The myths are not true. Antiperspirants don't cause breast cancer, Alzheimber's, or any other diseases. However, they prevent sweating with an active aluminum ingredient that plugs up your sweat ducts. Not everyone is comfortable with this unnatural process, and instead prefer deodorants that combat odor but don't block sweating. Also, the aluminum in antiperspirants is what causes those gross yellow pitstains that every dude who's ever owned a white shirt knows about (more on those later).

The debate between antiperspirants and deodorants is ongoing and is one of those arguments that will probably never have a clear winner. It's up to each guy to figure out which they prefer, and how to adapt to their individual choice.

Necessary purchase: Your favorite deodorant, or your favorite antiperspirant

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If you do tend to use antiperspirants, the aluminum ingredient will leave those gross yellow stains around your armpits. Knowing this, your favorite antiperspirant brands have been trying for years to develop a product that doesn't leave these pee-colored marks on your favorite white shirts. These are few and far between, and may not be the answer you're looking for.

One sure-fire way to prevent these is to rock an undershirt, but that will mean your favorite white tees will look like they've been pissed on. You could also switch back to an aluminum-free deodorant, but then you're back to square one with sweat marks.

If you're just looking to remove the yellow stains plaguing your favorite white tees and shirts, cop some Oxiclean and follow the simple directions to remove the pit-nastiness. Your shirts will look good as new, and as long as you don't mind putting in a little pre-laundry work, you can continue to keep dry with your favorite antiperspirant.

Necessary purchase: Oxiclean stain remover, $8
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Whether you choose antiperspirant or deodorant, experts recommend that you apply your favorite product to your pits at night. Since you sweat less at night, the active ingredients of your deodorant and antiperspirant will sink in before you wake up and start your sweaty day. You should still slap on some antiperspirant or deodorant in the morning, and this should provide a more effective defense against your sweat issues.

Necessary purchase: Your favorite deodorant, or your favorite antiperspirant

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If all else fails, the most extreme treatment to date are various types of surgery. This is only necessary for the most extreme cases of hyperhidrosis, the medical term for excessive sweating. But hey, maybe this is what you need to live a normal life. Sweat ducts can be removed via liposuction, or botox can be injected to "temporarily block the chemical signals from the nerves that stimulate the sweat glands."

Necessary purchases: Surgery, approximately $1,000 to $5,000

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