Dr Phil Kieran: What can my teen do about his excessive sweating?

Interestingly, body ‘odour’ is primarily caused by normal skin bacteria digesting the oils in the sweat produced by these glands, rather than the sweat itself

Rear view of man looking away

My 16-year-old son sweats profusely when exercising. Sometimes, a brisk walk can leave him drenched. Antiperspirants don’t help. He manages by always having a change of clothes in his bag, but is embarrassed by the condition. Is there anything he can do?

Excessive sweating is a common and frequently distressing problem. A number of patients have attended my surgery in the past and, in some cases, continue to attend with this issue.