Most Embarrassing Questions: Sweating It Out at the Gym

Answers to Embarrassing Health Questions: Sweating It Out at the Gym - Health.com1 of 6My crotch gets super sweaty when I exercise. Is there anything I can do?

Like your armpits, your crotch is endowed with many sweat glands, so it’s normal—although not too pleasant—to be damp down below after a workout. Pubic hair can also trap moisture, which can mix with bacteria and cause irritation or odor. 

Don’t attempt to soak up sweat with a panty liner; that could up the odds of vaginal irritation. Instead, stick to the hygiene basics: Wear cotton panties, change shortly after working out, and take a quick shower—if you can. And it’s not a bad idea to defend yourself against sweat with clothes made of fabrics that wick moisture away from your skin, like those made with hydrology technology by Asics. Wear loose-fitting garments (forget about spandex), and throw bottoms in the wash after a wearing.

Next: Q: Is it OK to pop whiteheads? 

A: Attention to all of you who secretly delight in popping whiteheads (we know you’re out there): It’s not a good idea. Whiteheads form when oil, or sebum, mixes with dead skin cells and causes bacterial growth just below the skin’s surface. (Blackheads form similarly but are partly open to the skin’s surface.) Squeezing out the white stuff can result in scarring, pitting, or darkening of skin around the trouble spot.

If you absolutely can’t resist fiddling, apply a hot towel to the area, and then gently push on either side of it using two sterile gauzes. If nothing comes out, leave it alone. (You’ll create a scar if you keep pushing.) Apply hydrogen peroxide or an antibiotic ointment like Bacitracin to the spot.

You can ward off future whiteheads by using a mild, exfoliating facial scrub, non-oil-based makeup, and skin products labeled noncome­dogenic (they don’t block pores).

If whiteheads continue to— ahem—pop up, dermatologists have special instruments that can remove the spots without damaging skin, and they can also prescribe suitable medications. An exfoliating facial from a trained aesthetician may help too.

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