How to choose a shirt if you sweat heavily

The label: fibre content matters more than the name

Start with the label on the inside seam. Cleveland Clinic recommends breathable, more absorbent fabrics such as cotton if you sweat, and advises avoiding blended fabrics and polyester: they trap heat and make you sweat more. The NHS also advises against synthetic fabrics such as nylon.

We compared fabrics in general, including wool and sports synthetics, in “Fabrics for heavy sweating: cotton, linen, wool or synthetics”. Here is only what matters for a shirt. What to look for on the label:

• “100% cotton” or “100% linen” is the first choice: cotton is versatile for the office, linen lets more air through and works well in the heat;
• a cotton and polyester blend creases less but traps heat: choose it only if there is no other option, and then in an even looser cut;
• nylon and dense synthetics are not for days when you sweat heavily.

Colour and pattern: what hides a damp patch

The IHHS advises choosing darker colours and bold prints so sweat marks are less visible, along with light, breathable layers. Damp fabric always looks darker, and on a navy shirt or one with stripes, checks or a small print the difference is far less noticeable than on a plain light shirt.

Light grey, pale blue and pastel shades are the hardest: a wet circle shows on them straight away. If your dress code calls for a light shirt, the layer underneath helps; more on that below. A simple test at home: drip some water on the edge of the shirt tail and see how visible the patch is.

Fit: check the armhole in the fitting room

The NHS recommends loose-fitting clothes to minimise signs of sweating and advises against tight clothes. The IHHS recommends loose styles that let air move and warns that tight clothing that rubs the skin is linked to underarm darkening, and that rough seams and tight elastic are best avoided. On a shirt, the key areas are the armhole and the back. In the fitting room:

• raise your arms and hug your shoulders: the fabric should not pull across the back or dig into the underarms;
• there should be a gap between the fabric and the skin of the underarm, so the shirt does not stick to you;
• the armhole seam should be soft, without a stiff, thick edge;
• a slim fit works only if it does not cling at the underarms; if in doubt, choose a regular fit;
• in the heat, short sleeves and a light untucked shirt make sense if your dress code allows.

Fabric weight: thin does not mean cool

Fabric weight is rarely on the label, so judge it with your hands and eyes. These are practical checks, not medical rules:

• hold the fabric up to the light: if you can see your hand through it, a damp patch and the undershirt will show too;
• very dense, stiff fabric lets less air through and feels hotter in warm weather;
• for the office the middle ground works well: opaque but light, soft fabric; hold it to your lips and blow, and air should pass through;
• loosely woven linen is for the heat, when air matters more than a crisp look.

Under the shirt: an undershirt or shields

The AAD suggests considering underarm or dress shields, which help protect clothing from sweat. The IHHS also mentions absorbent underlayers, thin vests and t-shirts worn under clothes. Both take the moisture on themselves, so less reaches the shirt.

• an undershirt goes under a light or thin shirt; a shade close to your skin tone usually shows less under light fabric than white does, so check in the mirror;
• shields work when an undershirt feels too hot or the shirt is fitted: disposable ones stick to the fabric, reusable ones are sewn or clipped in;
• a spare shirt in your bag or at work is AAD advice for a long day; the IHHS adds that several identical shirts let you change without anyone noticing.

Care: so the shirt looks new for longer

The IHHS advises changing out of damp clothes promptly so they rub the skin less. A sweaty shirt should not sit in the laundry basket for days either: take it off and wash it as soon as you can.

Do not iron or tumble-dry on heat a shirt with an underarm mark until the mark is gone: according to the University of Georgia, heat can set the stain. Pre-treat the area first, then wash as usual. Where yellow and white marks come from and how to remove them is covered in “Sweat stains on clothes: where yellow and white marks come from”, and how to freshen synthetics in “How to get the sweat smell out of sportswear”.

Bottom line: the shirt disguises, the antiperspirant reduces sweat

The right shirt makes sweat less visible, but it does not reduce it. If even a good shirt gets wet when you are cool and resting, take “The HDSS test: do I have hyperhidrosis?”. How to get through the working day is covered in “Sweating at work: how to stop worrying about your clothes”.

OKEY is applied in the evening to dry underarm skin and any residue is washed off in the morning, so the product does not transfer to the shirt you wear during the day. It is fragrance-free and does not compete with the smell of a fresh shirt or your perfume.

OKEY is a long-lasting, fragrance-free antiperspirant for women and men in a 35 ml roll-on bottle. It suits all areas prone to excessive sweating. According to the instructions, it is applied in the evening before bed in a thin layer to clean, completely dry and intact skin, and any residue is washed off in the morning. OKEY is available on Kaspi for 7990 ₸ with a 14-day bottle return. Regular customers can buy it on our website okeystaydry.com for 6990 ₸ with free delivery to a Flip pickup point, without a return option. The buy button is below.