Anti-perspirant isn’t just useful for reducing underarm sweat, it can keep many areas of your body feeling fresh and dry all day.

Below you can find out more about where you can (and where you shouldn’t!) apply anti-perspirant.

Bear in mind though, excessive sweating in any area of the body could be a sign of hyperhidrosis, a medical condition which may require treatment from your doctor. If you’re worried about how much you sweat, speak to your GP. You can find out more about what causes sweating here.

Can I spray anti-perspirant on my back?

Yes, you can use anti-perspirant to help prevent sweating on your back. It works in the same way as any other part of your body, by blocking the sweat glands. Bye-bye sweaty workout tops!

Is it OK to use anti-perspirant on feet?

If you find yourself sliding around in your heels then there’s help at hand—you can use anti-perspirant to help combat sweaty feet.

Don’t forget, while deodorant might help your feet smell sweeter, it won’t stop your feet from sweating as its main purpose is to cover odours, not prevent sweat. A combination of anti-perspirant and deodorant will be your best defence against sweaty feet!

How do I use anti-perspirant on hands?

Anti-perspirant can help reduce the amount your hands sweat—great news for handshakes! Apply it when your hands are completely dry and allow time for the active ingredients to work. Don’t forget to reapply the product after washing your hands for better protection against sweat. A cream anti-perspirant might be the best format to use.

Where on the body shouldn’t I use anti-perspirant?

Can I put anti-perspirant on my face?

Although the active ingredients in anti-perspirant can reduce sweat anywhere on the body—applying it to your face is not a good idea.

As you can probably tell, the skin on your face is very different to that under your arms. Applying anti-perspirant to your face carries a number of risks, including blocking your pores, which can cause spots to break out—not what you need! Applying the product to your face also increases the risk of getting it in your eyes.

Is it safe to use anti-perspirant on the groin?

As with the face, it’s not recommended to apply anti-perspirant to the groin as it could affect the delicate balance of bacteria in this part of the body.

If you find you do sweat excessively in this area, try these tips for reducing the amount you sweat:

  • Avoid tights—these aren’t breathable and can trap sweat around your crotch
  • Wear skirts—these help air to circulate near your body
  • Wear full underwear—this absorbs sweat more efficiently
  • Pack spare clothes—if you do sweat excessively, you’ll have dry clothes to change into and you can change up your look too!
  • Speak to your GP—excessive sweating can be a sign of an underlying medical condition so it’s always worth speaking to your GP if you’re concerned about how much you sweat.