Butt Sweat: Causes, Treatments, And Prevention - Medical News Today

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Medical News TodaySubscribeButt sweat: Why it happens and how to get rid of it

Medically reviewed by Avi Varma, MD, MPH, AAHIVS, FAAFP — Written by Jamie Eske — Updated on February 25, 2025

Causes
Treatments
When to see a doctor
Summary

Butt sweat is a common occurrence. While it is a typical part of life for most people, there are strategies to help reduce or prevent it.

Butt sweat is a universal, albeit uncomfortable, fact of life. Anyone who has spent too much time outside on a muggy day or worn tight leggings during a gym session may think their butt sweats too much.

In this article, we describe the causes of butt sweat and strategies for preventing it.

Causes

y-front underwear drying on a line — creacart/Getty Images

Everyone experiences butt sweat, but some people sweat more than others. The frequency and amount of sweat may depend on a person’s:

distribution of sweat glands
genetics
body weight
hormones

The body has two types of sweat glands:

Eccrine gland: These produce an odorless fluid that helps regulate body temperature. These glands are in almost every area of skin, including the buttocks.
Apocrine glands: do not regulate body temperature, and they exist mostly in the genital region, around the bellybutton, and in the armpits, breasts, and a few other areas. They secrete an odorous liquid made of water, proteins, and lipids.

Bacteria on the surface of the skin can modify the secretion, or sweat, from apocrine glands, leading to an odor. This does not happen with eccrine secretion, such as that on the buttocks.

The amount of eccrine secretion can increase for a number of reasons, such as when a person’s body temperature rises.

As a result, a person may notice more sweat on their buttocks when they are:

wearing thick or constricting fabrics
exposed to hot temperatures
exercising

Sweating during activity

People may sweat more than usual in certain situations, such as during a workout.

Physical activities, such as walking, running, and weightlifting, increase the body’s temperature, triggering eccrine glands to secrete sweat.

Sweating and stress

Sweating can also occur for other reasons, such as stress or fear. When the brain perceives stress or a potential threat, it triggers a rush of stress hormones, including cortisol and adrenaline. Stress also increases the heart rate, redirects blood flow to the muscles, and raises the body’s temperature.

Stress-induced sweat typically comes from apocrine sweat glands, according to one 2019 article. This means that stress may not affect the sweat glands on the butt, which are eccrine, not apocrine.

However, stress may affect the apocrine sweat glands near the genitals and anus. Sweat in this area may feel like butt sweat.

Hyperthyroidism

Although sweating is a normal reaction to stress, excessive sweating — or hyperhidrosis — may indicate the presence of an underlying medical condition, such as hyperthyroidism.

Hyperhidrosis may develop without any underlying cause. In this case, the medical name for it is idiopathic hyperhidrosis.

Treatments

While it may be uncomfortable, butt sweat should not cause alarm. Most people experience it from time to time.

Butt sweat itself does not cause any medical issues, but it can increase the risk of developing skin rashes and infections.

It is important to wipe off the sweat as soon as possible to avoid skin irritation. Below, find other skin care techniques and lifestyle adjustments that can help.

Wear breathable or moisture-wicking underwear

The right kind of underwear can help reduce butt sweat by keeping the skin cool.

Breathable, natural fibers — such as cotton — help absorb moisture and allow for more airflow than polyester or rayon, for example. However, cotton does not disperse moisture, it only absorbs it. This means that cotton gets damp quickly and takes longer to dry.

Moisture-wicking fabrics, such as those used in athletic clothing, remove moisture from the skin and move it to the fabric’s surface so that it can evaporate. These fabrics dry more quickly than cotton.

Wipe down or mop up

The butt does not get much exposure to the air, since several layers of clothing cover it for most of the day. This means that butt sweat will not dry on its own quickly, and a person should take steps to speed up the process.

Gently pat the sweat away with a damp towel. Then remove any lingering moisture with a dry towel. Avoid rubbing the skin, which can cause irritation.

Change clothes often

People who experience butt sweat regularly should change their clothes immediately after working out, especially if they exercise in tight or restrictive pants, such as leggings.

Changing clothes often can help minimize dampness and prevent infections or rashes.

Use an antiperspirant

Antiperspirants contain metallic salts that form shallow plugs inside sweat ducts, reducing perspiration. Over-the-counter or prescription-strength antiperspirants can be used on most parts of the body.

However, any antiperspirant may cause irritant contact dermatitis. This is the medical name for discolored, irritated skin resulting from contact with a certain substance.

When to see a doctor

If people sweat through clothing without engaging in intense physical activity, or if sweating interferes with daily life, it may be a good idea to consult a healthcare professional.

People with these symptoms may have hyperhidrosis or excessive sweating. It may stem from an underlying medical condition, such as hyperthyroidism, be a side effect of medication, or have no identifiable cause.

According to one 2016 study, hyperhidrosis affects an estimated 15.3 million people in the United States.

Beyond hyperthyroidism, the following can also cause excessive sweating:

menopause
various medications
excessive alcohol consumption
nervous system disorders
diabetes
certain types of cancer

Excessive sweating can also worsen certain skin conditions, such as hidradenitis suppurativa. This may develop when the immune system overreacts to bacteria inside hair follicles.

Hidradenitis suppurativa can cause pus-filled bumps to form on the skin. While these bumps usually develop in the armpits, people can get them on their upper thighs, breasts, groin, and buttocks.

Summary

Butt sweat happens to everyone. There are many ways to reduce it and prevent any skin irritation and infection.

If excessive sweating is troublesome or interferes with any activities, a doctor can provide advice and prescription treatments.

Endocrinology
Anxiety / Stress
Sports Medicine / Fitness

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Doolittle, J., et al. (2016). Hyperhidrosis: An update on prevalence and severity in the United States.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5099353/
Hidradenitis suppurativa: Diagnosis and treatment. (n.d.).https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/painful-skin-joints/hidradenitis-suppurativa
Hodge BD, et al. (2022). Anatomy, skin sweat glands.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482278/
Talcum powder and cancer. (2024).https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-causes/talcum-powder-and-cancer.html

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Medically reviewed by Avi Varma, MD, MPH, AAHIVS, FAAFP — Written by Jamie Eske — Updated on February 25, 2025

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