Sweaty Balls: Causes, Side Effects, Treatments, And Prevention

Maybe your like

HealthlineSubscribe

Skin Care

What Causes Excessive Scrotal Sweating, and How Can I Treat It?

Medically reviewed by Katherine Rotker, MD — Written by James Roland — Updated on March 21, 2025

Causes
Side effects
Treatment
Prevention
Summary

Key takeaways

Scrotal sweating, also known as sweaty balls, is common, especially if you’re working out or live in a hot and humid climate. This is because the groin has a lot of sweat glands and is usually warm and covered by clothing.
A light dusting of talcum powder on the groin can absorb sweat, cool your crotch, and help prevent itching and chafing. It is important to wash this off in the shower later to avoid any clumping or discomfort from the powder.
Lifestyle measures, such as using an antiperspirant, practicing good hygiene, and wearing boxers instead of briefs, can all help to prevent sweaty balls and keep you cool and dry.

Causes of excessive scrotal sweating

Some groin sweat is a fact of life. The groin has a lot of sweat glands and is usually warm and covered by clothing, meaning it’s likely to generate perspiration that can’t be easily wiped away or refreshed by cool air.

An abnormal amount of groin sweat may be a sign of an underlying condition or is simply a result of lifestyle.

Hyperhidrosis

Hyperhidrosis is excessive sweating, either throughout the body or in certain areas that typically have a higher concentration of sweat glands. Common areas include the armpits, palms, and groin.

If you have hyperhidrosis, the nerves responsible for triggering your sweat glands are overactive. They incorrectly call on the glands to produce more sweat than is needed to keep the body cool.

Hyperhidrosis may occur on its own or develop from a condition, such as diabetes or an infection.

Lifestyle causes

Tight underwear or pants can trigger excess groin sweat. Fabrics that don’t “breathe” can also keep sweat in place longer.

Caffeine and alcohol can increase perspiration and urination as part of the body’s efforts to balance its fluid levels.

Other causes

Sometimes excessive sweating may be related to other underlying conditions.

Hyperthyroidism can cause many symptoms, including excessive sweating.

Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, leukemia, and other cancers can cause increased night sweating. Keep in mind this sweating isn’t often limited to just the groin area. It’s not entirely clear why sweating is a sign of cancer. It may be a result of the body trying to fight off the disease.

Excess weight can lead to excessive sweating as well. In areas where there are more sweat glands and skin folds, such as the groin, the sweating may be more intense.

Side effects of excessive scrotal sweating

The side effects of a sweaty scrotum can range from discomfort to more serious complications, depending on the underlying cause. The more common potential side effects include:

Chafing and itching. A sweaty groin area in general can cause the skin to become irritated with movement.
Bacterial infection. A sweaty environment can be a breeding ground for bacteria. A bacterial infection can cause boils and other skin problems to develop. If left untreated, a bacterial infection on the skin can migrate elsewhere in the body and cause further serious issues.
Fungal infection. A fungal skin infection, like jock itch, thrives in a sweaty environment where two areas of skin rub together.

Treating excessive scrotal sweating

Talcum powder

Talcum powder can help absorb sweat, cool your crotch, and help prevent itching and chafing.

One side effect is that talcum powder can form clumps on the skin, creating a different kind of discomfort. You can avoid this by showering frequently.

Natural talc can contain asbestos. This substance is linked to lung cancer when inhaled. Since 1976, the cosmetic and toiletry industry committed to using talc that contains no detectable traces of asbestos.

Although there’s a possibility talcum powder may increase the risk of ovarian cancer, there’s not much evidence linking it to other cancers.

Cornstarch

Some people use cornstarch to absorb sweat instead of talcum powder.

Prescription medications

If you’ve received a diagnosis of hyperhidrosis, your doctor may recommend a prescription-strength antiperspirant for your groin and any other areas where you experience excessive sweating.

They may also prescribe nerve-blocking medications that target the nerves responsible for activating the sweat glands.

Surgery

If excessive sweating is interfering with your quality of life or overall health, surgical removal of some sweat glands may be an option. Talk with your doctor to see if this may be right for you.

How to stop excessive scrotal sweating

Making a few lifestyle changes may keep you cool and dry down under. If you’re not interested in “going commando,” consider these options.

Use an antiperspirant

The same antiperspirant you use under your arms may be used in your groin and just about anywhere else you experience excessive sweating.

Because the groin is a sensitive area, test the skin there with a little antiperspirant at first. If you don’t have any skin irritation or discomfort, consider buying an extra antiperspirant just for your groin.

A product containing aluminum chloride hexahydrate concentrations of 10 to 15 percent may be most effective.

Practice good hygiene

Keep your groin clean by showering and changing your underwear regularly. It may not necessarily keep you from sweating, but it can help keep that area drier and cleaner, thus reducing odor.

Lose weight

Losing weight if needed is no guarantee to reducing excessive sweating, but it can boost your overall health.

Eat a healthy diet

Consider these changes to your diet:

Drink plenty of water. The better hydrated you are, the easier it is for the body to maintain its optimal temperature. And that can mean less sweating.
Eat calcium-rich foods. Calcium is essential in regulating the body’s temperature, fluid levels, and other metabolic factors. Start with these 15 foods rich in calcium.
Eat more fruits and vegetables. Packed with vitamins, antioxidants, and fiber, a good mix of fruits and veggies can improve your all-around health.
Eat B vitamin-rich foods. B vitamins play a role in many functions, including nerve health, and help your body operate smoothly. The more efficiently your body’s systems are working, the less hard it will work and the less it will sweat.

Wear boxers instead of briefs

Cotton underwear can help wick away moisture and keep your testicles more comfortable. Boxers with a little more room may also help keep things drier.

Takeaway

If excessive scrotal sweating is interfering with your day-to-day life, talk to your doctor. The culprit of your excessive sweating may be an underlying health condition that needs treatment. Your doctor can help you get relief with a prescription, an antiperspirant, or a lifestyle change.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline 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.

American Cancer Society Staff. (2022). Talcum powder and cancer.https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-causes/talcum-powder-and-cancer.html
Excessive sweating. (n.d.).https://www.massgeneral.org/condition/excessive-sweating
International Hyperhidrosis Society. (n.d.). Not just for underarms.https://www.sweathelp.org/hyperhidrosis-treatments/antiperspirants/not-just-for-underarms.html

Share this article

Medically reviewed by Katherine Rotker, MD — Written by James Roland — Updated on March 21, 2025

Health Conditions

Condition Spotlight

Wellness Topics

Product Reviews

Featured Programs

Featured

Lessons

Newsletters

Lifestyle Quizzes

Health News

This Just In

Top Reads

Video Series

Find Your Bezzy Community

Follow us on social media