Drink plenty of water. Sweating is your body's way of cooling off. Many people think that if they don't drink water they won't sweat. Not a good idea. If you are dehydrated and thirsty your body will work extra hard to stay cool and keep balanced, thereby adding even more sweat to the already unwanted under arm rings.

Try to keep relaxed.Our bodies sweat when we are nervous, scared, concentrating, excited, or over exerting ourselves. Some experts believe that participating in relaxing rituals and exercises like yoga can be beneficial in helping excessive sweating.

Avoid skin tight shirts. These shirts block in heat and cause excessive sweating. Tight shirts will also mop up any under arm sweat that you have so it's a double strike. Loose fitting shirts allow for airflow and don't catch all of your underarm sweat.

Try changing your deodorant. There are several over the counter clinical strength antiperspirant/deodorant that can help a lot. From what I've researched, Certain Dri receives some of the highest reviews, and it's very affordable. For only five dollars it's definitely worth a try. It contains 12 % aluminum chloride, which is the same ingredient you will find in stronger, doctor prescribed deodorants. 150 out of 198 customers gave it a 5 out of 5 stars. I wish that I had discovered this product when I was a self-conscious high school orchestra student.

Here's one happy customer's review of Certain Dri:

When applying your antiperspirant/deodorant make sure your armpits are dry. Many of the reviews of Certain Dri, and Clinical Strength Secret said that the product worked much better when applied to a dry surface. Same could be true for other deodorants as well. If the surface is already wet it may not absorb and work properly.

Get medical consultation. Is there ever a time when you should consult your doctor about your sweating? YES! Doctors say that when you feel that your sweating interferes with your social and professional lives, it is time to schedule an appointment. Treatments that you may discuss with your doctor are prescription strength antiperspirants/deodorants, oral medications, and botox treatment.

Breathable fabrics can help slow down sweating and cool off the body. However, they don't always hide the sweat marks very well. So, if your looking to simply prevent sweating, here are you're choice fabrics. These fabrics keep your body cool and move moisture away from your skin.

Breathable Fabrics

Cotton

Wool

Pima cotton

Seer Sucker

Linene

Merino

Cashmere

Non-breathable fabrics cause more sweating because they are hot and don't allow air to circulate. These are the fabrics to avoid if you want to stop excess sweating.

Non-Breathable Fabrics

Corduroy

Flannel

Silk

Polyester

Polyester Blends

Nylon

*Read the tips below on Fabrics and colors that do hide sweat marks.

When learning how to stop excessive sweating, it's essential to also learn how to hide sweat stains.

Wear an undershirt. Even though this can add extra heat, it absorbs unwanted sweat before it even makes it to your outer layer. Cotton is a good choice for this as it is very absorbent but still breathable. Even though cotton doesn't hide sweat very well, you don't have to worry about the sweat showing on your undershirt as long as your outer layer still looks good.

Use sweat shields. They help to block sweat from soaking through to your shirt. You may still feel sweaty but atleast it won't show! They make disposable and washable sweat guards that are super cheap. You may want to try them out before using them the first time in a performance so you can get used to the feel of them. Some companies that produce sweat shields also manufacture shirts and undershirts that come with sweat-guards sewn right in.

Keep a jacket on hand. If you begin to notice embarrassing sweat marks you can cover them up easily with a jacket. Buy your cover-up during the spring, summer or early fall; the clothes are made for warmer weather and won't be too hot, but they will still do the trick of covering the sweat. Look for something dressy enough for the performance, sheer enough to keep you cool under the stage lights, dark enough to cover the sweat marks, and comfortable enough to play your instrument in.

If you want to hide sweat marks, choose your type of fabric wisely. These fabrics are not ones that will necessarily keep you cooled off, but they are the ones that will hide those embarrassing under arm circles. Ironically the fabrics that are well-known for being breathable and keeping you cool are also the ones that show sweat marks, and the fabrics that don't circulate air very well hide sweat marks. 100% Cotton is a good breathable fabric but it will show sweat like crazy.

Fabrics that hide sweat marks.

Cotton Blends (a light cotton blended with polyester works well for keeping cool and still hiding sweat)

Polyester

Rayon

Spandex

Nylon

I personally have several shirts and dresses that I love playing in that don't show sweat, and they are blends of cotton, polyester, spandex, and nylon.

Even more important than choosing the right type of fabric is choosing the right color of fabric. Luckily for musicians a wonderful color to wear when performing is black. Black hides underarm sweat better then any other color. I wear black when I'm performing whether it's as a member of an orchestra or a soloist in church for that very reason. Here are some other color tips to help when selecting your concert dress.

Colors that DO hide sweat

Black

White

Dark Colors like Navy

Patterned shirts work well for hiding embarrassing sweat marks.

Colors that do NOT hide sweat

Pastels

Grey

Bright colors