Sweaty balls: how men can stay fresh below the belt

Few things are less glamorous than peeling yourself off a chair on a hot afternoon. Sweaty balls are normal, and staying fresh is mostly about washing, drying and what you wear. A ball deodorant or powder can help too, as long as you pick one made for the job.

Why do my balls sweat so much?

Because sweating is how your body cools down, and your groin is warm and covered. The NHS says it's normal to sweat when you're hot or exercising. In the groin, that sweat sits in a skin fold where, as the Primary Care Dermatology Society puts it, moisture gets trapped and air can't circulate much. Tight underwear and trousers hold it in further.

The NHS lists a few things that can make sweat and body odour worse:

• exercise and hot weather
• hormonal changes
• being overweight
• drinking alcohol or eating spicy food

How to stop sweaty balls, or at least keep them fresh

You can't switch sweating off, and you wouldn't want to. What you can do is stop sweat sitting on the skin for hours:

• Wash and dry properly. Wash once a day, plus a rinse after exercise or a hot day. If body odour is a worry, the NHS suggests washing your armpits, groin and feet at least twice a day and drying thoroughly. Down below, warm water or a mild, fragrance-free wash is enough: rinse well and don't scrub, as that can dry the skin out.
• Dry the creases. Pat, don't rub, and give the fold where your thigh meets your groin, and the skin behind the scrotum, an extra moment with the towel.
• Choose loose, breathable underwear (more on fabrics below).
• Change your underwear every day, and again after exercise. Wash gym kit after each wear.
• Shower soon after exercise to wash away sweat, then put on clean underwear.
• Go easy on alcohol and spicy food if you notice they make you sweat more.

Our men's intimate grooming routine puts the washing and drying into a few easy steps.

What underwear is best for a sweaty groin?

Loose and breathable for everyday, moisture-wicking for exercise. The NHS suggests natural fabrics like cotton, wool and silk, and avoiding tight clothing and manmade fabrics such as nylon. For workouts, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends loose-fitting, moisture-wicking clothes to help keep the skin dry, and points out that cotton soaks up sweat during physical activity. So: cotton boxers for the office, gym kit made for sweat at the gym, and a clean pair in between.

Your trousers matter too. The NHS suggests loose-fitting clothes to minimise signs of sweating. On hot nights, its advice for keeping skin cool is lightweight bedding and a cool shower or bath.

How do you deal with a sweaty bum crack?

Much as you would sweaty balls. The crease between your buttocks is another covered skin fold, and DermNet notes that sweat can't evaporate from covered folds. It can itch, too: the NHS says an itchy bottom that clears up quickly may have been caused by sweating a lot in hot weather. To stay comfortable:

• Wear loose, breathable cotton underwear, and skip tight clothes and synthetic fabrics such as nylon, as the NHS suggests.
• Wash with water only or an unscented soap, then pat dry with a towel rather than rubbing. A bidet makes the water-only wash easy (see how to use a bidet).
• Shower and change after exercise, into clean underwear.
• Keep perfumes and powders away from your anus, as the NHS advises.

See a GP if an itchy bottom isn't going away, the itch keeps coming back, or you have pain in your bottom.

Why do my balls smell even though I wash every day?

The NHS says the cause of body odour often isn't known, but it may be linked to sweating. Washing more often, drying thoroughly and changing your underwear daily, as above, is the place to start. If you have a foreskin, gently pull it back and rinse underneath with warm water each day; our guide to men's intimate skin care covers how.

A smell that's new or different is worth getting checked, especially with other symptoms. The NHS says to see a GP if body odour hasn't got better with the steps you can take yourself and you notice a change in how it usually smells. An unpleasant smell together with a sore, red or swollen head of the penis, or a thick discharge from under the foreskin, can be a sign of balanitis: see a GP or an NHS GUM clinic (free, confidential clinics for genital health; you don't usually need a GP referral).

Does trimming pubic hair help with sweat?

We couldn't find NHS or dermatology advice saying that it does: the NHS guidance on sweating and body odour doesn't mention hair removal. So think of trimming as a grooming choice rather than a sweat fix.

If you trim, use a body trimmer with a guard rather than a razor, and take your time around the scrotum. Our guide to manscaping for men walks through it.

Ball deodorants and powders: what to check first

The NHS suggests antiperspirants and deodorants for body odour, and a pharmacist can advise on stronger antiperspirants if sweating is heavy. DermNet notes that an antiperspirant cream or powder can reduce sweating in skin folds. Products sold as ball deodorants or groin powders are aimed at the same job. Before you try one:

• Check it's made for the groin. If the pack says underarms only, keep it there.
• Go fragrance-free. The American Academy of Dermatology notes that products such as perfumed soaps and wet wipes can cause a reaction in anyone, and that "unscented" products may still contain fragrance ingredients. Look for "fragrance free" on the label.
• Patch test it first on the inside of your forearm. Our guide to how to patch test a new skin care product shows how.
• Keep it off broken, sore or freshly shaved skin, and follow the directions on the pack.
• Stop using it if your skin turns red, itchy or sore.

Is it sweat, heat rash or something else?

Lots of sweat in a hot, covered spot can lead to a couple of common rashes:

• Heat rash (prickly heat): small, raised spots with an itchy, prickly feeling, usually caused by sweating a lot. The NHS advice is to keep the skin cool, wear loose cotton clothing, take cool showers and skip perfumed shower gels and creams. It usually gets better on its own after a few days.
• Jock itch: a common fungal infection in the groin, with a rash that's usually ring-shaped and may be scaly, dry, swollen or itchy. The fungus likes warm, moist skin. A pharmacist can look at it and recommend what to use.

If your groin is sore from rubbing as well as sweaty, our guide to groin chafing covers how to prevent it.

When should you see a GP about sweaty balls?

Sweating a lot below the belt on a hot day is normal. Excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis) is when you sweat even though your body doesn't need to cool down. The NHS says to see a GP if you're sweating excessively and:

• things you can do yourself aren't helping
• it stops you getting on with your daily activities
• it happens at least once a week, or has lasted at least 6 months
• it happens at night (night sweats)
• you have a family history of excessive sweating, or you're taking medicine for another condition

See a GP, too, if you suddenly start to sweat much more than usual, or a smell changes and doesn't settle. If you notice an itch or rash with a discharge, sores, blisters or lumps, a GP or an NHS GUM clinic can check it. It's routine for them.