Let’s be honest: One of the greatest joys of a workout is the post-workout shower (which, if you wear a sports bra, comes after the post-workout workout of removing said sports bra). Soaping up and rinsing off that hard-earned sweat can feel like pure bliss—until, that is, you immediately start sweating after your shower. 

Sure, sweating buckets during a tough workout is to be expected—after all, perspiration is a natural, essential process, and it allows you to perform intense activities without overheating. Still, it’s understandable if you’re not jazzed about the idea of sweating after a shower—especially if that shower is being taken to wash off sweat in the first place. 

So what’s the deal with post-shower sweat, and how do you put an end to it once and for all so you can leave the bathroom fresh, dry, and confident? We spoke with three doctors to find out. 

Why You May Sweat After a Shower

If you find yourself sweating after a shower, it’s likely because your internal body temperature is too hot, whether from a super-hot water temperature or humid bathroom, a recent workout, or another temperature-rising activity or circumstance. As a result, your body sweats to cool itself back down.

Here’s how it works: When your brain’s hypothalamus (otherwise known as your internal thermostat) detects your body is warmer than it should be, it sends signals to the sweat glands, explains dermatologist Dee Anna Glaser, MD, founder of Glaser Dermatology & Aesthetics. Those glands then get to work producing sweat in order to help bring your core temperature back to normal. “Even if the skin feels cool, the hypothalamus senses internal heat and keeps sweat glands active to cool you down,” adds primary care physician and women’s health leader Navya Mysore, MD.

While everyone sweats, the amount of perspiration a person produces is determined by a variety of factors, including genetics. For example, while some people may finish a yoga class just slightly dewy, others will be drenched. “Some individuals continue to sweat after working out and then showering because their body either takes longer to return to a baseline normal temperature or they tend to sweat more in general,” explains board-certified family medicine physician Shilpi Agarwal, MD.

For some, a shower may help bring their body temperature back down to normal after physical activity. But if the conditions aren’t quite right, that rinse could actually exacerbate the sweatiness.

“Hot showers and humid bathrooms can make [sweatiness] worse by raising your skin’s temperature and slowing sweat evaporation,” Dr. Mysore explains. “Also, vasodilation [aka widening] of your blood vessels from exercise increases skin blood flow, promoting more sweating.”

Is It Normal to Sweat After a Shower?

While “normal” looks different for everyone, plenty of people find themselves sweating after showering, and in most cases, the sweat is more annoying than problematic. “Sweating after a shower is very common and usually normal, especially after a workout or in a warm, humid bathroom,” Dr. Mysore says. “If it’s occasional and tied to activity or heat, it’s nothing to worry about.”

The reason why you work up a sweat in the first place can often influence how likely you are to start sweating again after exiting the shower. If you just finished an intense workout that caused your heart rate to spike (such as high-intensity interval training), or if you didn’t have time for a proper cooldown, it’s more common to sweat after a shower, Dr. Agarwal says. 

How to Avoid Sweating After a Shower

Sweat isn’t always preventable, but you can take certain measures to reduce your risk of post-shower perspiration.

1. Set Your Shower up for Success

If you have windows in your bathroom, go ahead and crack them open—or at the very least, leave the door ajar before hopping into the shower. “Use cool water and ventilate the bathroom well—especially small bathrooms,” Dr. Glaser says. “If possible, ventilate the actual shower to let heat and steam out.”

2. Adjust Your Water Temperature

Scorching showers can feel phenomenal, but you’ll probably want to turn down the water temperature if your goal is to stay sweat-free. “If you have to shower right after a workout, try using cool or lukewarm water to help bring down your body temperature rather than trapping heat with a hot shower,” Dr. Mysore says. 

3. Add a Cold Flash

There are plenty of benefits of taking a cold shower, and if your goal is to reduce sweating, you don’t necessarily need a lot of time under icy conditions. “End your showers with a cold flash: 10–15 seconds in cold water,” Dr. Agarwal says. “This not only cools down the body quickly and reduces sweating, but can help you feel more energized and alert.” 

4. Take Post-Shower Precautions

Rather than rushing to apply lotion or throw on clothes, give yourself a few minutes after your shower to truly cool off. “Dry off completely, and stay in a cool, ventilated space afterward to help prevent sweating,” Dr. Mysore says. “Spend a few minutes in a cool room or in front of a fan before getting dressed to give your body time to finish cooling off and stop sweating.”

How to Prevent Sweating After a Post-Workout Shower

If you’re in a rush to get (and stay) clean after a serious sweat session, you’ll want to implement a few additional strategies after exercising.

1. Take Your Cooldowns Seriously 

There’s a reason those post-workout cooldown classes are an integral part of your fitness routine. Not only does a cooldown help lower your heart rate and initiate the recovery process, but it can help decrease the likelihood of post-shower sweating. 

“The primary way to avoid sweating after a shower post-workout is to cool down adequately,” Dr. Agarwal says. “Usually this is about 10 minutes for a 30–45 minute intense workout.” The best way to gauge whether or not you’ve cooled down enough is by checking two things, she says: if your heart rate has returned to normal, and if you’re starting to sweat less.

You can find tons of motivating cooldown classes on the Peloton App, which you can take from anywhere, any time.

2. Stay Hydrated

As Peloton instructor Rebecca Kennedy says, “Hot people drink water.” Before you hit the bike, treadmill, or mat, fill a bottle with plain or electrolyte-enhancing icy water, and keep it handy. “Drinking cold or ice water during the workout can help reduce the rise of core body temperature and, in turn, reduce the amount of sweating,” Dr. Agarwal says.

3. Keep It Icy

Ice baths are all the rage, but if you’re simply looking to cool off ASAP, a few well-placed ice packs can go a long way. “Use ice packs on your neck and armpits to rapidly cool down the body,” Dr. Agarwal says. “These areas have larger arteries and higher circulation so you will cool down more quickly.”

When to Speak with Your Healthcare Provider About Sweating 

Although post-shower sweating is considered common, there are a few circumstances in which it could be considered cause for concern. 

“If the issue is persistent and not just occasionally following a strenuous workout—for example, if you have a less-intense workout and are still continuously sweating—it would be a good idea to see a medical professional,” Dr. Agarwal says. 

One situation in which post-shower sweating may be a sign of something more serious is in the case of hyperhidrosis, aka excessive sweating that’s not necessarily related to exercise or heat. Hyperhidrosis affects approximately 3 percent of the US population and is most commonly seen in individuals between the ages of 20 and 60, according to researchers.

“We usually consider a diagnosis of hyperhidrosis when a patient is sweating, often without a provoked cause,” Dr. Agarwal says. “For example, sweating following exercise would be considered normal, but sitting at a desk for several hours in a normal-temperature room and sweating profusely is not considered a normal baseline.” 

If you continue to sweat for no apparent reason or if you perspire more than normal after a workout, Dr. Agarwal recommends getting your thyroid evaluated by a healthcare provider, as “overactivity can cause excess sweating,” she adds. 

Certain medications can also contribute to excess perspiration, Dr. Glaser says, so voice any questions or concerns you have with your doctor—but of course, don’t stop taking any medications without your doctor’s OK.

Long story short? “If someone starts sweating much more than usual, or differently, then they need to see a physician,”Dr. Glaser says.   

The Takeaway

Everybody sweats. And while it’s inconvenient and can feel a bit icky, sweating immediately after a shower is typically considered normal and even common. While hot weather, a poorly ventilated bathroom, or a scalding water temperature can all exacerbate post-shower sweating, random bouts of unstoppable sweating in the absence of intense physical activity or other sweat-inducing factors are worth asking your doctor about.

If your biggest beef with your sweat glands is their overactivity after a shower, try adjusting your water temperature, properly ventilating your bathroom, and rinsing off with a burst of cold water to minimize post-shower sweat. And if you’re showering after a workout, take the time to properly cool down first, keep hydrated during exercise, and even consider using an ice pack or two to chill out before you hit the showers.