After a relaxing shower, you want to step foot on your fluffy bath mat feeling squeaky clean. But all that time spent bathing can feel like a total waste of time when you experience the post-shower sweats and question why you even took the time to shower in the first place.

If you’ve found yourself searching “sweating after shower” to see if the annoying problem is a normal occurrence, you’re not alone. Ahead, you’ll discover why it happens, as well as dermatologist-approved tips for preventing post-shower sweating.

Why do you sweat right after you shower?

Is sweating after a shower bad? Don’t worry—post-shower perspiration is totally normal. The air in the bathroom is typically a lot more humid than in the rest of your home due to the moisture hot and steamy showers create. That—combined with a higher body temperature from the hot water on your skin and hair—can leave your body overheating after a shower.

“When someone takes a hot shower, it may cause the body temperature to go up,” says Marisa Garshick, MD, FAAD, board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology in New York City. “Sweating is a mechanism that the body uses to cool down. For this reason, if the body is hot after coming out of the shower, it may trigger a sweat reaction as a way of cooling the body down.”

The good news is you don’t need to feel hot and sticky when you’re supposed to feel fresh and clean. With the help of the handy shower routine tips below, you’ll be able to reduce body moisture and stay nice and dry after bathing.

How to stop sweating after a shower: 6 strategies for reducing body moisture

While showers and sweat management should go hand-in-hand, you now know that bathing can be the culprit behind post-shower perspiration. If your number one goal is preventing post-shower sweating, the experts are here to help with some sweat prevention techniques.

1. Gradually lower the water temperature

This shower routine tip can make all the difference. When you’re trying to reduce body moisture after bathing, the key is gradually lowering the water temperature from hot to warm once you’re nearing the end of your shower. This helps cool your body. (There are other cold water benefits that make the chill totally worth it, too.) “It takes roughly 10 seconds for our bodies to acclimate to new temperatures, so do this in 10-second increments,” says Annie Gonzalez, MD, board-certified dermatologist at Riverchase Dermatology in Miami.

Another sweat prevention technique to try? “Rinse your hair with cooler water so that hot water isn’t left on the scalp, which can heat up your head,” she says. If you often deal with head sweating, you can also try hair products (like a clarifying shampoo) that are made specifically for sweaty scalps.

2. Avoid washing your face with hot water

When it comes to preventing post-shower sweating, the way you wash your face matters, too. “You don’t want to wash your face with hot water, as it strips the skin of natural oils and draws out moisture. The best temperature to wash your face with is lukewarm water—not too hot and not too cold,” says Dr. Gonzalez. This not only helps with controlling sweat, but also in preventing that beet-red look people often get after bathing.

3. Keep your bathroom well-ventilated

Aside from cooling down the water temp in order to help keep you from sweating, Dr. Gonzalez says managing sweat after showering is also possible by keeping your bathroom as well-ventilated as possible. But sometimes one of the best sweat prevention techniques is simply leaving the space that’s causing the problem. Aka whether you have vents or windows for proper ventilation or not, you can always make a run for it. “After you finish showering, get out of that humid environment as soon as you can,” she says. “If you need to stay in the bathroom, soak a washcloth in cold water and apply it to your face and scalp. This should help you cool off, too.”

4. Pat yourself dry right after getting out of the shower

While it’s tempting to wrap yourself in a towel and stay that way as you go about your post-shower skincare routine, another tip for managing sweat after showering is making sure to pat yourself dry the instant you finish bathing. “Some people may feel particularly sweaty if the skin still has too much water remaining on the surface, so it’s important to fully dry off when getting out of the shower,” says Dr. Garshick.

5. Avoid heavy oil or oil-based cleansers

Some people love oil-based cleansers, especially when it comes to fighting off dry skin. Unfortunately, Dr. Garshick says they may be the culprit behind that wet and sticky feeling you can’t seem to shake after bathing. “Since oils tend to trap moisture in, it may be best to avoid any oils if you’re prone to sweating,” she says. While ditching oil-based products could be helpful in ridding excess moisture, that’s not the only perk of opting for something a little lighter: “They may also contribute to clogged pores and breakouts,” she adds.

6. Utilize your blow dryer

If you don’t want to be sweating for hours after a shower, Dr. Garshick says to apply a blow dryer on a cool setting to any areas that are particularly sweaty. “Blowing cold air can help to both dry the skin and cool down the skin, which may help to reduce the feeling of sweating,” she says. This is also a great tactic if it feels like your body is overheating after a shower. That cold breeze will feel oh-so-good.

Is it bad to shower right after sweating?

At this point, you’re equipped with expert-backed shower routine tips that make staying dry after bathing a breeze. But if you ever do find yourself sweating post-shower and are wondering if you can hop in again to wash off, you’re in the right place.

According to Dr. Garshick, showering after sweating is a good idea if that sweating is associated with something like exercise. With that being said, if that’s the case, wait a while before washing off. The best time to shower is 20 minutes after your workout ends. Not only does this allow your body to cool down before it’s shocked with water, but it also helps with managing sweat after showering.

However, if your sweating is associated with taking a shower, that’s a different story. In that case, avoid showering again, as “showering too much can lead to dryness of the skin,” she says. If you’re feeling sticky post-shower due to excess moisture, she recommends first allowing yourself to cool down. “Apply cold compresses to any areas that feel particularly warm,” she says. Then pat yourself dry. If you’re worried about hygiene and perspiration, grab your trusty antiperspirant, which can help manage post-shower sweating.

Frequently asked questions

Is it normal to sweat after a shower?

You may be wondering: Is sweating after a shower bad? Generally speaking, it’s totally normal to sweat after a shower. Between your increased body temperature due to the warm water and the humid bathroom, post-shower perspiration is a common occurrence.

With that being said, there’s something to keep in mind if controlling sweat and staying dry after bathing seems impossible, no matter what you try. “If [the issue] seems to persist or occur regardless of water temperature, it’s best to discuss it with your doctor to determine there are no other contributing factors,” says Dr. Garshick. There are many issues that cause an increase in sweating—more on that below.

Why am I sweating so much all of a sudden?

You used to stay pretty dry, and now it seems like your body is overheating after a shower—not to mention during other activities, too—causing an increase in sweat. So what gives? “There are some underlying medical conditions that can contribute to an increase in sweating, such as changes with hormones (such as the thyroid or infections),” says Dr. Garshick. “In addition, some people may develop a condition known as hyperhidrosis, which is characterized by excessive sweating.” If you feel as though your sweating has become abnormal, schedule an appointment with your doctor.

What conditions and diseases cause sweating?

Controlling sweat can be a lot harder if you’re dealing with certain medical conditions or diseases. “Some medical conditions (such as hyperthyroidism) can lead to insomnia and sweating,” says Dr. Garshick. Anxiety can also cause you to sweat. “Intense emotion and stress can bring out sweating in anyone,” she says. “If you experience panic attacks or increased levels of stress related to a persistent and excessive worry about everyday situations, this can mean that you’re experiencing anxiety, and excess sweating can occur with this.” If that’s the case, she recommends seeking a professional to help you learn how to manage the anxiety. (Which, in turn, may improve the sweating as well.)

Is sweating for hours after a shower normal?

Do you find yourself sweating for hours after a shower? There could be a couple of different reasons for that. “If someone has an underlying medical condition that’s contributing to an increase in sweat, this may cause them to sweat for hours after a shower,” says Dr. Garshick. Another reason could be the types of products you’re applying post-shower. “If someone applies a thick layer of moisturizer when they’re already feeling sweaty, it may trap that sweat and moisture, prolonging the sweaty feeling.”