Knees weak, arms are heavy, my hands are sweaty sweaty…
Have you ever been playing a video game and noticed that your hands were sweating more than usual?
It’s a pretty common phenomenon, but why does it happen in the first place? In this blog post, we’re going to take a look at some of the potential causes of hand sweat while gaming and how you can mitigate them. Stay cool!
Table of Contents
3 Reasons Your Hands Sweat When Gaming
I’ve been gaming for 20+ years now, but every now and then, my hands still sweat when gaming. Here are the three main reasons why your hands sweat when gaming. Then I’ll touch on some things you can do to help stop the sweat that I’ve found work for me.
1. Anxiety and Stress
Gaming is a form of entertainment, but it can also be quite a stressful experience. You may have intense moments where you need to stay focused and make split-second decisions in order to succeed or even survive!
If your hands are already sweating from the pressure of the game, this can easily become worse as time passes.
For example, when I’m playing Apex Legends and I’m in the final circle, my hands start to sweat. This is a normal reaction to the anxiety and stress that I’m feeling while playing! It’s your body’s natural way of dealing with these intense situations.
2. Physiological Factors
Sweaty hands are a common physiological response to various stimuli, such as excitement or fear. When we’re gaming, our brains can perceive the situation as dangerous and cause us to sweat in order to cool down our bodies and help us cope with the stress of the moment.
If I’m playing horror games like Resident Evil or Silent Hill, my hands start to sweat as soon as I enter a room with zombies. It’s not just from the fear of being attacked – it’s also my body trying to regulate its temperature and help me stay alert in this dangerous situation.
3. Hands Need to Be Conditioned
Our hands need to be conditioned and trained, just like any other part of our bodies. If you don’t have the right grip or posture while gaming, you may find that your hands sweat more than usual due to the strain put on them. This can also happen if you’ve been playing for a long time without taking breaks.
Usually, if I take a break from gaming in general and then hop into a game with friends and play a competitive game, then I notice my hands are more sweaty than usual because it’s been a while and my hands aren’t used to holding the mouse/controller.
How to Stop Hands From Sweating When Gaming
If I get done with a sweaty round of Apex Legends or an intense play in CS:GO then here are my go-to techniques to stop hand sweat.
1. Take a Break
Taking regular breaks during gaming sessions is a great way to give your hands a rest and reduce the amount of sweat they produce.
2. Adjust Your Grip
Make sure you’re using the right grip on your controller or mouse. If it’s too tight, it will make your hands strain harder and lead to increased sweating.
3. Use Grips or Gloves
You can buy special gaming grips or gloves that are designed to wick away sweat and keep your hands cool.
4. Stay Hydrated
Make sure you stay hydrated while playing video games – this will help keep your body temperature down, which in turn can reduce sweating.
5. Relaxation Techniques
Take some time to practice deep breathing or other relaxation techniques before or during gaming sessions to help reduce your stress and anxiety levels.
By understanding the reasons why you sweat while gaming, as well as implementing a few simple strategies to help keep your hands cool, you can ensure that you stay comfortable while playing your favorite games! Now go forth and conquer!
Nate has been playing games for 20+years now. He is mostly a casual gamer and enjoys most FPS games, Battle Royales, and MOBAs. Outside of gaming, he also enjoys learning about streetwear, photography, and music.