dealing with heat+humidity: desiccant fabric?

[gusl]

NYC supposedly has more than its fair share of hot & humid days in the summer.

Heat and humidity is a bad combination because sweat doesn't evaporate quickly enough, and so the body produces even more sweat. Sweat evaporation is much better at heat transfer than sweat dripping! Here's some stuff to look at later: google query for "physiological acclimation in humans", Wikipedia - Acclimatization.

What can one do about it?

Indoors:
* air-conditioning
* dehumidifier

Outdoors:
* wear light colors
* fabrics that allow breathing (i.e. that allow sweat to evaporate)
* fabrics that absorb moisture and sweat (?)
* some people would suggest shaving body hair, but I wonder if this could be counterproductive, as clothing could stick more easily.
* become a night owl

I'd be interested in anything that dries the air around me, as I walk outside. There are moisture-absorbing crystals (desiccants) used for shipping electronic equipment... what if I could coat my clothing / skin / body hair with the stuff?

---

UPDATE: we do not want it to be like a towel for sweat, because cooling requires by sweat evaporation. The crystals should come into contact with humid air on the inside of one's clothing, but not with humid skin.

Comments

[cwarner.livejournal.com]

For what it's worth, I don't recall it ever being that bad! The only time it bothered me was at night, when even naked with no covers on I was too hot and sticky to sleep. A lot of people have $99 window AC units for their bedrooms because of that.

[isomorphisms.livejournal.com]

When I was in Tacoma last year during the heatwave (temperatures were around 40C), I coated myself with methol gel, which was rather effective.

[gustavolacerda.livejournal.com]

I don't know if that's a good idea. It gives you a false sense of coolness, and may inhibit sweat from evaporating.

[isomorphisms.livejournal.com]

I asked a nurse if it was harmful, and she gave it the OK. That said, you may be right; but a false sense of coolness is still a sense of coolness, which I needed in order to be able to sleep.

[demarko (from livejournal.com)]

what if I could coat my clothing / skin / body hair with the stuff?

seems like a great^H^H^H^H^Hbad idea

[gustavolacerda.livejournal.com]

why is this a bad idea, in moderate amounts?

[bhudson.livejournal.com]

I'm dubious that dessicants would do anything after more than a few minutes; they dessicate by sponging up moisture, so they'll saturate.

Given that you aren't really *that* old, you can almost certainly stand the heat. Just hydrate well, and to sleep, have a fan blowing near you (ideally not at your face, because that will dehydrate you). Blowing air at you will help move heat out via evaporation and, assuming it's less than body temperature out, convection.

Also, turn down the lights and other heat-generating systems.

[gustavolacerda.livejournal.com]

The desiccant idea is for outdoors.

Of course I can "stand" the heat (as in, not die), but it interferes with mental functioning.

[bhudson.livejournal.com]

Duh. That's why you're supposed to be on the beach, drinking a beer and mackin' with the ladies.

[en-ki.livejournal.com]

The proper American solution to this is air-conditioning, or if you have to walk around outside, a half-gallon soda. As an American who is trying to regulate his caloric intake, I substitute a frequently-refilled quart mug of seltzer.

[gustavolacerda.livejournal.com]

the soda does nothing to stop you feeling hot and sticky...

[http://users.livejournal.com/_wirehead_/]

i drink water and iced tea like it's my job. wear lightweight skirts (i know, not a great option for guys, but it helps a lot). and take several cool-to-lukewarm showers every day.

to keep my apartment cool, i avoid turning on lights and electric devices (up to and including avoiding plugging in chargers for laptop, phone, etc. as much as possible). keep the curtains closed during the day. avoid cooking. etc.

mostly i can keep my apartment comfortable enough with frugal use of AC and generous use of fans.

also, whenever possible, i avoid going outside during the hottest time of day and/or arrange to hang out somewhere air-conditioned (e.g. a campus building).

really, it's not that big a deal. you don't want to be going jogging or moving furniture in the heat, and you do get pretty gross whenever you venture outside, but there are certainly more unpleasant things. NYC in February comes to mind. :P

[gustavolacerda.livejournal.com]

I would try lightweight version of a utili-kilt, if such a thing exists.

I'm going to be living at the top floor of the building, and will try to ask Columbia to make it greener (in case it's a dark colour), or get solar air-conditioning or something. (speaking of desiccants...)

I think there is a gender difference here. I find it hard to imagine being too cold in NYC. I'm totally ok with -5C (23F), but a humid 30C (86F) really bothers me. And I think it affects my ability to think, even after controlling for sleep.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_wirehead_/]

yeah, i bet guys in kilts are pretty comfortable.

Columbia is generally pretty good about green buildings.

possibly a gender difference. also, i am from the desert. i find heat much more tolerable than cold -- i chill easily, especially my hands and feet, and the combination of very cold temperatures and very short days makes it very difficult for me to do very much in the winter. basically i just want to sleep. :/

NYC in February

[gustavolacerda.livejournal.com]

rain + melting snow?

Re: NYC in February

[http://users.livejournal.com/_wirehead_/]

ridiculous freezing cold, icy streets, sleet, slush, ugh.

desiccants

[gustavolacerda.livejournal.com]

yeah, so the question is how long they last, and whether it's feasible to carry 1 kg of desiccants on you, and have them circulating.

[marymcglo.livejournal.com]

Clothes made with "wicking" polyester are the big thing in sportswear. They not only breathe but supposedly have some magic that draws sweat away.

Talcum powder is a generally medically-approved product for absorbing moisture, but it may not do much more than the towel effect you mention.

[gustavolacerda.livejournal.com]

nice tip!

C. B. Simile - Critical Evaluation of Wicking in Performance Fabrics