What people think it is: When I think of avoiding pit stains, the image of Julia Roberts standing in front of an oscillating fan in a wedding dress in "Runaway Bride" comes to mind. I won't lie -- I've conducted my own swaying "keep cool" ritual in front of a fan before interviews and dates. Can you blame me? Since sweating is associated with nervousness, bad smells and a lack of confidence, having seriously sweaty pits in public is the animal kingdom equivalent of giving yourself up for slaughter.

What it actually is: Excessive sweating is known as hyperhidrosis in the medical world. Sweating is the body's method of regulating the body temperature. When your temperature rises, the hypothalamus tells the body to start sweating. In those who suffer from hyperhidrosis, the central nervous system doesn't shut this sweating off, for reasons unknown.

How you get it: No one knows why some people sweat excessively, but about four million women suffer from the drenching condition. Dr. Krant does warn that excessive sweating can be the sign of a problem:

"Excessive sweating can be, at best, extremely annoying and socially debilitating. At worst, it could be the sign of a tumor. If excessive sweating comes along with excessive redness, a fast heartbeat, gastrointestinal symptoms like diarrhea, or a feeling of anxiety, there could be more to the story."

Diabetes, thyroid problems, certain cancers and infection are just a few of the conditions that can trigger excessive sweating. If you've noticed a change in your normal sweating patterns, sweat profusely when you're not engaged in physical activity, or find that you're sweating all over your body, rather than the normal places like your armpits, head, face, groin, hands and feet, you should see a doctor.

How you get rid of it: Dr. Krant recommends first upgrading your antiperspirant to clinical strength and using a sweat gland-blocking product called Certain-Dri. If that doesn't work, you can ask your doctor for a prescription antiperspirant. If your body is still turning on the waterworks after these issues, you can get injections of Botox to stop localized sweat. Dr. Krant also recommends a new device called Mira Dry, a non-invasive procedure that uses microwave technology to zap (and destroy) the sweat glands in your armpits. In extreme cases, surgery is an option, though Dr. Krant says that this is used more and more rarely due to the risks (skin irritation, weakness of the hand muscles, or surgical complications) involved. She notes that most of these options are not covered by insurance.

How you prevent it: There's no way to stop sweating before it starts, other than the methods identified above. However, you can make it less smelly by avoiding spicy foods like garlic, onions, and curry. Being sweaty is one thing, but being sweaty and stinking like Tandoori Chicken is unbearable. To avoid the telltale dark circles on your clothing, there is such a thing as underarm pads that, yes, are pretty much like maxi-pads for your pits.

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What people think it is: Milia are known as "baby acne" and are commonly found on infants. Except, I just found one under my eye. The skin of a newborn baby sounds like something I'd pay a lot of money for, but not if it includes acne.

What it actually is: Milia are tiny epidermal cysts that look like whiteheads, but they are not "poppable." Milia form when keratin, the protein that makes up your hair and nails, becomes trapped under the first layer of skin at the base of a hair follicle or sweat gland. On adults, they pop up around the eyes and nose.

How you get it: Sun exposure and damage to the skin (such as lasers, microdermabrasion, long-term use of steroid creams, or other injury to the skin) encourage their formation. Heavy lotions can also increase their likelihood, since they discourage the skin from sloughing off naturally. And I thought that oily eye cream was supposed to be doing wonders for my skin!

How you get rid of it: Dr. Krant says they require tiny surgical removals if they don't go away on their own. She warns that they should not be removed by an aesthetician. Cost for removal will vary by dermatologist, but usually it's under $100 to have several removed. After noticing the milia under my eye, I swore off heavy eye creams (which tend to clog the pores and encourage milia) and started using an AHA cleanser (I like Mychelle Dermaceuticals Pure Harmony Cleanser) because the formula exfoliates without using harsh beads that might cause more trauma to the area. The little bump prevailed for about seven months before falling off while I was applying my under eye concealer one morning. Milia success story!

How you prevent it: "The best way to prevent them is to review your skin care routine to make sure there are no irritating components or rough physical parts to it, since skin needs to be treated gently to prevent microscopic inflammation and its consequences," says Dr. Krant. While exfoliating is important for the prevention of milia, make sure the product you're using doesn't contain large, harsh beads, like walnut shells. Rough beads will make microscopic tears in the skin, encouraging milia formation.

What people think it is: Acne on the back of your arms? A mosquito attack? A skin graft from a chicken?

What it actually is: Keratosis Pilaris (KP) is a usually painless (but annoying) skin condition that can range from a few rough patches on the back of your upper arms to rough, red, irritated skin on your arms, thighs, back and face. It's caused by a build up in keratin (similar to milia development).

How you get it: Doctors don't know the specific cause of KP, but find that it runs in families.

How you get rid of it: Moisturizers with lactic acid or urea (try Eucerin Intensive Repair Very Dry Skin Lotion) can help eliminate KP. If that doesn't work, Dr. Krant suggests seeing your dermatologist for a prescription cream. "Also worth checking, though their relationship is currently at rumor level only, is whether you have gluten sensitivity, low vitamin D, or not enough beta carotene in your diet," she adds.

How you prevent it: There's no way to avoid KP, since it's not a disease that's "caught," but rather a genetic predisposition. Keeping your showers short and lukewarm and existing over-exfoliation will help discourage KP, since those practices just irritate hair folicles.