DEAR HARRIETTE: I suffer from very sweaty palms. Regardless of the temperature or environment I am in, this embarrassing condition follows me. As you can understand, I hate introducing myself to people because of the expected handshake. Is there any way to keep etiquette standards while not wiping my sweat on the other person's palm? -- Soaked, Richmond, Virginia
DEAR SOAKED: For health reasons, I want to encourage you to get a physical. On occasion, sweaty palms could point to health concerns that you should have checked out. Beyond that, get practical. Keep a handkerchief in your pocket, and wipe your hand briefly before offering it to shake -- even at impromptu moments. Before going into the public, wipe your hands, then use a bit of talcum powder on them. Powder can help to absorb some of the excess moisture on your hands.
If you cannot figure out how to get them dry, resort to alternative handshakes. Depending upon the circumstances, you might use the now-popular fist bump, which keeps your palm covered. You could nod and do a slight bow. Yes, these things could feel awkward, but people often figure out alternative ways to engage people in social rituals that can work for them. You can get creative and find your own greeting that keeps everybody dry!