In general, we all sweat more than usual when exercising or in hot weather, however, for those who tend to sweat a lot is having a disorder condition termed as Hyperhidrosis, i.e. axillary hyperhidrosis for excessive sweating of the underarms and palmoplantar hyperhidrosis for the palms and soles of the feet.
Sadly to say that excessive sweating is common in adolescence and can continue throughout life. Excessive sweating is embarrassing as it can cause body odour and affect our work and social relationships, e.g. stains clothes, ruins romance, making it hard for people to hold a pen, grip a car steering wheel, or shake hands, etc. Not only that people who sweat excessively are also more prone to fungal skin infections.
What is the cause of Hyperhidrosis?
Although neurologic, metabolic, and other systemic diseases can sometimes cause hyperhidrosis, most cases occur in people who are otherwise healthy. Heat and emotions may trigger hyperhidrosis in some, other factors, such as stress and anxiety, may have a significant role. We may want to know that many who suffer from hyperhidrosis sweat nearly all their waking hours, regardless of their mood or the weather. Medical research has also shown that excessive sweating sometimes occurs in women around the time of the menopause, or as a feature of conditions such as an overactive thyroid gland.
What can we do on this? From the alternative medicine and useful home medical treatments perspective, in order to reduce sweating and body odour, you may want to:- Wear clean underwear and clothes every day. Choose those made with natural fabrics, such as cotton, and as far as possible avoid tight clothes.
- Bathe or shower at least once daily in warm but not hot water and dry yourself thoroughly afterwards.
- Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day, this is important to replace lost of body fluids. Cut down on alcohol and drinks containing caffeine, particularly hot drinks.
- Try to lose some weight, if you are overweight.
- If your feet get sweaty, wear leather shoes and cotton socks, and change both regularly. Also go barefoot or wear sandals whenever possible.
- Avoid spicy foods, these foods are likely to make you sweat.
- If you sweat when you are anxious, try practical techniques that can help you to reduce stress, i.e. deep breathing, go for a brisk walk, relaxing the muscles or sit somewhere quiet to help you relax.
Antiperspirants and Deodorants - Antiperspirants block the pores that produce sweat, while deodorants attack the skin bacteria that cause body odour. Usually the available products will contain a combination of these two. What we can do is to apply them daily after washing. If we develop skin irritation, use a hypoallergenic product. Good news is that absorbent, deodorizing foot powders are available for feet.
Aluminium chloride preparations – Use to treat severe sweating from the armpits, hands, or feet, as it works by blocking sweat ducts. Usually use when other common methods do not help. These are usually roll-ons and sprays that are applied to dry skin each night and washed off the next day. You may use the product less often as sweating decreases. Never use it on broken or irritated skin, or close to the eyes or lips, or if you have shaved or removed hair from the skin in the previous 12 hours. The important thing is to make sure we wash thoroughly and that our skin is completely dry before applying the antiperspirant, and do not use depilatories 12 hours before or after treatment.
Common brands: Driclor, Anhydrol Forte, Certain-Dri
Prescription strength antiperspirants – These are prescription drugs that containing aluminum chloride hexahydrate, a stronger version of aluminum chloride. This treatment works reasonably well for many patients whose problem is excessive underarm sweating, but is not satisfactory for most of those with palm and sole sweating.
The main side effect is usually irritation, which can sometimes, but not always, be overcome by reducing the frequency of use or applying anti-inflammatory drugs, such as lotions containing a corticosteroid.
Iontophoresis - A device which passes direct electricity through the skin by using tap water, and works by plugging up the sweat duct by using water to conduct an electric current to the skin which combats production of sweat.
Oral medications - Oral anticholinergic drugs such as glycopyrrolate (Robinul) are not commonly used for excessive sweating, because in order to see the results, the drugs will often produce side effects like dry mouth and blurred vision.
Botox (botulinum toxin) – Is a nerve toxin that is approved in the U.S. by the FDA for treating excessive axillary (underarm) sweating. Usually fifty (50) units of Botox are injected into roughly 20 spots in each armpit, this may produce approximately six months of relief from excessive sweating.
Surgery - Sympathectomy is an operation intended to destroy part of the sympathetic nerves responsible for sweating. It is both effective and risky, hence this option is rarely used, and use only as a last resort.
My suggestion is to:
- Make an appointment to see your doctor if the sweating is prolonged or unusual;
- You are losing weight; and
- You have any other symptoms associated with the excessive sweating.
(Related phrases for record purpose: excessive underarm sweating, stop excessive sweating, excessive armpit sweating, causes of excessive sweating, excessive sweating treatment, excessive facial sweating, ecessive head sweating, excessive sweating at night)
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