Excessive sweating, also known as hyperhidrosis, can be a real challenge to deal with. It’s not just about feeling uncomfortable in hot weather; it can significantly affect your social life, emotional well-being, and even your ability to work effectively. In this blog post, we’ll discuss the causes, investigations and tips to effectively manage excessive sweating.
What Causes Excessive Sweating?
Sweating is perfectly normal, and our bodies have evolved to sweat for various reasons. For instance, it helps us maintain a good grip on objects, which was crucial for our ancestors during their daily activities, from crafting tools to playing sports.
Hyperhidrosis is characterized by an abnormal response to heat, exertion, and stress, resulting in pronounced sweating. This excessive sweating can occur either over the entire body or in localized areas.
Hyperhidrosis or excessive sweating is a social, emotional, and occupational disability that affects close to 3% of the population.1
Patients with hyperhidrosis have an increasingly active sympathetic nervous system (sudomotor) on arousal (pain, shouting, caressing).
Some factors contributing to hyperhidrosis include:
Drug induced
Medications
For treating
Parkinson’s disease
Motion sickness
Asthma
Antipsychotics
Antidepressants
Steroids
Neurological and psychological causes
Anxiety, panic, or social phobia
Structural or functional abnormalities in the brain, spinal cord, or nerves
Parkinson’s disease
Medical or psychological causes
Diabetes
Hyperthyroidism
Infections
HIV
Tuberculosis
Endocarditis
Conditions affecting the structure and/or function of the pituitary or adrenal gland
Cancer
Heart failure
Obesity
Vascular deformities
Other causes
Diagnosing Excessive Sweating
If you suspect you have hyperhidrosis, your healthcare provider may recommend tests to rule out other medical conditions, such as hyperthyroidism or hypoglycemia. Some tests like iodine-starch test and other tests may help to localize the areas of sweating and assess its severity.
Managing Excessive Sweating
Avoiding Triggers
- Crowded areas: Try to avoid crowded places or situations that make you anxious.
- Spicy foods and alcohol: These can trigger sweating in some people.
Choosing the Right Clothing
- Avoid tight clothing: Opt for loose-fitting attire to allow your skin to breathe.
- Say NO to synthetic fabrics: Choose natural, breathable fabrics like cotton.
- Footwear: Ensure your shoes are well-ventilated to reduce sweating.
More Practical Tips
- Use underarm liners or Dress Shields: to mask sweat stains.
- Wear cotton or wool socks: to absorb moisture effectively.
- Change socks and shoes frequently: to keep your feet dry.
- Consider using leather shoes and absorbent insoles: to manage sweat production.
Treatment Options
Antiperspirants
Aluminium chloride hexahydrate (ACH) stands out as the go-to topical antiperspirant for managing mild to moderate hyperhidrosis and it is often recommended by dermatologists. It blocks the ducts of sweat glands and is applied to dry skin before bedtime, strategically chosen due to lower sweat rates during nighttime.
To achieve the desired results, it’s essential to leave it on the skin for a duration of 6 to 8 hours before washing it off.
Over-the-counter (OTC) antiperspirants typically contain a maximum concentration of 12.5% ACH, while prescription-grade options may boast even higher concentrations, ranging from approximately 15% to 20%.
It’s worth noting that its use may lead to skin irritation in ~21% of patients, though concerns regarding ACH’s potential association with Alzheimer’s disease have been debunked by recent research, confirming that everyday sources of aluminum, including antiperspirants, do not contribute to this condition.3–5
Systemic Medications
In some cases, your doctor may prescribe oral medications to stop excessive sweating, although oral medications are associated with significant adverse effects like sedation, dry mouth, retention of urine, and gastrointestinal disturbances that may interfere with daily functioning and are not commonly prescribed.
Medical Procedures
- Botulinum Toxin:
- Injected into affected areas, it can reduce sweating.
- Iontophoresis:
- A machine passes a weak electric current through your skin while you soak your hands or feet in water.
Surgical Options
- Surgical resection: Surgical resection of the nerves supplying the sweat glands may help to decrease the sweating. It is not a commonly performed procedure due to potential complications, including compensatory sweating.
Clinical course of hyperhidrosis
The prognosis for hyperhidrosis varies from person to person. For some, the problem may pass or change over time, but for many, it remains a lifelong challenge. The key to living with hyperhidrosis is understanding its causes and available treatments, which can significantly improve your quality of life.
In conclusion, excessive sweating is a condition that affects many individuals, and it’s essential to know that you’re not alone in dealing with it. With the right knowledge, lifestyle changes, and medical treatments, you can manage and even reduce excessive sweating, allowing you to live a more comfortable and confident life. Don’t hesitate to consult a healthcare professional if you believe you have hyperhidrosis to explore your options further.
