Hyperhidrosis: Excessive Sweating Problems

Introduction

What is Hyperhidrosis?

Hyperhidrosis is a fairly common disorder shared by millions across the world. By definition, Hyperhidrosis is the excessive sweating of the head, face, hands, feet and armpits no matter the temperature or conditions.

Main Item

Over active sweat glands often lead to hyperhidrosis. Excess sweating can sometimes affect the entire body but it usually occurs in the hands, feet, armpits and the groin area.

Excessive perspiration occurs to all during anxiety and fever. But when it persists it signals disorder of sweat glands, thyroid problems and a nervous system disorder.

Areas having excess sweating appear white, cracked, scaly, and soft along with bad odor, which is caused by bacteria but is a symptom of hyperhidrosis. Overactive sweat glands can be present any where in the body and lead to hyperhidrosis or excessive perspiration. There is no specific reason as to what leads to over active sweat glands but this is the main reason that causes hyperhidrosis. Though one procedure, which is the drysol method to cure hyperhidrosis, has some side effects but not all are sensitive to it. Botox treatment is also available.

Excess sweating leads to low estrogen level, hyperthyroidism, reduces immunity and causes social embarrassment and social isolation. The medical problems can be cured and treated much easily than the mental problems. Excessive sweating causes a lot of inferiority complex and thus it leads the patient to avoid facing public at all in turn lowering their moral and spirits.

Excessive sweating causes include sweaty palms, sweaty feet along with odor and excess sweating. Sweaty hands and palms is the first symptom and are generally not taken that seriously but sweaty feet and dripping sweat is a major sign of hyperhidrosis. When excessive perspiration is along with dripping sweat it means the sufferer is suffering from hyperhidrosis. An excessive sweating problem is usually caused by disorders of sweat glands or over active sweat glands like thoracic gland.

The thyroid gland is an organ, which has a lot many veins. This is located near the voice box and it absorbs iodine from the diet. Disorders of sweat glands even include the thyroid gland malfunctioning which leads to hyperhidrosis. These thyroid gland discharges thyroid hormones, which are iodine containing compounds and it, affect the body temperature and can also lead to hyperhidrosis.

Hyperthyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland excretes excess of thyroid hormones and thus leads to hormonal imbalances, over-active thyroid gland, which increases body metabolism and heat production thus leading to hyperhidrosis, and it even causes over activity of the sympathetic nervous system. Excessive perspiration is caused by high metabolism rate and thyroid gland is very much responsible for it. This excessive sweating problem can be cured by thoracic surgery procedure.

Tips to Help Prevent Excessive Sweating

Drysol

Drysol is a prescription deodorant that works wonders for underarm, hand and foot sweating. Apply it to your hands, feet, armpits or anywhere else you sweat at night before bed. You only need to apply it once a day - it's not like regular deodorant. This stuff is Clinical Strength. Beware of irritation with Drysol. You may have to take a day or two off from this treatment if your skin gets too dry, sensitive or red with a rash.

Drink more water to lower your body temperature.

A lot of people are confused by this solution. They think if they drink more water, it will give them that much more fluid to sweat out. This is totally incorrect. Drinking more water cools your core temperature and will alleviate some of the excessive sweating. Of course now you'll need to worry about all those bathroom breaks.

Drink Green Tea or Sage Tea at night

Tea contains an astringent property which will dry out oils and prevent excess moister from escaping the skin. It essentially drys you from the inside out.

In addition to helping your complexion, green tea will neutralize many of the toxins that create the pungent odor in sweat. By the way, that odor is caused by bacteria that treats your sweat as a breeding ground.

Certain Dri (non-prescription deodorant)

You can buy this one at most pharmacies. Certain dry is a little less abrasive than Drysol so you won't need to worry as much about irritation. It is however a little less strong. You'll want to gauge your level of Hyperhidrosis by first trying Certain Dri. If your sweating continues, upgrade to Drysol and that should do the trick.

Avoid spicy foods, alcohol and caffeine

Don't underestimate the power of your diet. Onions, Garlic, Curry, Coffee and a whole host of other ingredients are powerful triggers for hyperhidrosis sweating. Cut out some of these culprits and see gradual but noticeable results. Add leafy greens and tea into your diet for a positive effect on sweating. Changing your diet will really cut out the spontaneous sweating from your daily lunch breaks.

Iontophoresis Treatments.

This is more of a phase 3 solution. Try the clinical deodorants and diet fixes first. However, there is a treatment called Iontophoresis where you place your hands and feet into bowls or plates. The plates are filled with mineral water. Connected to the plates is an Iontophoresis electromagnetic device. Gentle electric pulses are distributed through mineral water. The minerals bond and temporarily change the nature of your sweat pores to block the sweat. This treatment works well.

Sage Tea Soak

There's something called a Sage Tea solution what you do is... a. Buy Sage Tea from your supermarket b. Fill a large bowl with room temperature water c. Put the sage tea bags in the bowl and let the tea dissolve a bit. d. soak your hands for 15 minutes in the bowl.

Sage Tea will act as an astringent to dry the skin and prevent excessive sweating for many days to follow. Don't just do this soak one day. Do it everyday for 5 days straight (15 minutes at a time) and you'll see great results. If your hands tan from the tea, just wash them in the sink with antibacterial soap. The residue will come off easily.

Caffeine

Caffeine can increase body temperature, hence it can lead to hyperhidrosis or excessive sweating problem and should be avoided.

Surgery

Excess sweating caused either by disorders of sweat glands or over-active sweat glands can be cured by thoracic surgery procedure or excessive perspiration treatment. Some of the other treatments to cure hyperhidrosis or excessive sweating problem include surgical removal of the over-active sweat glands, iontophoresis, application of aluminum chloride solution and psychological counseling.

If the sweating is bad enough, some people will opt towards ETS (Endoscopic Thorasic Surgery). This is, however, a LAST resort. I recommend you try everything else possible before opting towards surgery. You can speak with your Dermatologist to find out more.

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Cite This Page (APA): Langtree, I. C. (2009, July 3 - Last revised: 2017, March 17). Hyperhidrosis: Excessive Sweating Problems. Disabled World. Retrieved December 10, 2024 from www.disabled-world.com/health/dermatology/skin/hyperhidrosis.php

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