Sept. 19, 2024 | Let’s face it, everybody sweats. Sweat is a clear, salty liquid produced by glands in your skin. Sweating is how your body cools itself. You sweat mainly under your arms and on your feet and palms. Sweat moves from your glands through tubes called ducts until it reaches the surface of your skin. Once sweat leaves the ducts, it changes from a liquid to a gas and disappears from your skin to cool down your body. When sweat mixes with bacteria on your skin, it can cause a smell. Bathing regularly and using antiperspirants or deodorants can help control the odor. Sweating a lot is normal when it is hot or when you exercise or have a fever. However, if you often sweat too much, it could be a condition called hyperhidrosis. This condition happens when you sweat more than what your body needs to regulate your temperature. You may experience sweating when you’re at rest, in cold temperatures or randomly at times when you wouldn’t expect to sweat.

Sept. 19, 2024 | The condition hyperhidrosis, or excessive sweating, is actually extremely common, effecting an estimated three percent of adults between the ages of 20 and 60 in the U.S. Because sweat comes from eccrine glands, which exist throughout your body, excessive sweating can occur in a number of places, from your feet to your forehead. There are two types of the condition. Focal hyperhidrosis is a chronic skin condition. A genetic change causes this condition. You can inherit it from your biological family. This is the most common type of hyperhidrosis. It usually affects your armpits, hands, feet and face and tends to start before the age of 25. Generalized hyperhidrosis, meanwhile, is excessive sweating caused by an underlying medical condition or it’s a side effect of a medication. Some examples include diabetes and Parkinson’s disease and medications, such as naproxen. Generalized hyperhidrosis may cause you to sweat while sleeping.

Sept. 19, 2024 | Excessive sweating, the condition known as hyperhidrosis, could be a sign of an underlying medical condition. Menopause, obesity, hyperthyroidism and diabetes are just a few of the diseases that include hyperhidrosis as a possible symptom. Some of the complications that can be caused by excessive sweating include a skin infection and maceration, or unusually soft, moist skin. Hyperhidrosis can also cause changes in a person’s skin such as paleness, discoloration, cracks or wrinkles. Hyperhidrosis can also impact your mental health. You may find yourself changing your routine to hide your symptoms from others. Constant sweating may be so severe that you avoid common actions, such as lifting your arms or shaking hands. You may even give up activities you enjoy to avoid problems or embarrassment from excessive sweating. It’s a good idea to contact a physician if hyperhidrosis affects your mental health and social well-being.

Sept. 19, 2024 | If your physician thinks you have excessive sweating, or hyperhidrosis, they will likely conduct a physical exam and talk to you about your symptoms and medical history. Some of the questions you can expect to be asked include whether you sweat the same on both sides of your body and if you have an episode of sweating that lasts for at least one week. If you are younger than 25, if you have a history of hyperhidrosis in your family or sweating interferes with your ability to do certain things, your physician may perform certain tests to determine the cause of your condition. A starch-iodine test involves your doctor applying an iodine solution to the sweaty area and sprinkling starch over the iodine solution. In places where you have excess sweating, the solution turns dark blue. A paper test consists of your physician placing special paper on the affected area to absorb sweat. They will later weigh the paper to determine how much sweat you have.

Sept. 19, 2024 | Treatment for hyperhidrosis, or excessive sweating, depends on the part of the body affected, the severity of the diagnosis and what treatment works best for the patient. Most people can manage their symptoms at home by using antiperspirants and deodorants, by showering and bathing often and by wearing breathable clothing. Blended fabrics and polyester, which can trap heat and make a person sweat more, should be avoided. When hyperhidrosis affects your feet, dermatologists recommend changing your shoes and socks often and wearing socks made of fabrics that wick moisture away from the skin. Injecting botulinum toxin, or Botox, into an overactive nerve can stop sweat production for months at a time although repeat treatments are necessary. When other treatments don’t work well and your symptoms persist, your doctor may consider surgery involving the removal of sweat glands either by laser, scraping, cutting or liposuction.