Excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis) is a common problem, especially of the palms, armpits and soles. It can be distressing and can have a serious impact on your life. In some cases, affected people avoid social contact with others because of embarrassment about the problem. However, the condition is usually treatable.
What is excessive sweating?
Normal sweating helps to keep the body temperature steady in hot weather, during a high temperature (fever), or when exercising. Excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis) means that you sweat much more than normal. Even when you are not hot, anxious, or exercising, you make a lot of sweat.
Excessive sweating is classified into three types (as follows). It is important to know which type you have, as the causes and treatments are very different
Who's affected?
Most people produce about a litre of sweat each day, but people with hyperhidrosis (about 2-3% of the population), can produce up to 10 times as much.
Excessive sweating can be caused by illnesses, such as obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure. It normally stops once the underlying condition is treated.
But it’s also a condition in its own right. When the nerves that control sweating don’t function normally, they cause constant sweating in one or more areas of the body.
“The hands, the feet and the armpits (underarm) are the most common places,” says Halford. “The face, the head, the groin, the back and the chest also sweat, but not as commonly.”
People with excessive sweating wish they could just turn the tap off. It might not be as easy as that, but there are effective treatments available.
What help is available?
Changing your lifestyle and daily activities can improve symptoms and make you feel more self-confident.
Self-help tips:
- Avoid known triggers that make your sweating worse, such as spicy foods or alcohol.
- Frequently use antiperspirant spray (rather than deodorants).
- Avoid tight, restrictive clothing and man-made fibres, such as nylon.
- Wearing white or black clothing can minimise the signs of sweating.
- Armpit shields can absorb excessive sweat and protect your clothes.
- Wear socks that absorb moisture, for example thick, soft socks made of natural fibres or sports socks designed to absorb moisture. Avoid synthetics, and change your socks at least twice a day.
- Buy shoes that are made of leather, canvas or mesh rather than
