Why Do I Sweat Excessively?

Medically termed as ‘hyperhidrosis’, excessive sweating could be a medical condition more than physical inconvenience. Sweating heavily in a hot weather, warm atmosphere, circumstances involving physical exertion or during a heavy workout is normal. However, it could result due to an existing health problem in the body. It could also lead to other conditions such as fungal skin infection, eczema, etc. The good news is that it is possible to get rid of hyperhidrosis via proper treatment and medications.

Excessive Sweating

This body condition could begin from the adolescent age and continue throughout life; therefore, timely treatment is important. Axillary hyperhidrosis, i.e., sweating of the underarms and palmoplantar hyperhidrosis, i.e., sweating of the palms and feet are studied to be the typical forms of excessive sweating.

People naturally sweat differently just as the body functions vary. Sweating is not always a warning sign. It is basically a response to the change in body temperature where the body perspires to cool itself down and thus, maintain the temperature. However, some people tend to sweat heavily for no reason – even when the weather is mild or the body is not exerted. This is abnormal because excessive sweating goes beyond the natural physical requirement to sweat.

Effects

• Embarrassment and distress
• Interference in social and business relationships
• Social phobia
• Foul body odor
• Anxiety
• Obstruction in daily activities like driving, writing, typing, shaking hands, etc.
• Skin irritation, susceptibility to infection, and soreness

Types

It is important to know the sweating disorder type as the treatments for each one are different.

Generalized Hyperhidrosis/Secondary Hyperhidrosis

Conditions that trigger this type are:

• Tuberculosis and other infectious diseases
• Leukemia, lymphoma, and other cancers
• Overactive thyroid gland and other hormonal problems
• Diabetes
• Heart failure
• Stroke
• Spinal cord nerve disorders
• Menopause
• Pregnancy
• Alcoholism
• Medicinal side effects
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Parkinson’s disease

The reason why this is called generalized is because sweating experienced all over the body – not just the hands or feet. It is found to be less common as compared to other types of excessive sweating. The main cause of this sweating disorder is usually secondary – an underlying health issue, thus it’s also known as secondary hyperhidrosis. Night or cold sweats are revealing signs in this case.

Primary Hyperhidrosis

Titled as ‘idiopathic’, this is a common form which evolves in specific body part(s) – face, scalp, palms, soles of the feet, groin, or armpits. Rightly entitled as idiopathic, which means the cause is not known, it is typically not related to a medical condition nor a sign of one. Here, excessive sweating originates from a minor misfunction of the sweat glands and nearby nerves. Note that it has symmetrical symptoms – equally occurring on both sides.

People who suffer from it are otherwise healthy. Individuals aging 25 and below could be the ones first affected by it. However, statistically, only up to 3% of the population suffer from this sweating disorder.

Home Treatments

• Being overweight could induce excessive sweating. Work on your weight
• Bathe at least twice a day with cold or lukewarm water. Dry yourself thoroughly with drying sheets that are next to your skin after bathing
• Opt for natural fabrics such as cotton instead of man-made ones such as nylon and ensure that you wear clean, dry underwear/clothes. Avoid wearing tight clothing, especially under the armpits
• You may go for sweat shields to protect your clothes from getting damped due to sweat and avoid embarrassment
• Avoid hot drinks such as coffee including alcohols
• Drink a minimum of 8 glasses of water each day to make up for the lost body fluids
• Avoid triggers like heat, spicy foods including garlic and onion, etc.
• Don’t get anxious or overstressed with work. Keep you cool always
• For excessive feet sweating, prefer breathable shoes instead of boots or sport shoes, change your shoes on alternate days to allow them to dry completely, wear a different pair of socks twice a day, and use an deodorizing/absorbent foot powder

Medicinal Treatments

• Antiperspirants could be effective in killing mild sweating issues as they block the sweat producing pores. Deodorants, on the other hand, mainly kill the sweat odor by attacking the skin bacteria. Hypoallergenic preparations could be used to deal with skin irritation. Apply them on daily basis after shower
• Aluminum chloride hexahydrate is an aluminum chloride variant recommended by most doctors to treat heavy sweating. Use it for 7-10 nights just when you’re about to sleep at night. Don’t apply it on irritated, broken, or shaved skin (less than 12 hours) or near sensitive areas such as eyes, lips, etc. They are usually in the form of roll-ons/dab-ons, eg., Drysol. Ensure that your skin is thoroughly washed and completely dried before applying the antiperspirant
• Botox is an approved form of treatment which involves injecting in the nerves of the underarms to cease them from triggering heavy sweating
• Iontophoresis temporarily incapacitates the sweat glands using low level electrical impulses
• Some surgeries include the treatment of removing a few sweat glands and cutting a chest nerve that induces sweat
• Certain medications like anticholinergics are used to control sweating
• Microwave destruction is another treatment which makes use of a device that causes damage to the sweat glands without or minimally affecting other tissues