Hyperhydrosis

What is excessive sweating?

Excessive sweating is often referred to as hyperhidrosis. It is a common condition affecting an estimated 3 out of every 100 people. Sweating is a normal reaction from the body to try and cool it down in warm environments or after exercise. Hyperhidrosis is when people experience excessive sweating for no apparent reason.

The condition may only affect certain areas of the body however the entire body can be affected. The most common locations being palms of the hand, soles of the feet, armpits, face, chest and groin. Because of the way sweat can mark clothing, it can make people feel very self-conscious and embarrassed. Although normal, this can be a sign of underlying medical problems.

Hyperhidrosis can be categorised in a number of different ways. focal hyperhidrosis means that the excessive sweating is localised (normally to the palms of the hands and soles of the feet), and generalised hyperhidrosis means that it affects the entire body. You can further identify which type you have by considering the reason behind it. Primary idiopathic hyperhidrosis means that the cause is unknown, while secondary hyperhidrosis means that the excessive sweating is caused by another health problem.

What causes excessive sweating?

The occurrence of hyperhidrosis in an individual is largely unpredictable and occurs in those who are otherwise healthy, although it can get worse doing particularly stressful periods. It is the result of overactive sweat glands possibly due to a problem with the sympathetic nervous system. In about 40% of cases, there is a family history of hyperhidrosis. This means there is a likely genetic contribution.

Some medical ailments that can cause this are:

●     Thyroid conditions

●     Menopause

●     Anxiety

●     Diabetes

If you are sweating excessively you should consult your GP so that they can rule out the above conditions.

How can I treat excessive sweating?

There are a variety of measures you can take to minimise the effects of excessive sweating. This can be as simple as avoiding tight-fitting clothing or wearing different shoes each day. Drinking alcohol and eating spicy food can both make your sweating worse so try to stay away from these as best as possible.

There are also over the counter products available from Cloud Pharmacy such as strong antiperspirants that can be used in place of regular deodorants. You can also consider foot powders or botox injections to reduce activity of the sweat glands.