Sweating

Excessive sweating, also known as hyperhidrosis, is a medical condition that typically affects the palms of the hands, soles of the feet and the armpits. In most cases, hyperhidrosis is not a serious medical problem, but it can cause significant physical and emotional discomfort. While there is no cure for hyperhidrosis at this time, there are many ways to learn how to control excessive sweating, and in some cases, it may simply be a matter of trial and error to determine which treatment for excessive sweating is the best choice for you.Steps1See your doctor for a possible cause of your excessive sweating. Some instances may be due to an underlying medical conditions, such as menopause, heart disease, hyperthyroidism or some types of cancer. It is important to identify this underlying cause as soon as possible so treatment can begin. This is particularly true since some of these causes can become potentially life-threatening if they are left unchecked. Once the underlying problem is successfully treated, the patient can effectively excessive sweating as well.2Consider the medications you are currently taking. Some medicines can contribute to excessive sweating, such as drugs used to treat psychiatric conditions or high blood pressure. Antibiotics and some types of supplements can also lead to the problem. This is of particular concern if the sweating appeared after the medication was started, or if the sweating is a generalized, rather than a localized, variety.3Shop for a stronger antiperspirant. Aluminum chloride hexahydrate is an effective treatment for excessive sweating, but only if it is applied in sufficient amounts. Prescription-strength antiperspirants contain 10 to 15 percent of this substance, which is often sufficient for hyperhidrosis. Some antiperspirants can cause skin irritation, so you may need to try more than one product before you find the best formula for you. Talk to your doctor for a prescription.4Consider iontophoresis as a treatment for excessive sweating. This FDA-approved procedure is typically performed by a dermatologist and uses electrical impulses to "turn off" the sweat glands temporarily and is particularly effective in the hands and feet. Most patients require multiple sessions to see positive results, which are typically given once a day for up to 2 weeks. After that, maintenance sessions can be done on an "as needed" basis. Few side effects are reported with this procedure and some patients eventually perform maintenance sessions as needed in the comfort of their own homes. Machines can be purchased from R.A. Fischer Co. and generally cost around $600. Patients must be trained by their doctor to use the machine properly.5Talk to your doctor about Botox as a way to reduce excessive sweating. While typically considered an anti-aging treatment, these injections have also been proven effective in treating hyperhidrosis. The procedure works by temporarily blocking the nerves that stimulate the sweating process. This procedure is also considered relatively safe, with few unpleasant side effects and no downtime afterward. Results usually last around 4 months and repeat sessions are needed to maintain positive results.http://www.wikihow.com/Control-Excessive-SweatingAlmost everyone has moments of concern about whether they're sweating too much and occasionally the wet shirt or top can even bring about self-consciousness about appearance or concerns about odor. The principal function of sweat is to control your body's temperature as it evaporates from your skin and most sweating is perfectly normal and simply needs home management techniques; as for the odor, it too has a very old, primitive purpose of putting off animals that might once have wished to eat you, which explains why it can be quite rank at times![1] However, would you know when you're actually sweating "too much" as opposed to what is normal?In this article, you'll learn how to identify whether your sweating levels are normal or if there might be a possibility that you suffer from a condition of excessive sweating known as hyperhidrosis. And you'll also learn how to manage things when you feel you're sweating too much.Steps1 Sweating from dancing – normal.Spot the difference between normal and excessive or abnormal sweating. It's important to be able to identify the level of sweating you're experiencing because excessive or abnormal sweating can have serious underlying causes that may require surgery, antibiotics or some other form of treatment, such as losing weight. Naturally, only your doctor can diagnose the severity of your sweating and its causes and even if you're not sure, it's a good idea to speak to your doctor if you have worries. The following list explains when you can expect "normal" sweating and when you might experience "increased" or "excessive" sweating:[2] Normal sweating usually occurs as a result of: Exposure to hot weather, physical exercise (sport, running about), emotional stress (nerves, feeling stressed out), eating hot or spicy foods and suffering from an illness that includes a fever.Increased, excessive or abnormal sweating is known as hyperhidrosis and it often occurs as the result of: Obesity, hormonal changes associated with menopause, an overactive thyroid gland, diabetes, illness such as malaria or an infection, a tumor (rare) and certain medications. In particular, people who have excessive or abnormal sweating tend to sweat even when the conditions for normal sweating are not present. For example, excessive sweating might continue indoors in an air-conditioned environment.Symptoms may include constantly sweaty, wet hands, sweating or even dripping armpits and always wet, slippery soles of the feet. The areas affected with excessive sweating tend to be the armpits (axillae), palms of the hands, soles of the feet and genital areas.[3] It often begins in childhood.[4]Often, no one cause can be found for excessive sweating but since medical conditions can underlie the problem, doctor's tests are essential.[3]2 Talk to your doctor or dermatologist first.Talk to your doctor or dermatologist first. Self-diagnosis is very subjective with sweating and if you are experiencing drenched clothing, embarrassment, inability to control odor, etc. as a result of sweating, these should be enough indicators to you that it's time to speak to your doctor or dermatologist. Your health care professional may need to take blood tests to check your thyroid or to look for infections or run other tests according to their professional examination. On the other hand, if your sweating is simply inconvenient and a bit smelly, you probably have normal sweating but a poor management plan in place to deal with it. There are some things other than prescribing antiperspirant that your doctor can try, such as:[2] Drugs – your doctor may administer drugs such as phenoxybenzamine or propantheline.[3]Iontophoresis – reduction of the activity of sweat glands by passing a low-level electric current through the skin. Treatment is useful for soles and palms usually and treatment may be required every day initially.[4]Botox injections – these can temporarily paralyze sweat glands for six to nine months per single injection. They are usually given underarms but can also be injected on the face, hands, feet or groins.[5]Liposuction – this might be used where excessive sweating is confined to the armpits, in order to remove the sweat glands.[3]Anti-cholinergic medication – this is not FDA approved for use in cases of excessive sweating but many dermatologists will prescribe it if asked.[5] They do have possible side effects such as constipation, blurred vision, dry mouth and dizziness, which you should be aware of before using.[4]Psychological intervention – if you're experiencing anxiety triggered sweating, a course of cognitive behavioral therapy or psychotherapy might be just the ticket to relieve such sweating.Surgery – while drastic, sometimes this is the only option. In this case, the nerves controlling the sweat glands might be removed and skin grafting may be required. It's a last resort option though.3 Investigate antiperspirant options.Investigate antiperspirant options. Store purchased antiperspirants may be enough if you haven't tried them yet, at least with respect to your underarm area, the spot most people consider to be the source of most sweating problems (although, antiperspirants can usually also be used on feet, palms, etc. unless otherwise stated[2]). Indeed, the consumer is often confused by the different products on the shelves because some are deodorants, some are antiperspirants and some are both. What should a person choose? An antiperspirant stops the sweating, while a deodorant still permits sweating but cuts down the less desirable odors that emit at the same time.[1] If you sweat profusely, it's likely that an antiperspirant is the better choice but then you're confronted by what chemicals are used to prevent the perspiring and there are plenty of people who believe that aluminum and zirconium, which plug the sweat glands to prevent sweating, are unhealthy and have been implicated in cancers, etc; on the other hand, others claim that there is yet to be adequate proof.[1] It's recommended that you self-inform about the issues through reading and reaching your own conclusions. If you want something stronger than what you can find on the supermarket shelf, talk to your doctor. One possibility is a product called Drysol, which is aluminum chloride hexahydrate. When applied to the underarms, this works to block the sweat glands and plug the pores. It is only available with a prescription and you must follow your doctor's directions for application. There are other prescribed formulas that your doctor may administer too.Depending on your body chemistry, you may have to do trials with different supermarket antiperspirants to find which one really works for you. Although there is initially an outlay of cost to do this, it can be beneficial in the long run when you discover a formula that really works for you. You might also try writing to manufacturers to ask for samples, which will cut down the cuts and waste on trialling different types.When purchasing antiperspirants that aren't doctor prescribed, look for ones that state "clinical strength". Your pharmacist may be able to help you.4 Cut down on fatty foods.Manage your eating. This is important both for weight loss and for ensuring that you're not eating foods that bring about sweating or odorous sweating. If you're overweight or obese, losing weight will help reduce the amount of sweating that you experience because the heavier you are, the harder it is to cool down efficiently and the more you'll sweat. Follow your doctor's weight loss advice and at the same time, talk to your doctor about your concerns related to sweating. For people of normal weight, diet can still influence sweating. Any food that is spicy can cause you to sweat more than usual, so cutting down on spicy foods is a must.[6] In addition, if your usual nutritional fare contains too much sugar or fats, your body will rely on sweating as one source of excreting the toxins from your body, so it's important to cut down on sugar (or even eliminate it from your diet) and to eat good fats in smaller doses, such as Omega 3 and 6 and monounsaturated fats such as olive oil.[6] Eat a healthy diet filled with fresh fruits and vegetables. Cut down or eliminate processed foods from your daily diet.Consider being vegetarian. Some people believe that vegetarian diets create less odorous sweat,[1] although this is fairly much in the nose of the perceiver!Drink tea. Black tea and especially sage tea contain tannins, which are astringent compounds that can help keep the skin dry. To make the sage tea, add 10-20 leaves to a cup and pour in hot water.[5] You can also try four black tea bags in a bath or a hand basin to see if it stops sweating but this has mixed results.[5][7]5 Some clothing and footwear is made especially to "breathe" and wick away sweat.Wear clothing that breathes. Some clothing is focused on minimizing the results of excessive sweating and this style of clothing can be a very effective way to wick away sweat or even discourage sweating in the first place. Most people participating in sports and outdoor activities are familiar with clothing that draws sweat away from the body and dries quickly. There is no reason why you can't adapt such clothing for everyday wear as well, at least underneath your usual jacket, etc. As well, aim to wear natural fibers, such as cotton and linen; unless specifically made to "mop up" perspiration and breathe, synthetic materials do not breathe and rarely allow for proper air circulation. Dress appropriately. Check the weather forecast before heading out and wear the right clothing to begin with. The hotter you feel, the more you'll sweat, so avoid overdoing the clothes. Dressing in layers is ideal, so you can peel off outer layers and cool off as needed.Consider wearing a plain white 100% cotton t-shirt underneath your typical shirt(s). This will be your first line of defense against sweat puddles forming on your outer shirt. Also, the white t-shirts are easy to bleach/oxy-clean the stains out of. (See How to Remove Yellow Armpit Stains.)You might like to add underarm guards to your tops, as an added layer of protection. See How to make underarm guards to make your own.Keep clothing loose.If your feet are sweating excessively, take an extra pair of shoes and socks with you in the morning. Change both about half-way through your day. While it will not eliminate the sweating it will keep your feet dry.6 Be a hygiene nut.Be a hygiene nut. The odor of sweat can be reduced considerably by frequent hygiene practices that are very simple. Have a daily bathing routine of either a shower or a bath and in particularly bad cases, consider bathing twice a day. When you're out and about, carry baby wipes or similar wipes that you can use underarm and on your body to mop up sweat quickly in the bathroom and feel fresh again. Carry an antiperspirant with you at all times for quick touch-ups, especially after physical activity or a nerve-racking experience such as delivering a presentation. If you have a permanent workspace, keep a stick of antiperspirant in your desk drawer. Antiperspirant left in the car risks melting or overheating. It's best to carry it on your person in a bag or to leave it somewhere convenient indoors.You may wish to shave your underarm area. Some people believe that this reduces odors because the hair traps oils and bacteria. However, other people believe that this doesn't have any good impact and can indeed be a source of making sweating worse by allowing the sweat to drip more. It's probably a good idea to experiment rather than jump to any set conclusions and, for many women, having hairy underarms is not considered to be beautiful and many shave it off anyway.Anti-bacterial soaps can be used when showering, to help kill odor-producing bacteria. Used twice daily over a period of a few days, this may remove bacteria and odor enough to reduce odor. This can also be combined with antibacterial creams such as clindamycin or erythromycin – talk to your doctor.[3]7If you're experiencing menopause, speak to your doctor for advice. Menopausal hot flashes can bring on abnormal sweating.Ads TipsIf you know you are sweating or will sweat in the day, take a light jacket to cover it up until you can change.Take a to-go stick of deodorant with you and carry it in your purse or pocket. When you go to the bathroom, put more on.When you go to an event which makes you nervous (it can be a party, a visit to the doctor, anything), you tend to sweat more. Learn how to be calm and relax.Prickly heat is caused when sweat is trapped in the ducts on the skin's surface and cannot escape. This can cause a rash, itching or blisters. If you also have this, keep the skin cool and dry and use antiperspirants.[3] Try to remain in an air-conditioned environment during treatment. If you have a rash, see the doctor for a corticosteroid cream or lotion, if relevant.Hyperthyroidism can cause too much sweating as a secondary outcome.Everybody does sweat and humans do sweat. This is completely normal. However if you are sweating abnormally, always talk to your doctor as this may be symptoms of something else.http://www.wikihow.com/Avoid-Sweating-Too-Much