Hyperhidrosis

What is hyperhidrosis?

Hyperhidrosis is excessive sweating. Everyone sweats when they’re hot, exercising, or feeling stress. But people who have hyperhidrosis sweat most of the time and sweat heavily without the usual triggers.

Symptoms of hyperhidrosis

If you have hyperhidrosis, you may sweat all over your body. Or you may sweat mainly on your hands, feet, armpits, face, and genital area. Your clothes may be soaked with sweat. Your skin may become white and wrinkled or red and irritated from the moisture.

Dampness from the sweat is accompanied by odor. Sweat by itself doesn’t usually have an odor. But once it is on your skin, bacteria and other germs begin to break it down. This causes it to smell.

Hyperhidrosis can have an unpleasant effect on your life. You may feel awkward and uncomfortable in social situations. You may be self-conscious because of dampness and odor. You may also be afraid to touch or shake hands with people or raise your arm to reach for something. You may feel embarrassed about being in public, spending time with your friends, and going to work or school. These are very normal reactions to having hyperhidrosis.

Should I see my doctor?

Too often, people suffer with hyperhidrosis without seeking help. Perhaps you may think it is silly or embarrassing. But hyperhidrosis can have a negative impact on your life. It can cause social isolation, depression, and anxiety. Plus, it can be a sign of a serious health problem. You are wise to seek your doctor’s advice. Contact your doctor if:

• You seem to sweat a lot more than normal
• Your sweating doesn’t have a cause, such as exercising or being in hot weather
• You also have chest pain, fever, shortness of breath, or the feeling that your heart is pounding
• You are losing weight unintentionally
• Your sweating mostly happens at night or worsens at night

How is hyperhidrosis diagnosed?

Your doctor will probably ask you questions about your symptoms and medical history. The signs of hyperhidrosis may be obvious to your doctor and no testing may be needed. You may also be checked for other problems that could be causing your symptoms. For example, your doctor may order urine and blood tests to check for conditions such as an overactive thyroid or low blood sugar. Additional testing for hyperhidrosis measures the level of moisture on your skin.

Can hyperhidrosis be prevented or avoided?

You cannot prevent primary hyperhidrosis. Often, you cannot prevent secondary hyperhidrosis. Much depends on what is causing your symptoms. If your symptoms are caused by blood pressure medicine, it may be possible to change medicines. If your symptoms are caused by caffeine, they may go away when you stop drinking caffeinated drinks. But if your symptoms are caused by heart disease or cancer, it may be impossible to prevent hyperhidrosis.

Hyperhidrosis treatment

• Antiperspirants. If regular antiperspirants haven’t helped, try a product with a higher level of aluminum chloride hexahydrate (brand names: Certain Dri, Drysol, Hypercare, Xerac). This ingredient shuts down sweat ducts. You may try a product from the store or you may talk to your doctor about a prescription. Apply these antiperspirants at night to towel-dried skin several times a week. Your doctor may suggest you apply it every night or even twice a day for the first week. After that, apply it once or twice a week to keep your sweating under control.
• Prescription medicines for hyperhidrosis. Your doctor may prescribe medicine to stop stimulation of the sweat glands. This medicine may have side effects such as dry mouth, constipation, and blurry vision. Taking it over time may lead to more serious problems. Talk to your doctor to see if this medicine might be useful to you.
• Medicine to treat the cause of secondary hyperhidrosis. If you have secondary hyperhidrosis caused by another condition, medicine that treats that condition may help. For example, if stress is part of what triggers you to sweat heavily, then medicine to treat anxiety may be useful to you.
• Iontophoresis. This treatment option involves using a special machine that applies low amounts of electricity to shut off the sweat glands. This treatment generally is used for hands and feet.
• Botulinum toxin type A (brand name: Botox). This treatment is typically injected into the armpits to block the nerves that cause sweating. Botox can work well but can be expensive and painful. Also, it sometimes causes flu-like symptoms. Each treatment is effective for about 4 to 8 months.
• If your hyperhidrosis is severe and other treatments haven’t worked, surgery may be an option. A surgeon may remove or cut nerves that activate certain sweat glands. Or they may remove some sweat glands completely. Typically, surgery is a last resort. Many people who go through surgery have new or worsened sweating (called compensatory sweating) later in life. Surgery also carries the risk of nerve and artery damage.

Living with hyperhidrosis

A number of things can help you deal with hyperhidrosis day to day.

• If you are bothered by odor, try bathing daily with antibacterial soap. This will help wash away the bacteria and other germs that gather on the skin, which are what can cause odor when you sweat.
• Dry yourself completely. Bacteria and other germs thrive in damp areas.
• Let your shoes dry completely before wearing them again. Do not wear the same pair of shoes 2 days in a row.
• Wear cotton socks or socks that pull moisture away from the skin. Change your socks throughout the day if needed.
• Cotton and other natural fibers may help you feel cooler and give you the sense that your skin can breathe. But when you exercise, special fabrics designed to pull dampness away from your skin might be most comfortable.
• Wear dress shields. These are pads you can place under your arms. They may be useful and help you feel more confident that you won’t sweat through your shirt or blouse.
• Some people find that keeping an extra shirt or pair of socks on hand helps them feel more secure about being in public. Doing this gives you the option to change if your clothes become damp and you feel uncomfortable.
• Keep up with your laundry. Be sure to wash and dry clothing thoroughly before wearing again.
• Try shaving in bothersome areas, such as under the arms.
• If certain foods or drinks seem to make your sweating worse, avoid them. This might include caffeine, spicy foods, and alcohol.
• Relaxation techniques might be helpful (such as yoga and meditation), especially if your sweating is triggered by stress. Even if the sweating isn’t triggered directly by stress, the sweating itself can cause stress, so relaxation techniques can be helpful.

• What is the likely cause of my hyperhidrosis?
• I’m embarrassed by how much I sweat. Will a prescription antiperspirant help?
• What is the best treatment option for me? Will I need to take medicine?
• Do I need to make any lifestyle changes?
• When can I expect relief from my symptoms?
• Is hyperhidrosis a sign of a more serious health problem?
• Do I need any tests?

International Hyperhidrosis Society

National Institutes of Health, MedlinePlus: Hyperhidrosis