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Conditions

Hyperhidrosis

Excessive sweating in the armpit

Sweating is necessary to control your body temperature in warm or hot weather, or when exercising. In fact, on average, we lose over a litre of sweat a day and have an average of 2.6 million sweat glands in our skin to aid that process. However, around 1% of the population sweats excessively at times when they are neither hot nor exercising, which commonly affects the armpits, face, palms and soles of the feet. Known as hyperhidrosis, sufferers of this condition wish that they could just turn the tap off. It might not be as easy as that, but there are treatments available, one of which is a course of Botulinum toxin injections into the affected area. The fact that you’ve been botoxed probably won’t make the pages of Heat magazine, but it should block the nerves that supply the eccrine (sweat) glands, subsequently preventing them from producing sweat.

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What the Men in White Coats Say

Comments and Questions

The EB doctors have been looking at your comments and have answered some of the common questions below. Remember that it is always best to check with a health professional if you have any concerns about your health.

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Please note: Unfortunately Channel 4 cannot respond to individual inquiries. If you have any concerns, you can check out NHS Choices, but ultimately it is always best to check with a health professional.

hi, for about 9 years I have had uncontrollable sweating in the arm pits, I could be doing anything even sitting down doing nothing and it is everywhere, I have tried loads of different deodorants which have not done anything for me, I have even been to the doctors and they have given my this chloride deodorant which I couldn't use as it stung and itched terribly, but every time I go to the doctors since telling them that the deodorant didn't work, they say there is nothing else they can do for me, it is very embarrassing as I always have to wear a cardigan that don't show anything or even a coat so no one can see it, it is very upsetting, I was wondering whether there is anything that I can do that will stop the sweating so that I am able to go out of my house without a coat or cardigan on?





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Are you young Natalie? I suffered badly with excessive sweating in my teens and thought it would ruin my life but it did pass eventually. I also found that an excellent antiperspirant called Mitchum helped.

hi i'm grainne i'm 14 years old and i suffer from excessive sweating under my arms. last year i found a deoderant called sure maximum protection, it worked for about 3 months but my skin seemed to get used to it and it no longer works. it really embarasses me because even when i'm cold i sweat really badly. some of my friends see other people with sweat patches and laugh. this makes me feel really awkward so i would like to find a solution as soon as possible.





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For the attention of Gemma (the girl who had the surgery), hope your post-op recovery went well. Have only just seen your post from a few months ago asking about side-effects people have experienced. I unfortunately went through ETS and lumbar sympathectomy between 99-01, here are the side-effects I suffer: * Very severe compensatory hyperhidrosis on the whole of my back, my chest, stomach, legs, groin, and buttocks. * Very dry hands / feet (much dryer than 'normal' people) * Very, very dry face / forehead / scalp / neck and armpits, even on hot days or during exercise * Lack of energy * Heat intolerance * Weight gain (due to lack of energy I guess) * Burning sensation in many areas * Flushed / overheated feeling in my face, as well as hands and most of my body always feeling excessively warm / hot * Society anxiety / paranoia / self-consciousness I hope you do not suffer these same side-effects. :-( I read that surgical techniques have improved in recent years so hopefully yours was done using more modern techniques. Personally though I still regret the operations and they are without doubt the biggest and most costly mistakes of my life. I would still advise anyone considering these barbaric operations to not go through with it and instead utilise great, safe treatments like iontophoresis and the aluminium chloride anti-perspirants.





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I'm 25-year old girl and i've had problems with sweating since puberty. When it's hot i sweat a lot and also when i'm nervous i get sweaty underarms and palms. My friend had told me about ANTIPERSPIRANT MAXIM but i didn't really listen to her because I never thought any antiperspirant will really help you stop sweating, for me antiperspirant was something to kill the odour but not sweating. And i thought it definitely wont help me with excessive sweating. But then one day i thought i'd give it a try and i was surprised to find my underarms dry even though it was really hot. Now I use Maxim once a week. It always stings a little bit and itches as hell but it's nothing unbearable really. Although one of my other friend couldn't use it cause she got a really bad allergic reaction. I only use it on my armpits but it can also be used on face, palms and feet. In my country it's around 18 euros and it last up to 6 months. Im really really satisfied with it.





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hi my names kirsty im 22 and i suffer from hyperhidrosis iv suffered with it for around 5 years i have a 1 year old and a 3 year old its getting to the point now that its so painful that its not fair on my kids as i feel as im pushing them away as i cant play with them much or hold them as its really really painful i cant sleep at night i just want to know if theres anything at all i could do as im getting so depressed i just want to enjoy a full day playing with my kids without being in pain and telling my children i cant play anymore because it cant be nice for them so anyone got anything i can try or do please let me know thanx





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hi im 14 and i need a cure for excesive seating in my hair. I sweat most when playing sports, or when it is hot and it's getting worse.





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I too suffer facial and head sweating - I'm already turning down functions for this xmas, its so embarrassing - I too heard Dr Christian mention this tablet to use on 'big' events, but my Doc has never heard of it and had her pharmacist do an extensive search - its unfair to raise peples hopes like this if maybe its something you cant get in this country - come in, Dr C - give us all the name of the drug!!!!! pleeeeeze!!





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Hi am 62 years old and have suffered with sweaty face and my hair gets very wet for many years usually when i play badmington or attending a party or function where it gets vey hot. Dr Christian mentioned this as Hyperhidrosis on one of your programs and said there was a tablet you could take for special occasions. What is the tablet called? Many thanks Marie





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I have a problem with a sweaty vagina, its holding me back with everything, people have made comments at work and whispered behind my back. I've now met a guy and am worried about having sex with him because of this. I don't know if its something else but had a snowboarding accident and took a massive fall and since then i've had this problem. Please help.





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hi i have suffered from hyperhidrosis all over my body since i was a baby i am now 20 and running out of options .. their are loads of tablets like (Propantheline bromide), creams such as ( glycopyrrolate), botox treatments available on NHS, roll on deodorants so dont ever give up or let it rule your life hope this helps x x

Hey im Kate, I'm 15 and i suffer from sweaty hands and feet,Just over a year ago i got refereed to the hospital and now i have a machine,however it does work it seems to cut the sweating down,but it hasn't stopped it completely i was just wondering if anyone eles has had the same problem?





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Hi kate i suffer the same condition and i have tried every option possible, just wondering.what this machine is ?

Hey Mikaela. and its a idrostar machine:)





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Content supplied by NHS Choices

Hyperhidrosis is a condition that causes excessive sweating. While hyperhidrosis does not pose a serious threat to health, it can cause significant emotional and psychological distress, embarrassment and can have a negative impact on a person’s quality of life. Read More »

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