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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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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.

For the passed 30 years i have a bad body odour.And i cannot get rid of it, can you please tell me what to do.





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perspirex is the best solution I found - this has been a godsend for me to solve my sweaty hands and armpits and lasts for days. Its so much easier than putting on antiperspirant every day because it lasts up to five days! Not sure why everyone isn't using it!





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Can you tell me the name of the treatment for sweaty hands and feet which involves using metal trays with a small amount of water in and running a very small electric current through it? I saw it on one of your programmes last year. It lasts for a while and I think you need to have the treatment on a regular basis either at a hospital or you can buy your own. Thanks





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hi all, i am 44 years old and after reading all your problems with sweating i still can't relate to anyone's problem. My problem with sweating is only around my hair line well really its all my head.I haven't socialised for 4 years its terrible. I can't spray deoderants onto my scalp to help stop the problem as my hair is on there and i doesn't seam to get to the scalp. (yes i have tried doing it but you try anything including shaving my hair very short) i don't really flush up like some people have reported but i do have quite a few things going off at the moment medically that is. I have nodules in my left lung and in the left side of my throat. i have a lump in my left breast. i have had two cists removed from my left ovary and i have just had my veginal wall rebuilt. i have been under the haematologist for 4 years as i suffer with continuous pain in all my joints and muscles i have lyphocytocis (high white cell count) My doctor thinks i have fibromyalgia and has referred me to a special M.E clinic in sheffield but they have wrote back saying they want me to go to another clinic for infectious deseases so haven't been to either clinic yet. I have had bone marrow taken usually once each year but still i have no answers its driving me crazy. i have now got to the point where i don't dare go to the doctors just incase they say i've grown something else or they need to take alittle bit more of me off or out. the only time i leave the house is to go to the hospital or if the doctor sends for me for something else, so i would be truely grateful if someone out there could help me with the sweating thing as i can blow my hair dry and within minutes its dripping wet through again believe me not a good look for a woman really hate it can,t do my hair nice it just flops wearing an alice band at my age isn't quite the look i was hoping for.





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Help please!! over the past five years i have had a bad issue with excess sweating under the arms, i bought some triple dry and thought it was the best thing ever, my sweating just seemed to stop! But now over the past 12 months i am having a real problem with facial sweating, certain triggers include laughing, salt and vinegar crisp, any spicy food and it is really getting me down. I have started to avoid certain social situations because of this and am becoming so down because of this, my confidence has taken a real hit, in fact it has started to affect my job as i am avoiding doing anything from presentations to important meetings/courses which would further my career, in fact i am supposed to be away for two days training next week and i am dreading it!! Any advice woould be a great help, as usual my GP has said theres not much i can do just to avoid any triggers and anxious situations but i cant do this at work :(





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i have bought some triple dry but i still have sweat patches! also they smell because of the sweat there. i am fed up of it too!

my daughter has had a sweating problem since shes been a baby, shes now 11years old and just been diognosed with hyperhidrosis. its really bad on her hands and feet and other parts of her body. the doctors ive taken her to see dont know anything about the condition and they dont know about any treatments available. i dont know where to turn for help as its really affecting my daughters life, its ruining her school work, which she is getting told off for!! and she wont hold my hand anymore as her hands sweat so much. i would really appreciate any advice you could give me on this condition. thanks





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Thank you for visiting our web site and for discussing your problem so openly. If you would like the opportunity to be seen by one of the Embarrassing Bodies Doctors and have your problems assessed and treated by a specialist, then why not apply for the chance to take part in the programme. Please visit the following link and click ‘Apply to be on the show’ where you can fill in an application form: http://www.channel4embarrassingillnesses.com/features/be-on-embarrassing-bodies/

How do you get the treatment for the injection into the armpit ?





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You need to speak to your GP about your situation - they'd need to refer you to your local Dermatology department (they're the only ones who'll suggest the botox, if your NHS trust will approve the sizable expense to them)

If anyone is considering surgery for hyperhidrosis, my advice would be don't do it. I had ETS & lumbar sympathectomy 9-11 years ago, worst decisions of my life. Great advice on here re non-surgical routes, those are definitely peoples' best options in my opinion. If I could turn back the clock I would never have had surgery, it simply isn't worth it.





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hii im 16 now and had this problem for almost two years, i hate it, my armpits are always sweaty and i hate going out and my boyfriend goes to touch them and i hate it cuz they are al full of sweat, can u get it treated at your local doctors?





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Thank you for visiting our web site and for discussing your problem so openly. If you would like the opportunity to be seen by one of the Embarrassing Bodies Doctors and have your problems assessed and treated by a specialist, then why not apply for the chance to take part in the programme. Please visit the following link and click ‘Apply to be on the show’ where you can fill in an application form: http://www.channel4embarrassingillnesses.com/features/be-on-embarrassing-bodies/

I had the exact same problem. Then I just asked my doctor for something called driclor. An it's perfectly fine! I have just started using the product myself. It is itchy I have to admit when I first applied it but then it just becomes a part of natural routine! Definitely use just before bed though. The results are amazing!! I can now wear long sleeved tops or even tops with sleeves. Driclor has genuinely changed my life and I have better body confidence. So seriously go to your doctors and do it. You will feel better in days!! Xx

Hi, I'm 33 and have suffered with severe hyperhidrosis for 10+ years. My problem is on my back and chest. My feet, hands and armpits are not too bad. It really is a nightmare though. In anxious situations sweat poors out of me. This can happen at a simple meeting at work and especially when giving presentation (which I have to do a lot of). I find myself wearing very dark shirts a lot to disguise my soaking wet back and chest and I often wear vests to stop the sweat showing on my shirt. The sweat literally does drip off me. On hot days it poors out of my too - including on my face - I don't have to be doing anything! A short walk and sweat poors out of me too. In the Gym it's terrible, my clothes are soaked in no time. At work I sit with a large fan blowing directly at me to try to keep me cool, but any anxious situations - even a phone call with someone I can be wet through even with the fan on me. I've tried the strong anti-perspirants such as Driclor, Odaban and PerspiGuard but it has little or no effect. I visited my GP some 2 years ago and was referred to a local hospital, but they said that there was little they could do. I'm at such a loss as to what to do and it gets me really down - I just lack so much confidence and it's holding me back career wise. Can someone please help.....!





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Thank you for visiting our web site and for discussing your problem so openly. If you would like the opportunity to be seen by one of the Embarrassing Bodies Doctors and have your problems assessed and treated by a specialist, then why not apply for the chance to take part in the programme. Please visit the following link and click ‘Apply to be on the show’ where you can fill in an application form: http://www.channel4embarrassingillnesses.com/features/be-on-embarrassing-bodies/





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It looks like no one else has asked this question, so please fill in the rest of your details below.





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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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