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Embarrassing Bodies , 7:00pm Sunday 14th March 2010 on Channel 4. Catch up for free »

Video

Doctor Responses: Excessive Sweating

Dr Christian answers your most frequently asked questions about excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis) such as: What causes it? What can you do about sweating on the palms? Are there any permanent solutions?

With thanks to the Baker Street Medical Centre

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i have had hyperhydrosis since i can remember i have tryed every option available, zeasorb, driclor,anhydrol forte, odaban, iontrophoresis, oxybutnin tablets and nothing has worked for me, i suffer fromm sweating of the hands and feet and been told botox cant be done!!!i am currently on the waiting list to get the ETS surgery, and have been told i might get sweating else where, IS IT WORTH IT :S ??? there are so many things putting me off!





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How long from going to the doctors does it normally take for you to get refered for the operation? I am getting married in 7 months time and really want to be able to hold my husband to be's hands without them dripping!!





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Hi, ive had this for 8 years. The strong deodorants really dont work. My gp put me on tablets which worked really well but i was getting bad side effects as they dried my eyes out and made them really sore. So 6 months ago I had the operation. I really would not recommend this to anyone. I have two large scars under my arms from it and it didnt even work! It did not improve the amount I sweat but did increase the amount of sweating I had on my back which i didnt get before! To the person who is getting married I had to wait around 6 months but my under arms were bruised and inflamed for atleast a month so I really would recomment going on the tablets if you havent tried them already instead!

Does anybody know whether hyperhydrosis is genetic as i definately have it and my sister now appears to be developing it too. I have tried a roll on deoderant thing from the doctors, but that was about 5 years ago and i stopped using it as it just made it worse. Since then, ive just ignored the problem but now it's getting much worse. It originally was just occuring on my palms, but now it's spreading to the rest of my body and it's getting more and more embarrassing.





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yes it is genetici have the same problem under my arms and at akward times like going out for a meal etc on my head wich is realy imbarasing ! i went to my gp and he said it will be in my genes wich it is because my dad is always hot.i have looked it up on here and everybody is sayin to get odaban antiperspirant wich is suppose to be good i have put a order in and i will let you know how it goes.oh and you can only order it off the internet not at your chemist.

Hi im 14 and have had it for years. ive tried the iontophersis and all the deodrants and tablets and creams you can imagine. im hoping t have the op but im too young. imm just letting u know i own odaban and driclor and neither of them work . :( i suffer from under my arms, hands and feet. btw. :(

I was formerly diagnose with hyperhydrosis aged 18, but symptoms started at around 14. I had the operation that was shown on the programme 5th March and it was great. I was then able to hold hands with my boyfriend, shake people's hands without apologising for the fact that I couldn't and use a pen more comfortably and not leave drips on the computer keyboard. I think I do find that I now sweat more on my back but overall the operation was worth it.





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Hi, how long did it take from going to the doctors to actually having the operation? I am getting married in 7 months and was hoping I could get it in before then if the doctors refer me that is. I am a 25 year old female x

i am a 24 year old man i have had a sweating problem since last may.i remember month because my life has changed ever since.its mainly my feet and under arms.i work in retail so i deal with people all the time.im get very imbarrassed because of the sweating i have put my life on hold.i always feel people are talking about me.i have to buy new shoes 2/3 pairs a month and its very expensive.i advice would be greatly excepted.





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for years now iv been sweating quite alot under my arms,it gets embarrassing when im out an about as you can see the wet patch on my tops,im afraid to even lift my arms incase people laugh,i went to the doctor and she said theres nothing you can do but use anti-persperients and its just one of those things,but thats all i use,can you please help me on what i can do?!





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I've been suffering with sweating to the back for 8 years now and the problem seems to be getting worse. It mainly happens in the summer or when I go out with friends I find i start dripping on my back, complainging im hot and everyone else says its just me. Its become a big deal to me as i travel by public transport. Trains I have completly stopped using as even standing by the carridge doors with the breeze blowing on my back in a crowded train has proved unhelpful. Buses are also a big problem in summer as the heat makes my back sweat and im afriad to stand as people might notice the sweat patches on my back. I really wish there was some form of treatment to help me enjoy summer instead of dreading it. Especially as im going barbados and its 29oc throughout the day and night.





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I am 16 and i have had hyperhydrosis was as long as i remember, i used to just on my feet, under my arms and hands, but now it seems to be going elsewhere such as my upper lip, groin and back. does anyone no of the best treatment to help some of this? its so embarrasing and almost putting me off having a boyfriend becasue its embarassing!





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I have suffered from severe sweating on my hands since I can remember and I never knew there was an actual disorder until watching the programme! I just thought it was something I had an would just have to deal with. My hands are like the womans on the programme, like they get severly wet that sometimes it is dripping off my hands. I find it embarrasing going to the shops and handing over money because the money is always wet and if people ever accidently touch my hands they always say how gross it is! I am always hiding my hands away and if i am ever in a situation where i have to touch someones hands I start to panick which makes them sweat worse! I really, really would like a solution to this! Has anyone had the surgery? How did it go for you?





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Just like yourself, i had always suffered from sweating on the palms. It became an increasing problem when i went to high school, so i went to my doctor who referred me to a dermatologist. I went through Iontophoresis treatment which wasnt successful and i found it quite painful. Eventually, after trying various gels and creams i was told i could get the operation. In december i had the operation for the right hand, all went well so in january i had the operation for the left hand. A few days after the surgery, my left hand felt clammy, but i phoned the surgeon and he informed me that this could happen but it would soon dry up, and the next day my hand was dry. So i am really pleased with the results and my advise would be to not give up trying to get the right treatment for you. If one treatment fails, theres other treatments out there,dont suffer. My confidence has increased and i can now do a lot more things without worrying about sweating!

hi i am really embarrased as i sweat alot under my arms even when im watching tv. it gets so bad that i have to take a spare top out with me everywhere i go.i went to my doctor and he told me about driclor which i cant used everyday because i have sensitive skin and it irritates me and hurts. the problem hasnt got better as it has moved to my back feet and groin area which itsnt good as i now have to take a spare part of pants out with me. i watch what i eat and keep myself well hydrated but i cant seem to stop sweating. it geting to the point where i dont want to leave my house and go too work. please cant you help? x





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hi:) I have the same problem, also with the driclor it really irritates my skin, i find using it every second day and only using a small amount helps the irritation but not the sweating problem.





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