Video
Dr Christian:
We’re getting a lot of questions on the Embarrassing Bodies site about excessive sweating—it seems a lot of you suffer from it, and you want to know what is it, what causes it, and what can you do about it? Well, excessive sweating, or hyperhidrosis, can be divided really into two different main causes. The first one is just caused by an overactivity of your nervous system and may well have been present from birth, or at least from puberty, when you start to sweat properly. And the second cause is usually due to other conditions, like high thyroid levels or diabetes. If you treat those conditions, usually the excessive sweating will settle down too.
A lot of you want to know, can anything be done about sweating on the palms, and also can you keep using the medications available? Well, the answer is absolutely, there are lots of things available over the counter, particularly strong antiperspirant deodorant often containing aluminium salts. These can be very effective, but you need to use them regularly—in other words, every day, and if necessary every night as well. And yes, you can keep using them for as long as you need to.
A question a lot of you are asking me is ‘how do you treat the flushing that goes with excessive sweating?’ Well, in this case, I would say if you are getting very red and flushed on your face, I would really advise you in the first instance to go and see a doctor to have it looked at, because facial flushing can be caused by all sorts of other conditions.
Many of you want to know if there are any more permanent solutions available for excessive sweating. Well, Botox is one option. It involves a lot of injections, so it can be quite painful, and it only lasts for around four, six or eight months, so you’d need to keep getting them repeated. But, six months of being sweat-free may be a great option for a lot of you. And really, as a very last resort, there is always the possibility of surgery to remove the sweat gland-containing tissue from under the arms, but this really is a very last resort. If you’re concerned about any of these things, go and have a chat with your GP to find out a bit more.
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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Hi,i suffer from sweaty palms and i have seen an electro type machine on embarrassing bodies,which helps. I have googled it and have had no joy......does anyone know the name/cost..etc?? Thanks
Hi my name is Becca, iam 13 years old and my my armpits,hands and feet get really sweaty.Some times my hands will drip sweat and in school i can feel sweat dripping down my from my armpits down the side of my body. It is very embarressing if anyone touches my hands because they say err your hands are wet.Also sometimes i find that in school when i am writting in a work book that the page is wet. I have been to see my local GP and he said that there is nothing that can be done, it is something that i have to live with. If anyone has any advice please could you write back.
Hello i sweat all the time and i dont know why im 16 and started working in a hiar salon, i cant wear tops that cover my arm pits beacuse of this. do you have any idea how to provent this happening?
i am 18 and i sweat through my hands and feet when im doing nothing and when out with friends or jut in general, also it is a set back when shaking or holding hands with others . i have had this problem for over a year now ... i have been using this roll on which drys up my skin, but if i miss abit i sweat through that part ... thinking of getting refered by gp ... will botox be the best idea ?
Hi, im 14 and i have a problem with swaeting on my palms of my hands and my hand therefor goes all sticky i to scared of holding hands wif any close friends or lads and i dont no what to do help!!
Hi im 20 and i hav a problem with sweating under my arms, iv tryed all types of anti-perspirants but nothing works. Its really holding me back and is very embarrassing to the point i dont want to leave the house. I was wondering is there any anti-perspirants that i can by over the counter to help me with this problem? please help.
I am 45 years old and I have been suffering from excssive sweating mostly at night but sometimes during the day too. I have had to put a waterproof sheet on my bed as i have already had to replace one mattress!! The sweats are coming from my head, neck and chest area, I can actually feel the tingling sensation as i am sweating and the sweat running down (my hair is always dripping wet and if i stand up and bow my head it actually drips off my nose!!) I have to get up during the night and change the bedsheets and my nightwear every night!! I must add that I am not feeling hot, my room is not hot either but it is causing me a lot of sleepless nights. I have a back injury sustained 5yrs ago which includes a prolapsed disc at the top of my spine and a wedged disc in my thoracic spine, could this be related? I have had tests for thyroid and menopause both were clear. PLEASE HELP, AT MY WITS END!!
Consult the Hyperhidrosis Support Group www.hyperhidrosisuk.org for unbiased information about the treatments available.
i sweat alot under the arms and its really bothering me i have used loads of deodorant but nothing they just make me smell of off apples, need to know what ones are the best to try? please help thank you elizabeth
I'm fourteen and sweat under my armpits. At school I wear white shirts which isn't the best colour because I come up with yellow stains under my armpits. This is such an embarrasment and have to get changed in the toilets for phyisical education. It's got worse recently and i'm worried about it as the weathers getting hotter and we're nearer to the summer season, which means i'll have to take my jumper off. I have been to my local GP and they gave me 'Driclor' a treatment for hyperhidrois. But it's really not working, I still come out with sweat marks under my shirts and even through my jumper in some cases. I get embarrased of myself and really think it's holding me back and have no confidence at all. I have had blood test and they came back fine. What shall I do? please help me
