How to Stop Hyperhidrosis

Managing hyperhidrosis, or excessive sweating

Hyperhidrosis is the medical term for excessive sweating - often from the face, armpits, hands and feet. It is a common condition and fortunately is very treatable. Excessive sweating can be very limiting for those who suffer from this hyperhidrosis. They may find it impacts their mental health, how they dress, or causes them to avoid contact or certain activities.

We are going to look at the signs, causes and treatments that are available.

What are the causes of hyperhidrosis?

There are two types of hyperhidrosis - primary and secondary.

Primary hyperhidrosis has no obvious cause. It may be genetic or could be down to a problem with your sympathetic nervous system. This part of your nervous system is responsible for all of your unconscious bodily functions - those you don’t need to think about, such as food moving through your digestion, or breathing. The sympathetic nervous system also controls your body’s temperature. If it senses you are getting too hot, it will send a signal from your brain to your sweat glands to produce sweat, which will cool your skin and bring your temperature down. In primary hyperhidrosis, it appears that your brain is sending signals to your sweat glands unnecessarily - in particular in the face, armpits, hands and feet, creating excess sweat.

Secondary hyperhidrosis has an identifiable trigger. It can start more suddenly than primary hyperhidrosis and can also stop when the trigger is removed. Common triggers can include anything which creates a hormonal imbalance such as the menopause, pregnancy or puberty; certain medications such as some antidepressants, propranolol, pilocarpine or bethanechol; an overactive thyroid gland and certain infections such as HIV or tuberculosis.

Although hyperhidrosis can affect men and women equally, men are less likely to seek help.

Is hyperhidrosis contagious or genetic?

Hyperhidrosis isn’t contagious and you don’t need to worry about spreading it to those around you. Similar to other skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis, hyperhidrosis is influenced by your own personal triggers and you can’t pass it on through contact with other people or being near them.

In some cases, hyperhidrosis may be genetic. Primary hyperhidrosis (where there is no obvious cause) may run in families and be caused by a genetic mutation, leading to your sympathetic nervous system being unable to control your temperature effectively.

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Can hyperhidrosis come on suddenly?

Secondary hyperhidrosis is more likely to come on suddenly than primary hyperhidrosis due to a specific trigger being introduced into the body such as a hormonal change or a new medication. Knowing what your triggers are, will mean that you are more likely to be able to control your hyperhidrosis. For example, some people find that drinking alcohol can cause an episode of excessive sweating and therefore avoid alcohol to prevent a wave of hyperhidrosis. Hyperhidrosis caused by concerns such as hormonal imbalance, medical conditions or medication may be harder to predict and therefore manage long term without treatment.

Primary hyperhidrosis is more likely to begin in adolescence and continue throughout adulthood consistently. Many people who suffer from primary hyperhidrosis look for ongoing treatment to help to control their excessive sweating.

I sweat a lot during exercise - do I have hyperhidrosis?

Hyperhidrosis is notable for excessive sweating regardless of activity level or external temperature. It is normal to sweat during exercise and different people will find they sweat different amounts. If you stop sweating once you have stopped exercising, and don’t sweat excessively otherwise, it is unlikely that you have hyperhidrosis.

What helps with hyperhidrosis?

Depending on the type of hyperhidrosis you have and any obvious causes, it can be challenging to treat and it may take a while to find the right treatment for you. You will normally start with less invasive treatment options and work through to injectable treatments or surgery.

Although lifestyle changes cannot cure hyperhidrosis they may lessen the symptoms and improve your confidence. Avoiding any known triggers, wearing loose clothing made from natural fibers such as cotton and regularly using antiperspirant may all help you to feel more comfortable.

If you have tried some lifestyle changes and found they haven’t worked for you, arrange to speak to a dermatologist. They may be able to prescribe a stronger antiperspirant or offer medication called an anticholinergic which blocks the chemicals in your body that activate the sweat glands.

What is the treatment for excessive sweating?

One of the most popular treatments for both primary and secondary hyperhidrosis is Botox injections. This blocks the signals from the brain to the affected area, preventing sweating. It is a very targeted treatment and only impacts the areas that are affected, ensuring no unwanted side effects on other parts of the body. Botox was first shown to work effectively to treat hyperhidrosis in the mid-1990s and was first approved in the USA by the FDA in 2004.

Around 15-20 injections will be made in each affected area, and the treatment is effective for several months.