Have you heard the word "hyperhidrosis"? It sounds like a newly discovered chemical element or some secret ingredient in gummy candies, but in fact, it is one of the common conditions that make us feel uncomfortable in the company of others. If you haven't guessed yet, hyperhidrosis is the condition where we literally sweat from head to toe and it affects about 2-3% of people. That's enough to get you a correct answer on "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire," but if you want to learn more, keep reading.
Besides being unpleasant as a sensation, it can also lead to a number of side problems such as social insecurity, reluctance to communicate, and anxiety about simple interactions with other people. And if you don't believe how unpleasant it is to have hyperhidrosis, you can simply ask someone who suffers from this condition what they dream of – you will probably hear that they have only one wish – to stop suffering from this uncontrollable sweating.
So, what is hyperhidrosis?
Hyperhidrosis generally represents overactivity of the sweat glands, causing a person to sweat even under unusual circumstances or when experiencing strong emotions. Initially, heavy sweating appears mainly on the palms and soles, and then in the underarm area, and if a person does not pay attention to the problem, it can become a lifelong companion. Can you imagine it? You and hyperhidrosis for another 50 years? Brrr!
Causes of hyperhidrosis
As we all know, sweating is the natural way our bodies cool down, and the sweating mechanism also involves the nervous system, which reacts immediately when it senses a rise in our temperature. When we are nervous or anxious, this also leads to sweating, especially on the palms. You must have felt how moist your palms get when you are about to face an important event or something has stressed you out. Most often, people suffering from hyperhidrosis sweat mainly in the morning hours, upon waking and getting out of bed.
Types
The most common type of hyperhidrosis is primary focal hyperhidrosis, where the nerves responsible for signaling the sweat glands overreact. Imagine them as overwound springs that relax at every little irritation or challenge, resulting in us breaking out in sweat, including on the face. It neither sounds nor looks good, and the worst part is that doctors are certain there is no medical cause for developing this type of hyperhidrosis. In other words, you have to look for the cause elsewhere – bad karma or misaligned planets in your horoscope. Or simply in the inheritance of genes from your ancestors.
Secondary hyperhidrosis appears as a consequence of a medical condition (diabetes, menopause, thyroid dysfunction, heart problems, low blood sugar, infections, etc.) and is the less common type, characterized by sweating all over the body.
Hyperhidrosis can be localized in the palm area, then it is called palmar hyperhidrosis, or in the feet area – plantar hyperhidrosis.
Treatment
If you suffer from primary hyperhidrosis and have no underlying medical condition, the approach requires you to observe which events trigger episodes of sweating and how you can control them.
Common methods to cope with unpleasant sweating include:
Deodorants with 24-hour antiperspirant action. They usually contain more perfume and low doses of metallic salts, most often aluminum. In cases of severe hyperhidrosis, they do not work and sweating continues with the same intensity.
For more severe and unresponsive conditions, you can look for antiperspirants containing aluminum chloride. These types of products are applied only in the evening before bedtime for 2-3 nights, and then once a week prophylactically. Antiperspirants block only the overactive sweat glands without interfering with the body's thermoregulation. Their effect lasts between five and ten days, which is a solution to sweating, no matter how you look at it. The choice between roll-on or spray is yours.
Other possible methods to deal with the problem include iontophoresis, as well as some medications and anticholinergics.
The heaviest artillery against excessive sweating is the use of Botox, which stops sweating for a period of about 4-6 months.
Symptoms
If you sweat heavily and it worsens your quality of life, you have probably asked yourself whether you suffer from a more serious condition. The symptoms of hyperhidrosis are not clearly defined, and mild symptoms can accompany you for many years before they worsen. The opposite is also possible – heavy sweating being part of your daily life for years, filling you with insecurity and anxiety.
There are several types of sweating in which you might recognize yourself:
- Heavy sweating in the underarm and back areas
- “Soaking” clothes to the point where you need to change
- Sweat breaking out on the forehead and cheeks
- Soaking socks and extreme moisture on the palms
Most often, focal hyperhidrosis affects the underarms, feet, face – including cheeks and forehead, lower back, genitals, and palms.
Complications
Excessive sweating leads to various complaints – itching, skin inflammation, bad odor (when bacteria on the skin mix with sweat), skin changes, and others – these are the physical consequences of this condition. Often, foot hyperhidrosis can worsen existing conditions such as fungal infections, which thrive in a moist and warm environment. In this case, limiting foot sweating is a particularly important task that is part of treating the primary problem.
Hyperhidrosis itself is not life-threatening, but it certainly worsens quality of life. Often, people suffering from hyperhidrosis do not go out or socialize as much as they would like, hide from others, think in advance whether a certain event at a certain time would affect them badly enough to sweat heavily, and make many life decisions based on their condition. It can be said that it heavily affects mental health and causes serious emotional discomfort.
In conclusion – hyperhidrosis is not a common condition, but for those who suffer from it, it often determines their lifestyle. The easiest way to find out if you suffer from it is to observe what in your routine triggers heavy sweating and how severe it is, and if sweating gets out of control – to see a doctor.
This, of course, is rarely necessary, and most often the condition can be managed simply with an appropriate antiperspirant product. And remember – if you suffer from hyperhidrosis, it is very likely to be your companion for life, so take care of it now.
What is hyperhidrosis and can we save ourselves from excessive sweating?
Have you heard the word "hyperhidrosis"? It sounds like a newly discovered chemical element or some secret ingredient in gummy candies, but in fact, it is one of the common conditions that make us feel uncomfortable in the company of others. If you haven't guessed yet, hyperhidrosis is the condition where we literally sweat from head to toe and it affects about 2-3% of people. That's enough to get you a correct answer on "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire," but if you want to learn more, keep reading.
Besides being unpleasant as a sensation, it can also lead to a number of side problems such as social insecurity, reluctance to communicate, and anxiety about simple interactions with other people. And if you don't believe how unpleasant it is to have hyperhidrosis, you can simply ask someone who suffers from this condition what they dream of – you will probably hear that they have only one wish – to stop suffering from this uncontrollable sweating.
So, what is hyperhidrosis?
Hyperhidrosis generally represents overactivity of the sweat glands, causing a person to sweat even under unusual circumstances or when experiencing strong emotions. Initially, heavy sweating appears mainly on the palms and soles, and then in the underarm area, and if a person does not pay attention to the problem, it can become a lifelong companion. Can you imagine it? You and hyperhidrosis for another 50 years? Brrr!
Causes of hyperhidrosis
As we all know, sweating is the natural way our bodies cool down, and the sweating mechanism also involves the nervous system, which reacts immediately when it senses a rise in our temperature. When we are nervous or anxious, this also leads to sweating, especially on the palms. You must have felt how moist your palms get when you are about to face an important event or something has stressed you out. Most often, people suffering from hyperhidrosis sweat mainly in the morning hours, upon waking and getting out of bed.
Types
The most common type of hyperhidrosis is primary focal hyperhidrosis, where the nerves responsible for signaling the sweat glands overreact. Imagine them as overwound springs that relax at every little irritation or challenge, resulting in us breaking out in sweat, including on the face. It neither sounds nor looks good, and the worst part is that doctors are certain there is no medical cause for developing this type of hyperhidrosis. In other words, you have to look for the cause elsewhere – bad karma or misaligned planets in your horoscope. Or simply in the inheritance of genes from your ancestors.
Secondary hyperhidrosis appears as a consequence of a medical condition (diabetes, menopause, thyroid dysfunction, heart problems, low blood sugar, infections, etc.) and is the less common type, characterized by sweating all over the body.
Hyperhidrosis can be localized in the palm area, then it is called palmar hyperhidrosis, or in the feet area – plantar hyperhidrosis.
Treatment
If you suffer from primary hyperhidrosis and have no underlying medical condition, the approach requires you to observe which events trigger episodes of sweating and how you can control them.
Common methods to cope with unpleasant sweating include:
Deodorants with 24-hour antiperspirant action. They usually contain more perfume and low doses of metallic salts, most often aluminum. In cases of severe hyperhidrosis, they do not work and sweating continues with the same intensity.
For more severe and unresponsive conditions, you can look for antiperspirants containing aluminum chloride. These types of products are applied only in the evening before bedtime for 2-3 nights, and then once a week prophylactically. Antiperspirants block only the overactive sweat glands without interfering with the body's thermoregulation. Their effect lasts between five and ten days, which is a solution to sweating, no matter how you look at it. The choice between roll-on or spray is yours.
Other possible methods to deal with the problem include iontophoresis, as well as some medications and anticholinergics.
The heaviest artillery against excessive sweating is the use of Botox, which stops sweating for a period of about 4-6 months.
Symptoms
If you sweat heavily and it worsens your quality of life, you have probably asked yourself whether you suffer from a more serious condition. The symptoms of hyperhidrosis are not clearly defined, and mild symptoms can accompany you for many years before they worsen. The opposite is also possible – heavy sweating being part of your daily life for years, filling you with insecurity and anxiety.
There are several types of sweating in which you might recognize yourself:
Most often, focal hyperhidrosis affects the underarms, feet, face – including cheeks and forehead, lower back, genitals, and palms.
Complications
Excessive sweating leads to various complaints – itching, skin inflammation, bad odor (when bacteria on the skin mix with sweat), skin changes, and others – these are the physical consequences of this condition. Often, foot hyperhidrosis can worsen existing conditions such as fungal infections, which thrive in a moist and warm environment. In this case, limiting foot sweating is a particularly important task that is part of treating the primary problem.
Hyperhidrosis itself is not life-threatening, but it certainly worsens quality of life. Often, people suffering from hyperhidrosis do not go out or socialize as much as they would like, hide from others, think in advance whether a certain event at a certain time would affect them badly enough to sweat heavily, and make many life decisions based on their condition. It can be said that it heavily affects mental health and causes serious emotional discomfort.
In conclusion – hyperhidrosis is not a common condition, but for those who suffer from it, it often determines their lifestyle. The easiest way to find out if you suffer from it is to observe what in your routine triggers heavy sweating and how severe it is, and if sweating gets out of control – to see a doctor.
This, of course, is rarely necessary, and most often the condition can be managed simply with an appropriate antiperspirant product. And remember – if you suffer from hyperhidrosis, it is very likely to be your companion for life, so take care of it now.