If you’re wondering what hyperhidrosis is, it’s actually a fancy medical term for saying “excessive sweating”. But before we start talking about hyperhidrosis in depth, let’s talk about sweating in general.
In our society, sweat is rarely talked about. It seems to be considered ‘uncouth’ to talk about it and even more uncouth to actually do it. However despite that unfavorable perception, sweat is a normal, healthy biological function. Everyone sweats. It’s a natural way to cool off. People sweat every day. Sweating increases during times of excessive heat like hot weather, fever, or exercise. People can also sweat when they get nervous or embarrassed. The ironic thing about this is the more people worry about ways to stop excessive sweating, they more they actually sweat.
However, hyperhidrosis is different. This kind of sweating happens pretty much all the time, without any kind of triggers whatsoever. It can even happen in very cold weather. This excessive sweating can appear over your body, or even in localized places like your palms, the soles of your feet, your face and most embarrassing of all, the armpits. Even people without hyperhidrosis would like to stop underarm sweating.
Surprisingly, no one really knows what causes hyperhidrosis. Yes, if you ask a doctor they going to tell you its because of overactive sweat glands, but nobody really knows why they got that way. However, it does seem to run in families which suggests a genetic link.
Unless something is done to stop underarm sweating, it can have a profound negative effect on a person’s life. People who suffer from excessive sweating avoid situations that requires close contact. These can include parties, airplanes, cars, dates and more. If the hyperhidrosis gets worse, unless a way is found to stop excessive sweating then the person could wind up avoiding all social contact out of pure embarrassment.
The good news is there are actually remedies for excessive sweating. Some of these remedies for excessive sweating are home-based remedies while other remedies for excessive sweating are prescription based. This is actually a treatable condition, but less than 40% of the people affected with it actually seek help.
However before trying any remedies for excessive sweating, you should be thoroughly checked out by a doctor. That’s because sometimes what looks like hyperhidrosis can really be something else. True hyperhidrosis only affects 2 to 3% of the population, so if you have it but no one else in your family does, then you might not actually have it at all. Sometimes this condition is actually caused by secondary conditions. This could be from an infection or other illness, even if you don’t feel sick. Additionally, some medications can cause it. If that’s the case, treating the underlying problem can stop underarm sweating.
The doctor will give you a thorough examination to make sure that it is true hyperhidrosis and not a secondary condition. Once it’s established that you do have hyperhidrosis, your doctor will give you options for ways to stop excessive sweating. These can be something as simple as a special antiperspirant or something more complex. Don’t be one of the 60% of the people affected who don’t seek treatment, this is a treatable condition and it doesn’t have to ruin your life.
