Hyperhidrosis is a condition in which a person sweats excessively, without heat generation or working out. The condition results in sweating abnormally through clothes and sweat dripping off palms and feet and intimate areas. Hyperhidrosis affects a person both physically and mentally, causing social anxiety and embarrassment.

Types of Hyperhidrosis

Focal Hyperhidrosis or primary Hyperhidrosis is a chronic skin condition that is inherited from genes and diagnosed at an early stage of life, mostly around the early 20s. The condition leads to excessive sweating of the head, armpits, hands, intimate areas and feet.

Generalized Hyperhidrosis is a condition that arises at a later stage in life, generally as a result of some medical conditions like diabetes, nervous disorders, Parkinson’s disease, heart attack, etc.

Causes of Hyperhidrosis

Sweating is a natural phenomenon that helps the body to cool down when there is excess heat generation. However, in Hyperhidrosis the sweat glands are hyperactive producing excess sweat irrespective of heat generation.

In the case of Focal Hyperhidrosis, the condition is genetically inherited and detected around the early 20s.

Foods like chocolate, peanut butter, coffee, spices can lead to excessive sweating in Focal Hyperhidrosis.

Medical conditions like infections, diabetes, heart attack, and spinal injury can also result in Hyperhidrosis.

In certain cases, obesity and excessive weight gain can lead to excessive sweating in normal environmental conditions.

Menopause hot flashes, low blood sugar can result in Hyperhidrosis in certain cases.

Any kind of anxiety and psychological stress can trigger the condition.

Symptoms of Hyperhidrosis

Excessive sweating in any condition is the key symptom of Hyperhidrosis

Drenching clothes and under garments with sweat even without doing any heavy physical movements

Visible sweat bubbles on cheeks and forehead and genitalia

Dampen socks and undergarments

Itching and redness and chafing in the intimate areas because of excessive sweating.

Foul stink and sweat marks on undergarments

Home remedies to control Hyperhidrosis

Hyperhidrosis can’t be cured completely but it can be controlled.

The first step to control the condition is to shower daily, preferably more than once a day to not let sweat accumulate for long.

Wearing light material and breathable clothes is another way to control it.

Using anti-chafing and sweat control products can help with the foul stink and itching.

Avoiding spicy and hot food should be a must for people with the condition.

Medical treatments for Hyperhidrosis

It’s always advisable to consult a medical professional if the condition gets out of hand. Antiperspirants are suggested initially to block the sweat gland and stop sweat production.

In most cases, Anticholinergic oral medications are suggested to control the symptoms as it makes the antiperspirants work better.

Antidepressants are suggested in certain cases as it controls sweating while decreasing the anxiety that comes with the condition.

Botox injections are used to control the condition in extreme cases since once injected, they control sweat production for over a month.

There’s a technique called microwave or MiraDry therapy that’s done in certain cases too. In this therapy, a high tech device called MiraDry is placed on the affected area, which then generates thermal energy destroying the sweat glands permanently.