Excessive Sweating Solutions For Sweaty Armpits, Hands, Feet and Face

When people think of a physical condition that keeps sufferers from living a normal, healthy life, such as diabetes or asthma, the idea of excessive sweating may not seem to be nearly as difficult to live with.  Yet the unexpected and uncontrollable effects of Hyperhidrosis, the runaway production of sweat glands, leaves nearly ten million Americans in a position where they are unable to cope with the rigors of everyday life for fear of excessive sweating.

Social Effects of Excessive Sweating

People who suffer from excessive sweating most commonly produce more sweat from their underarms, palms, feet, face, or head than normal. This undoubtedly is the reason why many people with this condition avoid common social interactions ranging from simple conversations with friends to going out into public places.  Worse yet, the fear of underarm sweating or facial sweating makes many people nervous, which only intensifies the body’s production of perspiration and ultimately body odor.

Think of the stigma attached to those who sweat excessively; you may not immediately think that society would be geared to think of sweat as such a turn off, after all, everyone regardless of age or race or gender perspires when nervous or hot.  Yet these features automatically trigger a psychological response based upon simple nature: if someone sweats, it is because they are uncomfortable, which in turn makes others uncomfortable merely due to proximity.  This is to say nothing of unsightly stains or smells that keep people suffering from hyperhidrosis from making good first impressions or being able to act casual and nonchalant.  The only positive association society has with sweat is from exercise, yet who would assume that a heavy sweater must have recently just come from working out?

The causes of excessive sweating

Hyperhidrosis is most often caused by a chemical imbalance in the pituitary system.  The brain triggers sweat glands to release fluid in times of duress, but hyperhidrosis shortcuts the process when the nerve system misinterprets small impulses as major signals.  Often times, this miscommunication in the brain occurs from nerve damage, most frequently from spine injuries or severe conditions such as Parkinson’s, but some scientists have uncovered a genetic element to hyperhidrosis.  As such, you may experience excessive sweating from another medical complication (secondary hyperhidrosis) or you may inherit it from relatives.

Hyperhidrosis Surgery

Excessive sweating solutions take many forms, from stress control to prescription medications.  A surgical procedure can remove or destroy sweat glands and thus stop the body’s production, but this is extremely expensive and intrusive, and not always the best option available.  Clamping down on the sympathetic nerve in the spine that controls sweat production may be a better decision, as this procedure can be reversed and has a success rate of around eighty percent.  Some types of medication can be used to control excessive sweating, including the skin-tightening botulism toxin also known as Botox.

This does not mean, however, that the only way to control hyperhidrosis and excessive sweating is through a medical procedure or surgery.  In fact, there are several free and easy steps that you can take towards keeping whatever parts of your body that have become most prone to severe sweating from getting out of control.  Each part of the body affected by excessive sweating can be treated in a different way, but some common solutions can help with treating sweat on a broad basis.

sweaty armpits Solutions

Sweaty armpits have been a problem for as long as human beings have been on the planet, the number of deodorants and antiperspirant commercials you see on television are simple enough proof of that.  While an antiperspirant may be the key to avoiding sweaty armpits for the average person, sufferers of excessive sweating will most certainly need something stronger.  Aluminum chloride, the chemical used in antiperspirants, can be found in stronger solutions in prescription medications such as Drysol.  This causes some irritation of the skin, but aluminum chloride is not a heavy metal and has the potential to cause a rash but only for a few days.  Other treatments for sweaty armpits include properly lubricating and exfoliating the skin.  Underarm skin is some of the thinnest and most vulnerable on the body, hence the amount of hair needed to keep it warm.  In fact, you may think that shaving underarm hair will help keep it cool, but the irritation often outweighs the benefit: trim the hair down but do not shave it close.

Sweaty Feet Solutions

Sweaty feet may be well hidden if you wear thick socks all day, but this is uncomfortable and will only result in a lot of dirty laundry!  Changing your shoes will likely help when it comes to combating plantar hyperhidrosis: ladies should get rid of shoes with any type of heel, whether it is a three-inch stiletto or a small rise.  A heel will cause you to raise your calf and put strain on your feet, which in turn makes the body perspire to prevent overheating and will cause sweaty feet.  Both men and women who suffer from this condition should buy shoes with as much open area as possible for ventilation. Another tip is to avoid sitting with your legs at a ninety-degree angle, as this will apply the unneeded pressure on your legs and feet.  Use cotton socks without polyester and buy a gel tab insert to cushion your heel.

sweaty hands Solutions

Someone who suffers from palmar hyperhidrosis may wipe their sweaty hands constantly, which creates a nervous image that often results in avoidance of social situations.  Your hands do more work than any other part of your body and thus must be kept cool at all times.  It is difficult to cool them directly without plunging them into ice, so instead keep your upper torso comfortable so that the arms will not pump more blood into your hands.  Loose fitting clothing will help stay cool and dry; do not wear rings or watches, as they restrict blood flow and add weight.  If you feel you need to wipe your hands, try blowing into them instead, people will assume that you are relieving stress, rather than thinking you look nervous.

Facial Sweating Solutions

The most noticeable type of excessive sweating is facial sweating.  This is also the most difficult to combat.  Your emotions easily lead to facial sweating when triggered and body heat on a hot day will concentrate in the head. Ninety percent of body heat is released through the scalp, hence the reason why bald people wear a hat or hood on a cold day.  Controlling your facial perspiration requires wearing loose fitting clothing around your neck and getting rid of ties or scarves or top-buttoned shirts.  Don’t worry with cutting your hair short (though it may help) so long as it is clean: the oils produced by your scalp will absorb some of the heat.

Excessive Sweating Solutions

No matter what type of excessive sweating you may have, there are key life decisions you can make to help your condition improve.  The most important step that any sufferer of excessive sweating can take, whether it is a problem with stinky feet or facial complications, is a change in diet.  No other attribute to human homeostasis is as important as diet, and proper nutrition can keep sweating problems to a minimum.  Your metabolism requires heat in order to process food, but some foods require much less heat than others.  Furthermore, some foods will automatically cause someone to perspire (spices most obviously, but also large quantities of meat).

Without a doubt, any sufferer of excessive sweating should always drink more water.  This may seem counter-productive since sweat is made up of nothing but water and saline.  Water, however, does much more for your metabolism than simply being turned into sweat.  People who do not drink enough water or who drink dehydrating liquids, such as coffee and alcohol have to get the fluid from somewhere else in the body.  Drawing water away from your limbs, which happen to be the most active muscles in the body, will make up this deficit.  When your limbs heat up, they do so more than any other area due to their motion, they will not be able to cool, and as a result will perspire more.

Water, furthermore, acts as a natural cooling agent.  Every cook has experienced the effects of waiting for a pot of water to boil.  It takes a long time because water can hold more energy than air.  As such, drinking water to regulate your digestive system keeps the body properly cooled and capable of maintaining it’s temperature.  By drinking plenty of water your body will be able to regulate internal temperature much more efficiently.  What’s more, water keeps your kidneys and urinary system functioning properly, flushing out the toxins and chemicals that can buildup in the body.

Diet also plays a crucial part in helping to control your excessive sweating.  Sweat glands require sodium in order to function properly.  Lowering your salt intake will decrease the need to get rid of excess sodium from the body resulting in a decreased need to perspire.  Stimulants will cause your body to increase in temperature as it prepares to break down food such as red meat which requires much more energy to digest than foods like vegetables.  Likewise, complex carbohydrates including brown rice and whole wheat can more easily be processed than refined grains.  Avoid caffeine, tobacco, and alcohol at all costs, because your body has to work to eliminate these from your system, which in turn only generates more heat and perspiration.

Bottom line is that Excessive Sweating doesn’t have to be a life long battle for those that suffer from Hyperhidrosis. There are ways to control and even stop your excessive sweating!