How do you get rid of excessive sweating? How can I stop sweating so much? Why do some people sweat so much? How do you stop sweating a lot? Get more insight into the causes of excessive sweating, and some of the treatments to be used to curb the condition.
What Causes Excessive Sweating
The medical term for the condition is known as Hyperhidrosis. The conditions result in excessive sweating of the body or certain specific part of the body such as the palms of hands, soles of feet, armpits, and groin or even face and chest.
Although the condition does not pose a threat to the health it can cause embarrassment and distress to someone. The research shows that it can lead to feelings of depression and anxiety which are some of the negative impacts on life.
The following are some of the common signs and symptoms of excessive sweating conditions:
- Wet palms of hand
- Clammy soles of feet
- Frequent sweating
- Noticeable sweats that soak the clothing
These are another form of the condition experienced by people with hyperhidrosis:
- Irritating and painful skin problem
- Reluctant to make physical contact like shaking hands
- Worrying about having stained the clothing with sweat
- Self-conscious
- Socially withdrawn which can result in depression
Hyperhidrosis Causes
The cause of excessive sweating has been classified into two categories i.e primary cause and secondary cause. The studies show that the exact cause of primary hyperhidrosis is still unknown but those of secondary hyperhidrosis are numerous.
- Primary Hyperhidrosis
The condition has been linked to the patient’s mental and emotional state but this is May or may not be true. The condition is also said to be psychological and only affected stressed, anxious, or nervous individuals.
According to the recent research, people with primary hyperhidrosis are said to be more susceptible to feelings of anxiety, nervousness, or emotional stress than the rest of the population when exposed to the same triggers.
Also, the emotional and mental feelings experienced by most patients suffering from hyperhidrosis condition could be due to excessive sweating.
There are certain genes in the body that play a major role in the condition. These genes make the condition be likely an inherited condition. The research also shows that parents with the condition are likely to have children.
- Secondary Hyperhidrosis
Some of the common causes of the condition include:
- Spinal cord injury
- Alcohol abuse
- Anxiety
- Diabetes
- Gout
- Heart disease
- Hyperthyroidism – an overactive thyroid gland
- Obesity
- Parkinson’s disease
- Pregnancy
- Respiratory failure
- Shingles
- Some cancers, such as Hodgkin’s disease
- Some infections – HIV, malaria, TB (tuberculosis)
- Some medications, including some antidepressants, anticholinesterases (for Alzheimer’s disease), pilocarpine (for glaucoma), propranolol (for high blood pressure)
- Substance abuse
How to Stop Excessive Sweating On Face
When the body gets overheated, it responds by producing sweat as a way of cooling. The condition of sweating is controlled by the nervous system. Research at the Mayo Clinic suggests excessive facial sweating, or facial hyperhidrosis, affects about 2.8 percent of Americans.
Some of the common causes of facial sweating include:
- Heredity
According to excessive sweating info website, excessive sweating on the face is primarily dependent upon in hereditary genes. This is also due to the presence of many sweat glands on the layer of skin on the face.
- Irregular Brain and Nerve Activity
When a nerve does not function properly because of Syringmyelia or another nerve-related disorder, the nervous system sends mixed signals to the hypothalamus which controls sweat glands, hunger and thirst, resulting in excessive sweating of the face.
Also, emotions, such as depression, stress, and anxiety, can alter nerve activity in the hypothalamus, causing confusion and allowing for sweat gland over-activity for the same reason.
- Obesity
Overweight people tend to sweat more than slim people because the body stores a surplus of minerals, which the sweat glands then have to excrete. The fats that have been stored on the body, the greater the amount of excess facial sweating. Of course, individual differences will depend largely on genetics.
- Exercise and Excessive Heat
Exercises, such as running or lifting heavy weights, can cause the body to overheat leading to excessive facial sweating. Any kind of strenuous exercise or exposure to extreme heat, or hot weather, can produce excess sweat because it helps the body cool off.
The following are some of the ways on how to combat facial sweating:
Step 1
It is recommended to identify factors that trigger excessive sweating the body. According to research done by Mother Nature, it suggest that caffeine, spicy foods and alcohol can all increase the production of sweat. Also the use of hot drinks may result in sweat especially during hot weather.
Step 2
Wash the face with cold water or fill a bowl with water and a few ice cubes then splash the water on the face. Allow it to air dry or pat it with a soft cotton towel. Also taking cold shower helps to cool down the body thus reducing the sweat.
Step 3
Drink cold water, dress in loose-fitting cotton clothing and avoid the sun as much as possible. When indoors, keep the room cool and well ventilated.
Step 4
Ask a dermatologist to prescribe a cream containing glycopyrrolate, an ingredient that can reduce sweating. These creams are the equivalent to prescription-strength antiperspirants, but they’re made for use on the face.
According to the Hyperhidrosis Center website, the cream can help reduce the amount of sweat produced, as well as the number of episodes of intense sweating.
Step 5
Talk to your doctor about Botox. Because the Botulinum toxin is used to relax muscles, it can reduce sweating. The injections are mostly used to treat underarm sweating, but can also be used to treat facial sweating. Regular treatments every few months are needed to maintain the effect.
How to Stop Excessive Sweating Head
Excessive sweating on the scalp is also known as facial sweating. The condition result due to increased stress, temperatures, and stimulant intake. According to research, sweating is essential since it helps the body get rid of toxic substances from the body.
Excessive sweating is a problem that many people face around the world, and it can be overcome with the proper treatment. It has many possible cures, some of which are changing the eating habits and daily routines.
The common treatment of excessive sweating from the scalp includes the following:
- Remove or Reduce Stimulant Intake
Studies show that removing or reducing the amount of stimulants in the body can help deal with excessive sweating completely. Some of the possible forms of stimulants come from caffeine (found in soft drinks, coffee, chocolate and some medications), sugar and various drugs.
Other things that may contribute to excessive sweating are tobacco smoking and alcohol intake. Also avoid spicy foods, which has the potent to increase heart rate that in return leads to too much sweating.
- Eat Healthy
Having a healthy diet is essential in the body since it helps to calm down the sympathetic nerves, which act as stimulants in sweat production. When the body receives a healthy balanced diet, it gets the nutrients that miss from the unhealthy diet which helps the body to function well. In the process, it even responds by reducing the amount of sweat.
- Wash the face regularly
Reduce excessive facial sweating, it is recommended to keep the face clean by washing out frequently. Use cold water or bowel filled cold water and ice cubes to wash the face. Air dry the face or pat with the clean cotton towel.
- Reduce Stress and Anxiety
Practice some sort of meditation or yoga to reduce the amount of stress. Stress and anxiety are a large factor in hyperhidrosis. Learning yoga and meditation techniques will help center the inner energy and level out the amount of stress and body temperature, thus reducing excessive sweating.
- Get a Short Hair Cut
Allow more air to get to the head by having a shorter haircut. This will allow airflow through the hair and onto the scalp or head, which could help to reduce excessive face and head sweating by helping to cool the body.
How to Stop Sweating Armpits
Sweating is but normal to one’s body as the perspiration signifies the response of the brain through the sympathetic nervous system to the sudden change of body temperature.
This is due to some factors like sun exposure, physical exercise, and even tension. However, sweating keeps the body cool, maintains the salt level and removes some toxins from the body which is the most important.
But excessive sweating like in the armpit creates problem to some, especially if it shows on their clothes. Visible armpit sweat beside the regular showers and the use of antiperspirant does not only cause embarrassing moments but also give a bad impression and can cause bad odor too.
Here are some of the ways on how to curb excessive underarm sweating:
- Dry the armpits after taking shower then apply reputable tropical Anti-Perspirants which does not reduce or stop sweating but it helps to curb the bad odor from the armpit due to sweating.
- To reduce or absorb excess sweat, the use of baby powder or talcum powder on the armpit is recommended. Be sure to apply first the deodorant before the baby powder. This will absorb the sweat before it soaks the clothes.
- Try wearing an undershirt or extra T-shirt so that you have something to absorb sweat before it gets onto the outer clothes. In this case, the armpit sweat is hardly visible.
- Black and white shirt are least likely to show sweat so you can wear them instead of any other color.
- Avoid eating spicy foods like chili and garlic because they can increase sweating. Same is true with drinks that are high in caffeine.
- Consult a medical profession in case you suffer from too much sweating.
Anti-Sweat Pills Over the Counter
Hyperhidrosis or excessive sweating is of different types; these forms include primary, secondary and generalized. Primary hyperhidrosis is caused on a specific part of the body and the cause is not known.
Secondary hyperhidrosis is caused due to some underlying or hidden medical conditions. Patient with secondary hyperhidrosis sweats excessively throughout the body.
In generalized hyperhidrosis, the patient suffers from excessive sweating all over the body due to some medical problem or illness. It can also be caused due to some medications too.
It is recommended to consult a specialist to be administered with the required medicines after conducting the test about the cause of the condition. Never buy some of these drugs over the counter without a prescription from the doctor.
Hyperhidrosis Treatment for Hands
Excessive, uncontrollable sweating of the hands or palms is called palmar hyperhidrosis. This medical condition is an extremely stressful, embarrassing, and confidence-wrecking problem.
The following are some of the quick remedies for sweaty hands:
- Wash the hands using alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Many people get sweaty hands when their bodies are slightly overheated, so cooling them off can be a quick and effective remedy.
- Sprinkle some powder on the hands
- Do not use items that cause more sweating to occur.
How to Stop Excessive Sweating Naturally
These remedies include:
- Tea Tree Oil
It is astringent and natural anti-fungal properties that are known in killing bacteria that cause excessive sweating thereby relieving this condition.
Directions:
- Take a cup of tea tree oil the soak the cotton ball in and apply it to the sweat areas
- With the sensitive skin, dilute the solution by stirring 5 drops tea oil in 1/2 cup of water then do the same to above direction
- Use this remedy regularly.
- Chamomile
It is a rich source of astringent, deodorant, and anti-bacterial properties; this herb has been applied widely for various health problems from inflammation to cancer. The presence of antibacterial property aids in getting rid of the bacteria producing sweat and the body odor.
Directions
- Stir a few chamomile essential oil drops in the bath of warm water.
- Soak the body in this water for 5 to 10 minutes.
- Take this bath every day.
- Baking Soda and Coconut Oil
Both of baking soda and coconut oil can act individually to treat excessive sweating and when they combine together, the effect is even better.
Directions
- Put the Shea butter and coconut oil into the double boiler then melt them over a medium heat.
- After completely melted, remove the double boiler from the heat then add arrowroot and baking soda.
- Stir them well together then add your favorite essential oil to the mixture.
- Let the mixture cool off then fill it in a deodorant stick to store in the fridge in case it melts.
- Use the stick on a regular basis.
- Lemon
Lemon is one of the easiest home remedies for excessive sweating. This fruit works like a natural deodorant in order to mask your embarrassing odors that are caused by excessive sweating or perspiration. Besides excessive sweating, lemon can also whiten the underarm and dark skin.
Direction
- Mix an equal part of the baking soda and lemon juice to make a smooth paste.
- Utilize a cotton pad in order to apply the paste onto your sweating areas.
- Let it sit on your skin for around 20 minutes.
- Rinse off this paste with water.
- Follow this solution once per day.
FURTHER REFERENCES
- Hyperhidrosis: Causes, Symptoms, and Effective Treatments: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/182130.php
- What Causes Excessive Facial Sweating? http://www.livestrong.com/article/98641-causes-excessive-facial-sweating/