Are You Sweating Too Much? Maybe You Have Hyperhidrosis

Have you ever experienced wet hands and excessive sweating while taking exams, at a job interview, meeting with your boyfriend’s parents, or when you were nervous? If so, you may have a medical condition called hyperhidrosis.

Sweat is needed to maintain body temperature to remain stable and remove metabolic waste. Hyperhidrosis is a condition that occurs when excessive sweating is not triggered by hot environmental temperatures or strenuous physical activity.

Most hyperhidrosis does not endanger health, but it can have psychological and social consequences because it can cause feelings of shame and awkwardness for the sufferer. Hyperhidrosis occurs in 1% of the world’s population and is more often found in women than men. This number can increase, because many cases of hyperhidrosis are not reported.

What causes hyperhidrosis?

Based on the cause, hyperhidrosis can be divided into two, namely:

Primary hyperhidrosis

In most cases, the cause of hyperhidrosis cannot be clearly determined, generally due to increased sympathetic nerve activity.

Secondary hyperhidrosis

Hyperhidrosis is caused by other conditions or diseases, divided into three types, namely

Emotionally triggered hyperhidrosis, such as fear and anxiety, commonly affects the armpits, palms, and soles of the feet.
Local hyperhidrosis, caused by sympathetic nerve damage caused by trauma or congenital.
Generalized hyperhidrosis, caused by autonomic nervous disorders or the presence of other diseases such as diabetes insipidus, malignancy, menopause, heart attack, Parkinson’s, and the effects of drugs.

What are the signs and symptoms of hyperhidrosis?

Sweating is a normal thing experienced by humans, but in people with hyperhidrosis, the main characteristic that can be seen is excessive sweating without a clear trigger such as exercise or the heat in the area. Other symptoms that indicate a person has hyperhidrosis are:

Avoiding physical contact such as shaking hands, being aware that their hands are sweaty.
Rarely participate in physical activities such as sports or dancing, as they can worsen the condition
Excessive sweating can interfere with your work, such as difficulty holding objects or typing on a computer keyboard because the sweat on your palms makes it slippery.
Difficulty doing daily activities such as driving
Plenty of time spent dealing with this condition, such as showering frequently and changing clothes.
Be aware of the conditions experienced so that you withdraw from the social environment.

Is hyperhidrosis dangerous?

In general, hyperhidrosis is not harmful to health. Most hyperhidrosis occurs in childhood. In the new hyperhidrosis that occurs when a person is an adult, it is necessary to explore more about the presence or absence of the underlying disease, such as diabetes or cancer. Excessive sweating at night is also a sign of a more serious illness. So, immediately consult your doctor if you suddenly sweat excessively without an obvious cause and if there is excessive sweating that interferes with daily activities.

Although not dangerous, hyperhidrosis that is not treated properly can cause various complications such as:

Yeast infection. Humid conditions provide a good environment for mold growth.
Skin disorders. Excessive sweating leaves you prone to skin diseases such as boils and warts.
Body odor. In hyperhidrosis accompanied by bacteria, unpleasant body odor may occur.
Emotional effect. Hyperhidrosis can cause sufferers to feel embarrassed and insecure.

How to deal with excessive sweating?

The initial treatment for hyperhidrosis is to make changes in behavior and lifestyle along with giving antiperspirants. Some of the lifestyle changes that can be recommended are the following:

Avoid consuming products that can make you sweat, such as spicy foods and alcohol.
Regular use of antiperspirants.
Avoid tight clothing with man-made fiber materials such as nylon.
Wearing white or black clothes can hide sweat marks.
Use a sweat-absorbent armpit protector.
Wear socks that absorb sweat, and change them every day.
We recommend that you wear leather shoes, and use different shoes every day
If your hyperhidrosis is triggered by anxiety, then you can consult a mental health professional to treat your anxiety.

If the symptoms do not improve after doing the above, consult your doctor immediately. Therapies that can be given include:

Medicines, anticholinergics, antidepressants, anti-inflammatory drugs, and Botox are examples of drugs that can reduce sweating.
Iontoforesis, is done by delivering fat electricity to areas experiencing hyperhidrosis.
Surgery is performed if the various methods above are ineffective. Surgery will be performed to remove the sweat glands or nerves at the site of hyperhidrosis.

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Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.