Although you should talk to your GP to confirm you have hyperhidrosis, there are a number of things you yourself can do to minimise some of the symptoms of excessive sweating.

• 

  Antiperspirants:

  Although many people use the terms 'antiperspirant' and 'deodorant' interchangeably, they are not the same. An antiperspirant is an astringent meant to decrease eccrine and apocrine sweat secretion, while deodorants are designed just to remove and mask unpleasant smells, but not reduce the sweating. If regular antiperspirants do not control your excessive sweating, an antiperspirant containing Aluminium Chloride is usually the first line of treatment. Anhydrol Forte (roll on), Odaban (spray) and Driclor (roll on) are sold in most chemists or on-line, and are available on a prescription from your GP. Maxim, available in USA, is similar.
  
  Treatment consists of applying the medication onto the skin, leaving it on overnight, and washing it off in the morning. It's important to follow the instructions closely. The skin must be dry and clean upon application; if it is moist, severe skin irritation may occur. It must not be applied to broken, irritated or recently shaven skin.
  
  These antiperspirants may cause irritation, which can be alleviated by the use of a weak (1%), corticosteroid cream, or you may be able to control the sweating by using the antiperspirant less frequently.
  
   Zeasorb Absorbent Powder is a form of aluminium chloride treatment used to prevent hyperhidrosis as well as to help with certain skin conditions such as fungal infections, (athletes foot being one well known example), and rashes. Zeasorb can be used on irritated skin, and is useful as a way of preventing and helping to heal infections of the skin. Zeasorb Absorbent Powder can be bought online or in shops.
  
  Hydrosal^® gel http://www.hydrosalgel.com/index_en.html is helpful for some sufferers.

• Emollient washes and moisturisers:

  Do not use soap based products as these will exacerbate the situation. Instead use an emollient wash, available from any chemist.

• Clothing:

  Wear loose fitting clothes and avoid synthetic fabrics – choose 100% cotton, silk, linen or wool, and genuine leather shoes or sandals which allow your feet to breathe. Black or white clothing tends to show sweat marks less. Absorbent underlayers, such as T-shirts, also help to absorb the sweat, and there are products which claim to be extra absorbent. You may need to change clothes or socks and shoes more than once a day, and avoid wearing the same pair of shoes twice in a row – they need time to dry out fully. When you exercise, wear fabrics that wick moisture away from the skin, and moisture-wicking athletic socks are helpful for some.

• Disposable sweat pads

  Sweat pads help to absorb underarm moisture http://www.esteemclothingprotectors.co.uk
• Identify any trigger factors for sweating, such as crowded rooms, rushing about, alcohol, spicy foods and hot or caffeinated drinks etc, and avoid these triggers.