Many people sweat excessively but do not have hyperhidrosis. The sweating can still affect quality of life and can be embarrassing for some people. There are solutions available to help control sweating and get on with life. It is important to remember that everybody sweats, and it is the key mechanism to cool the body down. Some people simply sweat more than others.
Excessive Sweating is common from the underarms and head especially when it is warm, during exercise, exertion or when anxious.
Excessive Sweating is common from the underarms and head especially when it is warm, during exercise, exertion or when anxious.
Get checked
If you are sweating all over the body and this began in adulthood then there is the possibility that you have secondary hyperhidrosis and you should see your doctor to possibly get tests to rule out the common causes.
Antiperspirants (not deodorants) are not just for the underarms. Antiperspirants stronger than found on supermarket shelves are available that can be applied to skin of the worst affected areas. Most contain some form of aluminium salt that reacts with the sweat to produce a plug that blocks the tube (duct) leading from the glands to the skin.
If using antiperspirants on more sensitive skin areas like the forehead or underarms it is best to chose one that is formulated especially for those areas and not the strongest ones which are only really suitable for the hands and feet.
What most people don't realise is that antiperspirants work best when applied at night-time before bed when there is just enough moisture produced from the skin to react with the aluminium salts of the antiperspirant. If they are applied when sweating profusely then the product gets diluted and washed away before it has had a chance to work. A single application is rarely enough, and they need to be applied every day for one to two weeks before the effect is noticed. Then they only need to be applied every few days to maintain the effect.
If using antiperspirants on more sensitive skin areas like the forehead or underarms it is best to chose one that is formulated especially for those areas and not the strongest ones which are only really suitable for the hands and feet.
What most people don't realise is that antiperspirants work best when applied at night-time before bed when there is just enough moisture produced from the skin to react with the aluminium salts of the antiperspirant. If they are applied when sweating profusely then the product gets diluted and washed away before it has had a chance to work. A single application is rarely enough, and they need to be applied every day for one to two weeks before the effect is noticed. Then they only need to be applied every few days to maintain the effect.
This is a useful marketplace for finding the best brand and strength of antiperspirant for you:
clothing choices
Loose fitting clothing made of natural materials (cotton, linen, wool) allow better air exchange with the skin. There are clothing protectors and absorbent materials that can be worn under clothes to reduce sweat marks on clothing.
stay healthy & lose weight
If you have excessive sweating, don't be discouraged from undertaking exercise. Everyone sweats when they exercise so don't be embarrassed about it. Regular exercise and a healthy diet can also help lose weight.
Being overweight can be associated with above average levels of sweating.
Being overweight can be associated with above average levels of sweating.
Get talking
If anxiety or phobia is clearly contributing to excessive sweating then it is good to talk to trained professionals about it. The NHS has talking services and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) available. The NHS Every Mind Matters page offers some self-help CBT techniques.
In Scotland, Living Life is a telephone service to help you understand what is affecting you and help develop strategies to manage your mental health.
Some UK based charities also offer services to help with anxiety and mental health including:
- Mind
- Anxiety UK
- Power to Live Foundation
- Rethink Mental Illness
Many employers offer schemes to help mental health in the workplace through Employee Assistance Programmes. These are usually provided by a third party.
In Scotland, Living Life is a telephone service to help you understand what is affecting you and help develop strategies to manage your mental health.
Some UK based charities also offer services to help with anxiety and mental health including:
- Mind
- Anxiety UK
- Power to Live Foundation
- Rethink Mental Illness
Many employers offer schemes to help mental health in the workplace through Employee Assistance Programmes. These are usually provided by a third party.
sweaty feet
Many people, especially those that have to wear protective footwear, experience sweaty feet. Wearing substantial work boots for long periods whilst undertaking physical activity encloses the feet and does not allow sweat to evaporate from the skin.
Teenagers (especially boys) often experience periods of excessively sweaty feet especially during puberty.
When the skin of the feet is wet for long periods of time the surface layer of keratin swells (like it does after a long bath). This environment is ideal for some fungal, viral or bacterial organisms to flourish. Unsurprisingly, many people with long term sweaty feet develop athletes foot (tinea pedis), pitting keratolysis (a bacterial infection) or are more prone to verrucae (plantar warts) caused by human papilloma viruses. Ingrown toe-nails are also more likely with sweaty feet.
Sweat itself has no odour but bacteria on the skin break the sweat down to produce a foul smell in some cases.
Here's how you can help sweaty feet:
- Regular washing with emollient skin washes and through drying of the skin, especially between the toes.
- Chose cotton blend or bamboo socks.
- If possible, have a second pair of shoes/boots to wear on alternate days to give this first pair a day to properly dry out.
- Try bamboo or charcoal insoles which help wick moisture away and have some antimicrobial properties
- Use the strongest spray antiperspirants
- Foot powders can be helpful to absorb some of the excess moisture.
If simple measures do not help then consider seeing a podiatrist, especially if you think there is a skin infection. Sometimes, iontophoresis is required to reduce the sweating. Some people opt for botulinum toxin privately (used off label for the feet).
Teenagers (especially boys) often experience periods of excessively sweaty feet especially during puberty.
When the skin of the feet is wet for long periods of time the surface layer of keratin swells (like it does after a long bath). This environment is ideal for some fungal, viral or bacterial organisms to flourish. Unsurprisingly, many people with long term sweaty feet develop athletes foot (tinea pedis), pitting keratolysis (a bacterial infection) or are more prone to verrucae (plantar warts) caused by human papilloma viruses. Ingrown toe-nails are also more likely with sweaty feet.
Sweat itself has no odour but bacteria on the skin break the sweat down to produce a foul smell in some cases.
Here's how you can help sweaty feet:
- Regular washing with emollient skin washes and through drying of the skin, especially between the toes.
- Chose cotton blend or bamboo socks.
- If possible, have a second pair of shoes/boots to wear on alternate days to give this first pair a day to properly dry out.
- Try bamboo or charcoal insoles which help wick moisture away and have some antimicrobial properties
- Use the strongest spray antiperspirants
- Foot powders can be helpful to absorb some of the excess moisture.
If simple measures do not help then consider seeing a podiatrist, especially if you think there is a skin infection. Sometimes, iontophoresis is required to reduce the sweating. Some people opt for botulinum toxin privately (used off label for the feet).
