Excessive Sweating

What It Is

Excessive sweating affects 1-2% of the entire population. In medical terms, it is known as hyperhidrosis, and those diagnosed with this condition tend to sweat a lot more than the average person, even when using certain products. People who suffer from hyperhidrosis sweat excessively in specific areas or all over the body. We are all used to sweating after heavy exercise or when the body is too hot, however, if you are affected by hyperhidrosis, this can happen when the body isn’t hot or active.

Why It Happens

There isn’t a singular cause of hyperhidrosis but it is often linked to your genetic makeup – commonly you’ll find that if you suffer from hyperhidrosis then it is likely that your parents or siblings will as well. Hyperhidrosis has been attributed to certain medical conditions and medications, however, it can also begin for no reason at all! Historically, it was thought that this occurred as a result of anxiety or emotional stress, though recent studies suggest that this isn’t true- with many of these feelings being a result of the condition, not the other way around.

How it can be treated

Hyperhidrosis can be treated in various ways. Most simply, you can try to alter your daily routine and lifestyle. Using prescription-grade antiperspirants or changing your clothing to avoid certain synthetic fibres can also be helpful. If these methods prove ineffective, then Botox injections are a popular alternative as they can be used to block the nerves that trigger the activity of the sweat glands, leading to a reduction in the production of sweat.

Those who opt for this treatment should start to see a significant decrease in sweating as soon as 4 weeks after undergoing this procedure, with some people reporting a complete halt in sweating in a specifically treated area within this short period of time.