Month: September 2015

You may sometimes feel like you sweat more than you should. If so, you’re not alone. Excessive sweating affects between 1 and 3% of the population — that’s over 200 million people around the world. But many of your preconceptions about excessive sweating are probably false. To shed some light on the issue, we’ve fact-checked some of the most common statements about excessive sweating.

• Excessive Sweating Is a Medical Condition: Answer: True
  Excessive sweating is a recognized medical condition called hyperhidrosis. When it occurs on its own, as opposed to as part of a separate medical condition, it’s called primary focal hyperhidrosis (this is the most common type). Otherwise, it’s called secondary hyperhidrosis.
• Excessive Sweating Endangers Your Health: Answer: False
  Hyperhidrosis itself does not appear to indicate a health danger. However, it is sometimes associated with other problems (such as thyroid issues or diabetes) that do require medical attention.
• You Should Talk to a Doctor About Excessive Sweating: Answer: True
  Even if you are experiencing hyperhidrosis that is technically harmless from a medical standpoint, you may still want to talk to your doctor about it. That’s because excessive sweating can be a major psychological stressor impacting quality of life. Surveys show that most patients report feeling less confident because of their condition, and 90% say the condition affects their overall emotional state.
• Excessive Sweating Is Genetic: Answer: Probably True
  Between 30 and 50% of people with hyperhidrosis have another family member who is also affected. That implies a genetic predisposition, though that hasn’t been definitively proven.
• Excessive Sweating Affects More Women Than Men: Answer: False
  It’s commonly said that women are more likely to have hyperhidrosis, but hyperhidrosis actually affects men and women equally (most commonly between the ages of 25 and 64).
• You Can Cure Excessive Sweating: Answer: Probably False
  As of yet, there’s no known way to cure excessive sweating. But that doesn’t mean excessive sweating can’t be treated (see below).
• There Are Treatments for Excessive Sweating: Answer: True
  There are several hyperhidrosis products available. One of the most effective is an iontophoresis machine, a machine that uses very mild electrical currents to shut down the sweat glands in affected areas. Iontophoresis doesn’t cure excessive sweating in the sense that it fixes the issue permanently, but it is highly effective with multiple treatments, being successful in 80 to 98% of cases, depending on the device used.

What else have you heard about excessive sweating? Let us know what questions you still have.

<img src="https://www.hidrexusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/excessivesweating-200×300.jpg" alt="excessive sweating" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-67296" srcset="https://www.hidrexusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/excessivesweating-200×300.jpg 200w, https://www.hidrexusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/excessivesweating visit our website.jpg 566w, https://www.hidrexusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/excessivesweating-200×300@2x.jpg 400w” sizes=”(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px” />As a mechanism for cooling, sweating is incredibly effective. The average person has 2 to 4 million sweat glands that work together to protect the body from overheating. But there may be times when you feel you’re sweating more than you need to — and that sweating is impacting your comfort and making you feel insecure. If so, you may have hyperhidrosis, the medical term for excessive sweating. Here are answers to the three top questions you’re probably asking:

• What Counts as Excessive Sweating?
  You generally shouldn’t be worried if you just feel that you sweat a little more than other people do when you’re taking a jog or playing a sport. There’s a wide range of what is considered “normal” sweating when it comes to cooling the body. But if you sweat even when you’re not exerting yourself or when you’re in a relatively cool environment, then that might be a sign you should see a doctor about your sweating. The 8 million Americans living with hyperhidrosis sweat as much as four or five times more than the average person, so it’s more than just a case of clammy palms now and again.
• What Causes Excessive Sweating?
  In some cases, hyperhidrosis may be caused by a separate medical condition, such as diabetes, thyroid problems, or an infection. Certain drug interactions may also cause unusual sweating. But the most common cause is called primary focal hyperhidrosis; it affects between 1 and 3% of the population. Among those people, 30 to 50% have another family member also suffering from hyperhidrosis, which implies there is some sort of genetic predisposition. Characterized by symmetrical sweating from the body in certain areas (typically the face, underarms, hands, feet, and groin), this type of hyperhidrosis usually becomes apparent in childhood or adolescence. Although it is considered a medical condition, it doesn’t have any ill effects on health. However, it can severely decrease a patient’s quality of life, which is why many people choose to seek treatment.
• What Treats Excessive Sweating?
  Treating hyperhidrosis first requires an accurate diagnosis, of course. If it is associated with a condition such as diabetes, then treatment must address that underlying cause. But one good way to stop hyperhidrosis in the absence of another medical condition is iontophoresis. Essentially, this process involves introducing mild electrical currents to the affected area through the skin. It appears to shut down sweat glands (although doctors aren’t exactly sure why), and the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) estimates that it’s effective for about 80% of hyperhidrosis patients (although various manufacturers’ clinical studies show efficacy rates from 85-98%). You can get an iontophoresis machine to use at home with a physician’s prescription, so it’s at least worth discussing with your doctor.

Are you considering getting help with excessive sweating? Join the discussion in the comments.