How To Survive Summer With Excessive Sweating (Hyperhidrosis)
Summertime is fast approaching, and if you are anything like us, then we bet you can’t wait to be released into the summer sun without any COVID-19 restrictions holding you back (fingers crossed!) From dreaming of days on the beach to soaking up the rays in an idyllic park – it is a summer many people will be trying to make the most of.
For those who suffer from hyperhidrosis, summertime is often not greeted as fondly. The sharp temperature increase can make symptoms more frequent and severe than usual – when you’re already prone to excessive sweating, the hot weather just increases the likelihood of uncomfortable and potentially embarrassing situations arising.
Don’t let persistent sweating get in between you and a sun-filled summer, instead, read on to discover some of the steps that you can take to get some relief from this distressing condition, no matter how hot it is outside.
What Is Hyperhidrosis?
Hyperhidrosis (hi-pur-hi-DROE-sis) is a condition that is characterised by excessive, uncontrollable sweating – it affects millions of people across the world. Those who suffer from hyperhidrosis will find that sweating can begin in one area or all over the body, however, it most commonly affects the hands, feet and armpits due to their high concentration of sweat glands.
Many people suffer from hyperhidrosis from birth, although it can also develop later in life. It is something that occurs when the body’s cooling mechanism is overactive – this can cause people to produce four to five times more sweat than usual for no reason whatsoever. For example, you could be driving your car to work on a cold day and still experience a bout of hyperhidrosis.
Types Of Hyperhidrosis
Primary Hyperhidrosis has no obvious cause and is thought to be due to a problem with the part of your nervous system that is responsible for controlling the process of sweating.
Secondary Hyperhidrosis does have a recognisable cause or trigger, these can include:
Pregnancy or hormonal shifts
Anxiety
Certain medications
Infections
And so much more!
Living With Hyperhidrosis
Many people underestimate the effect that hyperhidrosis can have on an individual – it can be an extremely challenging condition to live with – especially if you suffer from frequent episodes and irregular triggers.
Often, those with hyperhidrosis will try to avoid social situations, and contact, wherever possible, for they are usually embarrassed by the amount that they sweat. Some people sweat so much that they need to change their clothes several times a day. Many people also report romantic difficulties as a result of their excessive sweating.
Hyperhidrosis is also commonly associated with causing skin problems, such as maceration, a fancy word that describes the appearance your skin takes on when it is continually moist. Heavy sweating can also cause warts and skin infections as bacteria and viruses can more easily enter your body.
For many, hyperhidrosis can:
Make you feel like you need to avoid physical contact, such as simply shaking hands, as well as strenuous activities or exercise out of fear your sweating will become worse.
Interfere with your job, for example, if you are in a customer-facing position, your fear of sweating could affect your work performance, or you may have difficulty using certain tools.
Make you socially withdrawn, distant and self-conscious.
Managing Your Excessive Sweating
Unfortunately, there is no single cure for hyperhidrosis, nor is there one method that works for everyone – however, there is still much that you can do to help control your sweating.
Part of living with hyperhidrosis is discovering what situations or factors trigger your sweating – learning whether you have triggers, and what they are, is a vital part of taking control of your hyperhidrosis. Some people even keep a sweat journal to keep track of their triggers so they can avoid them whenever possible.
Common triggers include:
Anxiety
Certain E numbers, such as E621
Caffeine (chocolate, coffee, tea)
Spicy food
Alcohol
Another popular method of preventing sweating is by using clinical-strength antiperspirants made with substances like aluminium chloride. Despite common belief, you can actually apply antiperspirants to places other than your armpits – this includes your feet, hands, hairline any many other areas. When you start to sweat, the antiperspirant will be absorbed into your sweat glands to block them – this will tell your body to stop producing sweat.
There are also various lifestyle adjustments you can take to try and further control your sweating. Many people who suffer from hyperhidrosis choose to wear loose and light clothes that are made with breathable fabrics wherever possible. Furthermore, wearing black and white clothes can also minimise the visible signs of sweating.
Treating Hyperhidrosis At North West Aesthetics
Here at North West Aesthetics, we have a history of success when it comes to treating hyperhidrosis, however, the solution is probably not what you would expect. Botulinum toxin (Botox®) is a very popular form of treatment when you are wanting to minimise the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles – did you know, however, that it is also highly effective at reducing the amount of sweat that your body produces?
By injecting highly precise amounts of Botox® into the treatment area, we can block the nerves that tell your body to sweat. After just four weeks, you will notice a significant reduction in how much you sweat, and in some cases, your sweating may halt completely.
The best part? Results tend to last about six months so you can confidently go about your day-to-day life without having to worry about sweating for the considerable future.
Visit Us At North West Aesthetics!
We make it our mission to understand your unique treatment goals so we can provide you with the highest level of bespoke care possible. Whenever you join us at North West Aesthetics, you can be confident that you will be receiving an unrivalled quality of care and a service that has been created to make you feel confident, happy and empowered.
If you have a history of suffering from excessive sweating and would like to speak to a member of our team about your options, then please do get in touch! Alternatively, if you have read enough and would like to join us for a consultation and/or treatment, then please reach out to us at enquiries@northwestaesthetics.co.uk or on 01942 909 003 – we would love to hear from you!
