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Subscribe to RSSNBC's chief medical editor Dr. Nancy Snyderman answers viewer questions about how to control sweating, especially when it's interrupting night-time sleeping patterns
Imagine what your life would be like if your hands were always dripping in sweat: You'd make up excuses after giving a clammy handshake. You'd worry about your touch devices slipping out of your hands.
You'd avoid reading print editions of the newspaper to prevent staining your skin and clothes with ink. And you may even shy away from holding hands with your sweetheart.
Sophia Wastler, 36, of Virginia Beach, Va., has lived through all these situations. "You just think you're a weird freak and you suffer in silence," she admits.
Wastler also recalls being asked to go barefoot in modern dance class, and feeling embarrassed after leaving huge puddles at her feet and mortified when wiping them up.
It took Wastler until she was 31 to learn why her underarms, palms and soles of her feet were constantly soaked. She had gone to see a new doctor (not because of the sweating), and instead of giving her usual excuse after shaking his hand and leaving it moist, she blurted out, "My hands are always sweaty."
Then the doctor told her, "You have hyperhidrosis." That's the first time Wastler heard of a medical condition that causes excessive sweating.
"Primary focal hyperhidrosis is when you're sweating excessively for the physiological requirements at that time, and it's not related to any other medical problem or a side effect of a medication," explains Dr. Dee Anna Glaser, a professor of dermatology at Saint Louis University School of Medicine.
For example, if you're sitting indoors, watching TV, and you're drenched in sweat -- far more than others around you -- that's not healthy sweating, which is simply keeping your body cool. It's extreme and excessive perspiration.
Extreme sweating, when it's from diabetes, night sweats or menopausal hot flashes, typically occurs all over the body. But in primary hyperhidrosis, a person sweats profusely in certain areas, most commonly the armpits, palms or face. It may also occur on the scalp, soles of the feet, in the groin area or along the breast tissue.
Hyperhidrosis often begins in childhood or adolescence, and it tends to run in families. "But there's such a negative stigma about sweating that people often don't talk about it or think it's them -- they need to shower more or find the right deodorant," explains Glaser.
"Most people don't realize that excessive sweating is a condition and there's treatment for it," she says.
Hyperhidrosis sufferers have normal sweat glands, in terms of their size, number and function. So researchers suspect the cause has something to do with the signal coming from the brain, which is telling the sweat glands to produce wetness when it's not necessary, points out Glaser.
Treatment often starts with clinical strength antiperspirants available over the counter or by prescription. Botox injections every six or seven months into the affected are also effective.
That's what did the trick for Wastler and is currently keeping her hands dry. She also uses moisture-absorbing insoles for her feet.
"Life began for me at 31," Wastler admits, which is why she also recommends finding a doctorwho knows and understands hyperhidrosis.
Here are some interesting facts about the condition:
- People with hyperhidrosis may sweat 4 to 5 times more than normal.
- Athletes perspire more than other people because their bodies have become super efficient at keeping cool.
- Men sweat more than women, although both men and women suffer equally from hyperhidrosis. (But more women seek out treatment for it.)
- It's OK to use antiperspirant on your hands and feet if you tend to sweat a lot there.
- Consider applying antiperspirant before bedtime so the active ingredients soak into your pores and block morning sweating.
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The miracle drug = Robunil (Glycopyrrolate)
I have suffered from hyperhidrosis for years, and after a battery of tests by my doctor to make sure nothing else was causing the issue pretty much came to the conclusion it was something that I would have to live with. I tried the prescription antiperspirants, and not only did they burn when applying they were ineffective is treating my entire body. After much research I came across an extremely little known drug called Robunil (Glycopyrrolate), which used to be used decades ago to treat ulcers (Google the drug). My life has never been the same - I perspire normally now and am not afraid to do anything in public for fear of being covered in sweat. It took a few weeks to figure out the right dosage for me as I worked through the minor side effects of dry mouth and dry eyes, but now have no problems. Your local pharmacy will not stock this drug as it is very uncommon, however they should be able to special order it and it is very inexpensive and for most people probably covered by insurance.
By the way, Robunil (Glycopyrrolate) is available by prescription only and the dosage is based on your body weight. Your doctor will likely never have heard of it; mine hadn't but was willing to give it a try and I'm very thankful he did. He now prescribes it to his other patients with hyperhidrosis.
If it is prescribed to you, start slow and ramp up the dosage until you find the dosage right for you. I immediately took the prescribed dosage and had an awful night of dry mouth, throat, eyes, nose and skin.
Hi,
I had the very same condition. I actually had surgery for it. It was covered under my health care plan and I was only in for a day. I had super sweaty hands for as long as I could remember. I'd wake up in the morning and just be soaking wet for no reason. I still sweat on my feet and trunk area when I workout, but my hands are now totally dry. If you ever tire of the meds I would suggest a permanent solution that will never require follow up meds.
Eve
Alex-1903018, thanks for your suggestion, I am going to have to ask my doctor about it. I suffer from this but I refuse to have an expensive, toxic substance injected into me, monthly. I'd rather sweat and explain it away by saying that I take supplements that make me sweat for weight loss, plus in hot Miami, it's not as abnormal to see sweaty people, or people blasting their a/c to stay cool the way I do whenever I have the opportunity to do so. I work out with men, so they sweat as much as I do, or more, and at least I wear 2 coatings of clinical strength deodorant so I don't smell, and the men are grounded enough to realize women sweat, and actually, men are much less critical of sweat than women. I hate going to job interviews though and immediately being stereotyped as "nervous" due to my clammy hands. They always say "wow, you seemed so nervous at first but you come across so well-spoken, strong, and friendly". I don't want to say I have hyperhidrosis and that is why my palms were sweaty, because most people don't know what it is, so I just ignore it, but it is frustrating!
Why is lying about taking supplements for weight loss or making up other excuses less embarrassing than admitting you have a medical condition???? If somebody told me they were sweating profusely because of some supplement they chose to take, I'd think they were an idiot and would be even more inclined to question them further on it. If they said "I have hyperhidrosis, it's a medical condition", I'd understand completely and drop it. And if someone doesn't know what it is and asks, just give them a quick, simple explanation.
Good luck with it - I hope it helps.
Also when you are determining the correct dosage for you, spread taking it out into a couple doses throughout the day. My daily dose is 4mg total, so I take one 2mg tablet in the early morning and one 2mg tablet in the late afternoon. I weigh approx 150 lbs.
Prelubricated hands? That sounds like a blessing not a curse! Be hard to cross the monkey bars though!
I had the surgery for hyperhidrosis. It gave me about 95% relief in my hands and 60% in my feet. It was very much worth it! Now I also take a frequent urination medication (oxybutin) and this is the best relief I have ever had. Everyone should try it!
was this surgery covered by your insurance and did it hurt or take long to notice a change?
My son had the surgery in 2001 and I had it in 2002. He had both sides done at the same time and had dry hands and feet immediately. I had one side done and a few weeks later had the other side done. I also had dry hands and feet immediately. We both have compensatory sweating (perspiring in other parts of the body, mainly the lower back). My son also gets the botox twice a year and takes robinul forte. Insurance has covered everything for us.
I had this same kind of condition when I was in High School. My underarms would constantly sweat and I couldn't figure out why. I really suffered in silence for years. I did find a solution, though, and - looking back at it now seems so simple. From trial and error, I figured out that I must have been allergic to the antiperspirant! I use regular deodorant now, but as soon as I put on antiperspirant - the sweating starts! So, please, if you have excessive sweating in just the armpits - before any surgeries - try changing to plain ol' regular deodorant. Seems counter-intuitive, but for some people, antiperspirant can make you sweat.
I suffered with this as early as six years old, and saw a doctor about it after turning 30. I would even sweat in cold weather. It was horrible. They first tried a mild shock to the affected areas once a day, which worked a little bit, but was too much trouble for me. Then they gave me Propantheline. It's a drug used to treat ulcers, but a side affect was extreme dryness. It worked so well, I couldn't sweat even in hot weather. Also gave me dry mouth but it was a fair trade for my soaking hands, feet and armpits. I have since hit middle age, and quit taking the propantheline. I have found that the condition has lessened with age.
What was the name of socks and other products mentioned by Dr. Nancy that were wool blend that helped to manage the sweat? I have never heard of that and wanted to find out more about it. Thank you.
I thought it was too many beers.
One of my kids always looked like someone had thrown a bucket of water over her. I have class group photos from elementary school, she was the only kid in any photo who looked like she had just climbed out from a pool. This went away at puberty, but was immediately replaced by epilepsy, I always wondered if there was any connection there, or if her anti-seizure meds might have stopped the sweating.
I had a problem with this until a couple of years ago I stopped eating as much gluten. Got rid of breads, pastas and most heavy beers, with occasionally indulging. Went away for me. I also had a head fuzziness that has faded as well.
I also had the surgery to stop my sweating, and wish I had never done so. The compensatory sweating is worse than what I was dealing with before! My head, face, upper body...sweat so profusely that I can't wear a hairstyle, much less the same set of clothes, for an entire day. To make matters worse, now I only sweat on one side of my body! So while my left side is dripping, my right side is completely dry. Make for some interesting, and often embarrassing comments. I have become almost a hermit in order to avoid them.
I have this problem and have had it all my life- i am 42 and my primary doctor would prescribe me stuff for hands but nothing ever worked- I do use CERTAIN DRI for my underarms & THIS REALLY WORKS- they do have for feet but i have never been able to find this in stores- I actually just started having BOTOX for my hands sweating and this works insurance covers most of it- i have found out that i do need 100 units though per hand for this to work and last usually 6 months- i am going to check into these pills though
pamm-poodle There's no reason you couldn't use the same Certain Dri you use on your underarms on your feet & even hands. I would use the roll-on if you're using it on your hands since the solid tends to be visible for a while after application. You can also get something very similar as a prescription (Drysol or Xerac AC or generic 20% Aluminum Chloride Soln) that are available in roll-on form or a squeeze bottle which might be less expensive if your insurance covers it (most do). The pills do often help but can have some side effects like dry mouth & eyes, blurred vision, difficulty urinating, constipation and they can make you more prone to over-heating in the summer or when working out. These will stop if you discontinue the drug. On rare occasion they can also effect your memory or heart rate.
Alex- Thanks for the lead on Robunil. Any exertion causes streams of sweat over my face. Hypnosis didn't work and Botox scares me. I had to give up any public speaking as it looked like "flop sweats".
I would almost think you could become dehydrated very easily if you sweat that much. It must be very hard to deal with. I sweat allot on my face and even scalp when I am truly hot and that is bad enough. I have to wash my hair allot in summer and its a drag.
I suffer from night sweats and have for years now.
I wish someone could with more information on this subject because it's quite frustrating. I only sweat when I'm sleeping.
I am *so* glad to find this article! Didn't know this horrible excessive sweating is a medical condition. I went thru menopause a decade ago with terrible night-sweats. Now I'm constantly drenched in sweat all over my body - many times a day, almost every day! It's especially bad around my neck, back, and chest; but also my face, scalp, backs of my knees - I'm a dripping mess! It happens day and night. Sometimes at night I'm awakened with "cold sweats" which are actually frightening, besides extremely uncomfortable. I positively drench the sheets and the pillowcase too. Not just the bottom sheet gets wet, also the top sheet - How is it possible to sweat "UP"?!? I'm miserable all the time. I've developed a skin condition 'tinea versicolor' - a non-contagious fungal infection, causing hypopigmentation (white spots & mild itching). It started years ago on the front of my neck (wearing sweaty turtlenecks?), then it spread all over my shoulders and upper back. Unable to treat it with dandruff shampoo, the unsightly mess has now spread all over my entire back, partly on my sides, and all the way down to the top of my tailbone. I'm currently working out some kind of stronger treatment for this condition with my doctor. With the excessive sweating the chances of recurring episodes of tinea versicolor are very high. I look & feel like a leper! Now I need to find a way to rid myself of this horrible exccessive sweating. Any advice is welcome. Thanks for they great article & responses!
I have also suffered with sweaty palms, armpits, face around the mouth area, sometimes sole of the feet, under the breast area cannot wear nice dressy clothes in the summer for fear of ruin the dresses..but now that I read this article I just realized I have not been sweating so often, and I realize that it must be since I was laid off and not going to the stressful workplace.
I have suffered with this my entire life. Doctors were constantly surprised because they would turn their backs, and when they turned back around to face me it looked like I had dunked my hands in a bucket of water. My feet, hands, and armpits have always been this way. When I was around 20 I just gave up on doctors doing anything to effectively treat this, however, with some of the stories I have read here, I may give it another chance. It is humiliating to constantly perspire, even in freezing weather. It is even more humiliating when people point it out. Thanks, I had no idea I was sweating all over the place, but now that you've brought everyone's attention to it, I can be more thoroughly scrutinized. Sorry for the rant, but please, if you see someone excessively perspiring, there is no need to point it out. They know. Trust me. They know.
I, too, have a terrible sweating problem. Mine is confined mostly to my scalp, face, and neck. It has literally altered my life, especially in the summer, but I can sweat profusely during the winter months as well. Every time I saw a doctor I told them about it, most times it was written off to menopause. I found a new doctor that listened (if your doc doesn't listen to you, then find another one). He did a lot of blood work, everything looked okay, but he gave me a low-dose hormone to try. I've been on it now for 2 weeks and I see a difference. Never did I believe it was hormonal since I had a hysterectomy 27 years ago, but somehow it has helped. This is just an experiment, but so far, so good. If that ends up not working at least I have a doctor who will try different modalities of treatment. Anything that helps!