3 Effective Ways To Reduce Sweat
Are you sweating through shirts or sweating in places like an air-conditioned room? If yes, determine which of the 3 reasons explains your excessive sweating so that you can treat it accordingly.
1. Heredity
If an overproduction of sweat runs in your family you probably have primary hyperhidrosis (PH). According to Dee Anna Glaser, MD, the location, size, and number of the glands are similar to what is seen in normal people. They believe it’s caused from an imbalance from your body’s autonomic nervous system.
Signs You Have PH
- Long-term sweating even before puberty
- Family member had it
- Sweat in unexpected places (ie. air conditioned room)
PH Remedies
Rx-Strength Antiperspirant: Least expensive, but usually needs to be combined with other sweat treatments. Can irritate your skin.
- Botox: has great results, but only lasts 6 months
- Iontophoresis: Time consuming process and not permanent
- Medications: Reduce sweat in all glands, which could lead to overheating
- miraDry®: One of the more expensive treatments initially, but offers permanent results
*Note: Many doctors don’t recommend a surgical operation (ETS surgery) because it isn’t reversible and other parts of your body will probably start excessively sweating.
2. Could A Condition Be Causing Excessive Sweating?
Sometimes other conditions can cause sweating, here are the most common ones:
- POTS (Postural Tachycardia Syndrome): accelerates heart rate when you’re upright
- Diabetes: Low blood sugar can be a cause and it can be a sign your not taking care of your diabetes
- Hyperthyroidism: Experts haven’t quite figured out why people who suffer from hyperthyroidism also have excessive sweating
- Obesity: The skin has more contact and can’t breathe combined with evaporation and more heat on the surface of the skin
3. Are Medications Making You Sweat?
Some common medications that increase sweat are antidepressants, anti-anxiety meds, blood pressure, heart, antibiotics and hormonal medications. Thankfully, the International Hyperhidrosis Society lists all specific medications that cause sweating. If the medication you're taking is on the list then ask if you switch to a medication in which sweating isn’t a symptom.
If your sweat isn’t severe enough to where you are consistently sweating through shirts than try a couple home remedies before getting a treatment like miraDry®.
- Wipe your sweat off before and after bed
- Always towel off after or you could irritate skin
- If the issue is your hands or feet then try aerosol antiperspirant
It’s time to stop being embarrassed of sweat stains. Consult a professional if nothing you’re doing on your own is working and you want some real results.