Why do some of us have excessive sweating? Is strong antiperspirant an answer to the problem?

What is hyperhidrosis?
Hyperhidrosis or excessive sweating is a condition wherein perspiration exceeds far too higher than the physiological requirement of body. It is a disorder affecting 5% population. When a person suffers from excessive sweating, it means he has hyperactive exocrine glands or sweat glands. Excessive sweating affects any part of the body; however, the most commonly affected areas include underarms, palms, soles, and face (axillary, plantar and facial).

Affects of excessive sweating on a person
Hyperactivity of the sweat glands is related to the nervous system and it’s the prime reason for excessive sweating. It’s also an inherited problem and transferred from parents to offspring. Hyperhidrosis can have a huge influence on a person; the physiological consequences including skin infections. The psychological including straying from social circles due to embarrassments; clammy hands and soles that can dip confidence and morale.

Types of hyperhidrosis
It is of two types - primary hyperhidrosis and secondary hyperhidrosis. The former starts when a person attains puberty. It is affected due to his/her genetic predisposition but aggravated due to lifestyle changes such as eating certain foods, excess caffeine, anxiety, etc.

The secondary hyperhidrosis is due to man-made reasons such as wearing wrong clothing, tight clothing that do not allow body to breathe properly. According to studies, it is due to malfunction of sweat glands, disorders of pituitary, diabetes, gout, and in some cases during andropause and menopause, as well as drop in blood sugar levels.

Excessive sweating and antiperspirant therapy
Person with hyperhidrosis can be easily treated with the use of a strong antiperspirant that plugs the sweat ducts. There are medications to treat the condition as well and the medications work on reducing stimulation to the sweat glands and prevent excessive sweating.

Drinking excess water is the best way to keep body hydrated. Reducing intake of caffeine spicy foods is some other suggested ways to reduce excessive sweating. Then, there is endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy, which is the removal of sweat glands that can help ease excessive sweating.

But if you are not for surgery the best bet you have is going for antiperspirant therapy. While there are some anti-perspirants that are extremely good, some leave stain marks on the clothes. There are some that produce burning sensation upon application and some antiperspirants are not effective at all and some of them not affordable. Also there are some antiperspirants that pose serious side effects. So make sure you are buying an antiperspirant that works on ceasing excessive sweating and that is friendly to your skin.