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What You Need to Know About Excessive Sweating
Do you find yourself wondering why you sweat so much? Relax. Everyone sweats.
“Sweating is a normal response to heat or anxiety,” says Hunter Q. Kirkland, MD, a cardiothoracic surgeon at Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeons in Austin, Texas. But while sweating is the body’s way of cooling off, some people sweat excessively — sweaty armpits, sweaty necks, and sweaty, smelly feet — and for no apparent reason, making them feel as though they’re living in a sauna 24/7. This may be due to a diagnosable medical condition called hyperhidrosis, which affects almost 4.8 percent of the population, or about 15.3 million Americans, according to research.
Normally, we sweat to cool our body and control our body’s temperature. But too much sweat can cause stained shirts and body odors, affecting social relationships and even self-esteem.
According to the Mayo Clinic, hyperhidrosis (high-purr-high-DROE-sis) is abnormally excessive sweating that’s not necessarily related to heat or exercise. People with hyperhidrosis sweat so much that it soaks through their T-shirts or drips off their hands. Besides interrupting a normal life, hyperhidrosis can result in major embarrassment and social anxiety.
The most common type of hyperhidrosis is primary focal or essential hyperhidrosis, in which the nerves that trigger your sweat glands become overactive. Even if you aren’t running or hot, your feet, hands, or face will sweat.
A more serious type of abnormal sweating is called secondary hyperhidrosis, which signals a dysfunction of the central or peripheral nervous system. This type of excessive sweating is generally the result of a medical condition, including:
- Diabetes
- Heart attack
- Infections
- Low blood sugar
- Menopausal hot flashes
- Nervous system disorders
- Some types of cancer
- Thyroid problems
Though excessive sweat isn’t serious or life-threatening, it can be embarrassing and make you uncomfortable and anxious. There are medical treatments for hyperhidrosis, but you’ll need to make an appointment with your primary care physician. One study found that primary hyperhidrosis increased the risk of bacterial and fungal infections on the skin. So, if your excessive sweating seems too much, see a doctor to get back in control and avoid possible infections.
Here are seven things to know about excessive sweating — how to manage it, where it’s most common on the body, and how to tell whether you are exhibiting signs of hyperhidrosis.
Armpit Sweat Makes It Impossible to Keep Clothes Dry
Excessive underarm sweating is called axillary hyperhidrosis. One clue that you have this sweaty armpit condition is the way you dress. If you don’t want to wear light- or bright-colored tops because you’re afraid that the stains from your underarm sweating will be too obvious, or you avoid delicate fabrics such as silk because you’re afraid they’ll get ruined, you’re likely dealing with excessive armpit sweat. Men with underarm hyperhidrosis are also likely to keep their suit jackets on, even when it’s warm, because they’re afraid that people will see the shirt stains around their sweaty armpits.
Deodorants Don’t Do Enough to Block Armpit Sweat
Ask your doctor why you sweat so easily. There are good answers. If you’re experiencing excessively sweaty armpits, ordinary over-the-counter deodorants won’t work, no matter how often you apply them. You may have some success with antiperspirants that have a high concentration of aluminum chloride, which binds to, and therefore blocks, sweat glands, but at times even that isn’t enough. Ask your doctor for a prescription-strength antiperspirant to block armpit sweat. Some people who sweat too much have success with prescription antiperspirants, but occasionally further treatment is necessary, notes Jacob DeLaRosa, MD, a cardiothoracic surgeon at the Portneuf Medical Center in Pocatello, Idaho.
Do You Ruminate About Sweaty Armpits?
When you have underarm hyperhidrosis, many times it’s difficult to think about anything else. You worry that others will notice that your shirt is always soaked. You may become self-conscious and begin to withdraw, avoiding physical contact with other people. You may even be reluctant to dance at parties or work out at the gym for fear it will make your armpit sweat worse.
Hyperhidrosis Has Nothing to Do With Good Hygiene
Underarm hyperhidrosis has nothing to do with hygiene, says Dr. DeLaRosa. Nonetheless, people with hyperhidrosis, particularly armpit sweat, find they soak through their shirts soon after putting them on, so they shower constantly and change their clothes several times a day. This may keep you dry temporarily, but when you have hyperhidrosis, showering frequently, even with strong soaps and shower gels, won’t stop the problem. Talking to your doctor or dermatologist about hyperhidrosis treatment will, says DeLaRosa.
Medical Management Can Help You Cope With Symptoms of Excessive Sweating
Sweating too much is not dangerous or life-threatening, but it’s life-limiting if it makes you withdraw and disrupts your daily activities, DeLaRosa says. If you experience any of these signs of hyperhidrosis, such as sweaty armpits, soaking hands, or sloshy shoes, talk to your doctor.
Per the Mayo Clinic, common treatments for excessive sweat include:
- Prescription antiperspirants, creams, or wipes
- Botox injections to block the nerve signals that trigger sweat
- Anticholinergics, or drugs that block the body’s sweat trigger
- Surgery, usually with a procedure called endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS)
If your doctor diagnoses hyperhidrosis, you’ll typically start with prescription antiperspirants and creams or even medications before considering Botox injections and other procedures. In the most extreme situations, more permanent solutions like surgery may help.
Profusely Sweaty Hands Is Palmar Hyperhidrosis
People with underarm hyperhidrosis are also likely to sweat profusely from other parts of their body, such as their hands, feet, and groin — areas where sweat glands are highly concentrated, says Charles Griff, MD, a dermatologist with Water’s Edge Dermatology in West Palm Beach, Florida. Hyperhidrosis of the palms is known as palmar hyperhidrosis. When you have this condition, you may have difficulty holding a pen or pencil and writing, driving a car, or using a computer keyboard, all because your hands are slippery.
Are You Sloshing in Your Sweaty Shoes?
Some people with excessive armpit sweat also have plantar hyperhidrosis, which is excessive sweating of the soles of the feet, per UCSF Health. When your feet sweat too much, your socks and shoes get wet, leaving you feeling as if you’ve stepped in a puddle. You can become embarrassed about taking off your shoes and socks in public places, like the locker room at the gym or the shoe store, in part because of the ensuing odor. You may have crossed sandals off your wardrobe list because your feet are too slippery, and walking barefoot can be a problem when you’re leaving wet footprints behind.
- Doolittle J et al. Hyperhidrosis: An Update on Prevalence and Severity in the United States. Archives of Dermatological Research. December 2016.
- Hyperhidrosis: Symptoms and Causes. Mayo Clinic. September 16, 2022.
- Walling HW. Primary Hyperhidrosis Increases the Risk of Cutaneous Infection: A Case-Control Study of 387 Patients. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. August 2009.
- Hyperhidrosis: Diagnosis and Treatment. Mayo Clinic. September 16, 2022.
- Hyperhidrosis. UCSF Health.
Justin Laube, MD
Medical Reviewer
Justin Laube, MD, is a board-certified integrative and internal medicine physician, a teacher, and a consultant with extensive expertise in integrative health, medical education, and trauma healing.
He graduated with a bachelor's in biology from the University of Wisconsin and a medical degree from the University of Minnesota Medical School. During medical school, he completed a graduate certificate in integrative therapies and healing practices through the Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing. He completed his three-year residency training in internal medicine at the University of California in Los Angeles on the primary care track and a two-year fellowship in integrative East-West primary care at the UCLA Health Center for East-West Medicine.
He is currently taking a multiyear personal and professional sabbatical to explore the relationship between childhood trauma, disease, and the processes of healing. He is developing a clinical practice for patients with complex trauma, as well as for others going through significant life transitions. He is working on a book distilling the insights from his sabbatical, teaching, and leading retreats on trauma, integrative health, mindfulness, and well-being for health professionals, students, and the community.
Previously, Dr. Laube was an assistant clinical professor at the UCLA Health Center for East-West Medicine and the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, where he provided primary care and integrative East-West medical consultations. As part of the faculty, he completed a medical education fellowship and received a certificate in innovation in curriculum design and evaluation. He was the fellowship director at the Center for East-West Medicine and led courses for physician fellows, residents, and medical students.
Beth W. Orenstein
Author
Beth W. Orenstein is a freelance writer for HealthDay, Radiology Today, the Living Well section of The American Legion Magazine, St. Luke’s University Health Network, and others. She is a magna cum laude graduate of Tufts University (1978), where she majored in English and was editor of the student newspaper for three years.
No matter the weather around her eastern Pennsylvania home, Orenstein either bikes 25 to 30 miles or walks at least 6 miles every day. Her one indulgence is blueberry pancakes — but only after biking a long distance.