How Can I Stop Excessive Sweating?

A little sweat is normal but if you sweat too much then there are ways to stop it. Discover how you can stop your excessive sweating in this article.

Types Of Excessive Sweating

It's important to know what type of excessive sweating you have because this will make a difference in what kind of treatment you should go for.

There are 5 main types of excessive sweating, or hyperhidrosis. These are palmar (hands), plantar (feet), axillary (underarms), cranio (facial) and truncal (chest, back, groin and thighs).

Start With The Basics

You should always start by addressing the basics. If you can stop as much sweating as possible then this will mean less radical treatments, if you need them.

First of all, make sure that your clothes are appropriate. Wear short sleeves in summer and only materials made from 100% cotton or linen. Completely avoid synthetics like polyester - they'll make nearly anyone sweat excessively.

On your feet, wear shoes made from real leather and make sure that they have good ventilation.

Antiperspirants

If you speak to your doctor then you can get stronger products that can also be used anywhere else on the body, for instance the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet.

You only have to use these once per week but beware that they can give a slight burning sensation when used.

Drugs

If your excessive sweating is especially bad when you are anxious or worried about your sweating then you might be interested in drugs to control it.

The most commonly prescribed drugs are beta blockers and antidepressants like Prozac.

Botox

You may have heard that Botox, or botulinum toxin, can be used for sweat problems. This is really only approved for use on the underarms and most doctors will not perform this on other parts of the body.

Surgery

This is an absolute last resort and involves cutting the nerves. In fact, many doctors advise against it because there can be extreme complications e.g. some men can lose the ability to gain an erection.

Lifestyle

Many people have reported great improvements from changes to their lifestyle such as a better diet and exercise. I would advise to try this out before spending money on any treatments.