Excessive sweating: how to sweat less?
Written by: Loris Vitry (holistic coach)
Validated by: Cathy Maillot (Osteopath)
Caution: If you have any medical questions or concerns, please speak to your doctor. Even if the articles on this site are based on scientific studies, they do not replace professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
It is perfectly healthy for a human to sweat.
Through sweating, the body eliminates many toxins.
In very hot weather, the body can wick between 1 and 2 liters of sweat per day.
This is an absolutely normal phenomenon.
However, what is much less normal is when the sweating becomes excessive.
This is an anomaly that can be very embarrassing.
What exactly is excessive sweating and how is it treated?
Answers in this article.
What is excessive sweating?
Also called hyperhidrosis, excessive sweating is characterized by an overproduction of sweat by the sweat glands.
In other words, we talk about excessive sweating when the sweat evacuated by the body exceeds the norm.
Excessive sweating can become a social and professional handicap for the sufferer.
It is usually localized in specific places on the body.
Thus, excessive sweating can be noticed in the hands, feet, armpits or the hollow of the thighs.
There is excess sweat in these areas because the sweat glands are concentrated in these places.
However, it can happen in some cases that the whole body is flooded.
What are the causes of excessive sweating?
The causes of excessive sweating are many and varied.
Already, you should know that in some cases, excessive sweating is not linked to any known cause.
In these cases, it is primary or idiopathic hyperhidrosis.
Adolescents and young adults are most often prone to primary hyperhidrosis.
This type of excessive sweating is also inherited.
Chances are you or a parent has it if there is a history in the family.
It is true that excessive sweating does not really have any known causes.
However, it can arise from certain situations.
So, you may notice excessive sweating when you are going through a strong emotion or a situation of extreme stress.
It can also happen when you are doing strenuous physical activity.
Heat and sunburn can also trigger primary excessive sweating.
When excessive sweating results from a known cause or health problem, it is called secondary hyperhidrosis.
This form of excessive sweating can have several causes.
It can intervene following various diseases.
Thus, obesity, hypoglycemia and diabetes are some diseases that trigger secondary excessive sweating.
The same is true of menopause and hyperthyroidism.
Beyond these causes, excessive sweating can result from taking certain medications.
In fact, taking certain antibiotics or hypotensive drugs can cause excessive sweating.
What are the consequences of excessive sweating?
Sweating in itself is not bad for your health at all.
However, when it gets excessive, it can become a real problem.
It creates a feeling of unease around those who suffer from it.
This can cause the person to be afraid to go to public places.
Excessive sweating can cause a kind of depression as the individual is obsessed with this abnormal phenomenon.
Excessive sweating therefore affects social life.
Excessive sweating can also hamper professional life.
Since the individual sweats a lot on their hands, it will be difficult for them to handle their work instruments.
It is even more painful if in his job he has to touch paper all the time.
Excessive sweating also has consequences on the body.
In fact, it can lead to pimples on the body (eczema).
There may also be slits in the hands and feet (athlete’s feet).
How to recognize excessive sweating?
Sweating is in the natural order of things.
You will be hard pressed to find an individual who does not sweat at all.
The problem lies in the amount and frequency of sweating.
It may seem like you are sweating excessively, but it is not true.
There are, so to speak, no specific signs or symptoms that tell you that you are sweating excessively.
You only have one safe solution to find out.
If your sweating seems excessive, the best way to be reassured is to seek medical advice.
He will be able to tell you if it really is excessive sweating or if there is nothing wrong with it.
Once the consultation is done, you will know what to expect.
If you need to take any precautions, the doctor will tell you what to do.
How to avoid excessive sweating?
There are many ways to avoid sweating.
First you have to avoid stress as much as possible.
Anxiety can make you sweat profusely.
You need to take care of your lifestyle.
You should therefore take regular showers.
You should wash at least twice a day.
Its very important.
While showering, take the time to thoroughly wash the areas where you sweat the most.
These include the armpits, hands, feet, etc.
It may sound strange to you, but by showering regularly you will sweat a lot less.
Also pay attention to the choice of your clothes.
Too heavy fabrics greatly promote excessive sweating.
Choose light clothes that allow your skin to take in fresh air.
For example, you can opt for clothes made of cotton, silk or wool.
To sweat less, you need to watch the foods you eat.
There are some that promote excessive sweating and in turn, give you a bad smell.
Among these foods you have onion, garlic, and other spices.
You should also avoid alcohol, hot drinks, and tobacco.
You can also use anti-perspirants to combat excessive sweating.
However, you don’t have to use it every day.
You may irritate your armpit skin.
Using an antiperspirant every other day should keep you sweating less.
Then, to get rid of bad smells, you can make deodorant your ally.
However, pay attention to the components of your deodorant or your antiperspirant.
You should not have side effects after use.
Now you know what it takes about excessive sweating and how to get rid of it.
It’s up to you to do whatever is necessary to feel good about yourself.
Continue reading:
Unconditional love: how to live it fully?
