Excessive sweating can be an embarrassing problem. So if you’re dreading the warm summer months, you should know that there are some effective ways to control sweating and stay dry.
Keep reading to find out what causes excessive sweating and what you can do to control it.
What Causes Excessive Sweating?
Sweating is a normal process that helps the body to regulate temperature. Sweat glands are located in the skin all over the body and release water onto the skin’s surface when you get hot. As the water evaporates, it lowers the body’s temperature and helps you to cool down.
For some people, sweat glands become overactive and release water unrelated to body temperature. This results in excessive sweating beyond what is needed to regulate body temperature.
Excessive sweating is most likely to occur in the areas with the most sweat glands, including the underarms, face, palms, and feet. Around 5% of Australians are estimated to suffer from excessive sweating, also known as hyperhidrosis.
Here are five ways you can control excessive sweating.
1. Antiperspirants
A simple way to treat excessive sweating is to use an antiperspirant in the form of a spray or roll-on. Antiperspirants usually contain aluminium salts that plug the sweat glands, blocking the skin’s ability to sweat.
Most antiperspirants also contain a deodorant to help control the odour created by the bacteria resulting from excessive sweating. You can buy an over the counter antiperspirant from your local chemist or supermarket.
However, for some people, a standard antiperspirant doesn’t provide relief. In that case, you can ask your doctor about prescription antiperspirants. These prescription treatments contain stronger aluminium-based chemicals to block the overactive sweat glands.
2. Wear Breathable Clothing
The more you can help your body regulate temperature, the better. A simple way to stay cool is to wear breathable fabric that allows you to stay ventilated.
Although most people suffering from hyperhidrosis choose darker clothing to conceal sweat patches, this can make the sweating worse. Darker coloured clothing absorbs more sunlight than lighter colours, which can increase body temperature and cause you to sweat more.
3. Avoid Spicy and Fatty Foods
Your diet can impact body temperature and how much you sweat.
Eating hot and spicy foods can cause your heart rate to increase. This raises your body temperature and causes sweating.
Fatty foods can also raise your body temperature and cause you to sweat more. Because fatty foods are harder to digest, the body needs to work harder, which increases body temperature.
If you consume lots of salty foods, your body may also sweat more to process and get rid of the excess salt.
4. Stay Hydrated
Keeping yourself hydrated is good for your overall health, and it can also help reduce excess sweating. By drinking lots of water, you can help the body regulate temperature and stay cool.
You should also avoid drinks that contain caffeine. Coffee and energy drinks raise the heart rate, causing your body temperature to increase and making you sweat more. Alcohol can also have a similar effect on the body, increasing heart rate and dilating the blood vessels.
5. Anti-Sweating Botox Injections
If you’ve tried the above tips and still find yourself dealing with embarrassing sweat marks, you should consider hyperhidrosis injections.
Most people have heard of Botox for wrinkles and fine lines, but the muscle relaxant can also effectively treat excessive sweating. It works by blocking the nerves in the overactive sweat glands, causing them to relax.
The procedure involves multiple small injections in a grid pattern on the skin of the underarm. A topical numbing cream is sometimes used to reduce any discomfort. The treatment is performed in-clinic and takes less than 30 minutes for both underarms.
Within a few days of the injections, you will start to notice a reduction in underarm sweating. Within two weeks, you will be able to see the full results.
Botox injections are very effective. The International Hyperhidrosis Society reports that the injections reduce sweating by 82–87%.
However, the effects of treatment are not permanent. You can expect the results to last for 6-12 months before a top-up treatment is required.
You can find out more about excessive sweating injections at skin clinic Chermside.
Stay Dry This Summer
Sweating is normal and healthy. But for some people, excessive sweating is an annoying problem that comes around every year during the warmer months. Use the above tips to stay dry for longer this summer.
