Sweating treatments

What is sweating and what are the causes?

Sweating is a natural human process and is part of the body's mechanism for maintaining a stable body temperature and preventing overheating. For many people, sweating is something they experience only when they are in warm climates or have put their body under stress through physical activity. However, for others sweating is a problem that affects them all of the time and this form of excessive sweating is known as hyperhidrosis.

Sweating is caused by an increase in body temperature and a healthy individual will sweat when they are hot, whether due to physical activity or hot weather. Sweating is a completely natural and very useful process, but excessive sweating can be embarrassing and it may impact several areas of an individual's life. Excessive sweating is usually inherited and it generally affects certain areas of the body, including the palms of the hands, the soles of the feet and the armpits.

What can be done about sweating?

As technology and science become more advanced, several new treatments are being trialled to combat excessive sweating, but there are also basic lifestyle changes you can make to reduce the amount you sweat, including wearing loose clothing, using an anti-perspirant instead of deodorant and avoiding triggers, which may include eating spicy food or visiting hot places.

Tips for dealing with excessive sweating

If you suffer from excessive sweating don't be embarrassed to see your doctor, as hyperhidrosis is a fairly common problem and your doctor will have seen numerous cases before. Try following the tips above and keep an eye on the affects different lifestyle changes have on your sweating, as this will help you to identify beneficial products or changes.