Treatment for head sweats

Head sweats, also known as facial sweating, can be very unpleasant and embarrassing. Most people sweat when they are hot or they have been exercising, but people who suffer from hyperhidrosis sweat more than normal. Head sweats cause the head to literally drip with sweat, which can be very distressing and embarrassing and can affect the way people interact with others, causing lowered self-esteem.

Reasons for head sweating

Primary hyperhidrosis involves excess sweating due to overactive glands and if there is no related medical condition can be treatable. Secondary hyperhidrosis is caused by an underlying medical condition, such as diabetes or the hormonal imbalance caused by the menopause. Stopping excessive sweating would mean treating the medical condition, but often this may no be possible.

Treating head sweats

To combat head sweats, a combination of lifestyle changes and treatments may be used. Changes to your lifestyle may reduce the amount you sweat but if these do not work, your doctor may refer you to a specialist dermatologist. Changes you can make to your lifestyle include wearing loose clothing and avoiding man-made fibres, using a strong antiperspirant, avoiding triggers, such as drinking caffeine and eating spicy food and washing on a regular basis.

ETS (endoscopic transthoracic sympathectomy) is the most effective long-term solution for head sweats, which involves key-hole surgery to cut into the sympathetic chain and stop the action of certain sweat glands. However, the operation is invasive and it does carry some risks so it should be considered carefully.