How to Tell if You’re Sweating Too Much and What to Do About It

We’re at the point in summer where you could break a sweat just thinking about stepping outside. But if you’ve been wondering whether you’re sweating more than everyone else around you, you might have a condition called hyperhidrosis.

Hyperhidrosis is more common than you might think. It may also come as a surprise that it’s easy to treat. 

Before I get into that, let me first explain what hyperhidrosis is, exactly, and where the line’s drawn between normal and excessive sweating.

What is hyperhidrosis?

Hyperhidrosis is the medical term for excessive sweating. There are two types: primary and secondary.

Primary hyperhidrosis is the most common type. It has no known underlying physical causes. Basically, your body starts sweating without any clear reason, like exercise, anxiety, or exposure to heat. And this can occur at any time, during any season, even if you’re not physically warm.

It’s most commonly seen in the palms, soles of the feet, and underarms, although it can also occur just about anywhere on the body, including the head.

Secondary hyperhidrosis, by contrast, is excessive sweating that’s triggered by an external factor, such as a medication or an illness.

Among these two types, there are also different degrees of hyperhidrosis: mild, moderate, and severe. If you sweat through your shirt while you’re at rest in a climate-controlled space, that’s moderate hyperhidrosis. If you’re dripping with sweat in the same environment, that’s severe.

How much sweating is too much?

Sweat isn’t really a quantifiable thing, which makes hyperhidrosis difficult to diagnose, save for severe cases. But it also means you shouldn’t be so quick to dismiss your concerns. If you believe you’re sweating too much, and it’s caused you to withdrawal from certain social situations, see a board-certified dermatologist.

How is hyperhidrosis treated?

As I alluded to at the top of this post, there are no shortage of treatment options for hyperhidrosis. They include topical creams, injections, and oral medications. Which one your dermatologist selects for you will be based on the areas where you’re experiencing hyperhidrosis, how severe the sweating is, and how dry you want to be.

For most, the first line of treatment is a topical version of one of the aluminum ingredients in most antiperspirant deodorants, only in prescription-strength form. They work by forming a temporary plug within the sweat gland.

You’ve probably heard that Botox is also an effective treatment for hyperhidrosis. In many cases, the results are almost instantaneous. Even more, the dose can be tailored to the desired degree of dryness. 

But most dermatologists agree that Botox is best reserved for the underarms, where it can work for up to six months. On other areas of the body, like the hands and feet, the injections can be more painful, and the Botox lasts only about half as long.

If you’re concerned about how much you’re sweating, talk with a dermatologist. Together, you can pick a treatment that best suits your needs and lifestyle.

How to Tell if You’re Sweating Too Much and What to Do About It

We’re at the point in summer where you could break a sweat just thinking about stepping outside. But if you’ve been wondering whether you’re sweating more than everyone else around you, you might have a condition called hyperhidrosis.

Hyperhidrosis is more common than you might think. It may also come as a surprise that it’s easy to treat. 

Before I get into that, let me first explain what hyperhidrosis is, exactly, and where the line’s drawn between normal and excessive sweating.

What is hyperhidrosis?

Hyperhidrosis is the medical term for excessive sweating. There are two types: primary and secondary.

Primary hyperhidrosis is the most common type. It has no known underlying physical causes. Basically, your body starts sweating without any clear reason, like exercise, anxiety, or exposure to heat. And this can occur at any time, during any season, even if you’re not physically warm.

It’s most commonly seen in the palms, soles of the feet, and underarms, although it can also occur just about anywhere on the body, including the head.

Secondary hyperhidrosis, by contrast, is excessive sweating that’s triggered by an external factor, such as a medication or an illness.

Among these two types, there are also different degrees of hyperhidrosis: mild, moderate, and severe. If you sweat through your shirt while you’re at rest in a climate-controlled space, that’s moderate hyperhidrosis. If you’re dripping with sweat in the same environment, that’s severe.

How much sweating is too much?

Sweat isn’t really a quantifiable thing, which makes hyperhidrosis difficult to diagnose, save for severe cases. But it also means you shouldn’t be so quick to dismiss your concerns. If you believe you’re sweating too much, and it’s caused you to withdrawal from certain social situations, see a board-certified dermatologist.

How is hyperhidrosis treated?

As I alluded to at the top of this post, there are no shortage of treatment options for hyperhidrosis. They include topical creams, injections, and oral medications. Which one your dermatologist selects for you will be based on the areas where you’re experiencing hyperhidrosis, how severe the sweating is, and how dry you want to be.

For most, the first line of treatment is a topical version of one of the aluminum ingredients in most antiperspirant deodorants, only in prescription-strength form. They work by forming a temporary plug within the sweat gland.

You’ve probably heard that Botox is also an effective treatment for hyperhidrosis. In many cases, the results are almost instantaneous. Even more, the dose can be tailored to the desired degree of dryness. 

But most dermatologists agree that Botox is best reserved for the underarms, where it can work for up to six months. On other areas of the body, like the hands and feet, the injections can be more painful, and the Botox lasts only about half as long.

If you’re concerned about how much you’re sweating, talk with a dermatologist. Together, you can pick a treatment that best suits your needs and lifestyle.