Think you’re a sweaty person? Read this.
If you “pit out” within minutes after showering and dressing, wear almost all black or dark-colored tops, avoid certain types of fabrics, have large dry cleaning bills, stick paper towels under your arms throughout the day, change shirts frequently and wear undershirts or disposable underarm sweat shields, you might suffer from hyperhidrosis, an uncomfortable condition where you have abnormal increased sweating.
The cause of hyperhidrosis is unknown, says Dr. Vivek Iyengar, a dermatologist affiliated with Advocate South Suburban Hospital in Hazel Crest, Ill. “For some, social or work situations that cause nervousness or excitement can trigger an episode. Nicotine as well as certain foods and drinks, including caffeine, can increase sweating.”
But, Dr. Iyengar explains, it doesn’t matter if it is 100 degrees or -10 degrees. Excessive sweating can happen during any weather condition.
He recommends the following options for patients who experience excessive underarm perspiration:
- Incorporate diet changes including:
- Eating more bland foods and cutting back on spicy foods in general. The chemical Capsaicin is found in most spicy foods and will stimulate heat-sensitive nerves. Your body will react by sweating to cool down.
- Avoid drinking caffeinated beverages – such as coffee – as caffeine stimulates your central nervous system, activating your sweat glands.
- Lowering your salt intake, as your body will sweat to get rid of extra sodium.
- Cutting out fatty and processed foods, as these cause your body to work extra hard to digest.
- Eliminating or reducing the amount of alcohol you drink. Alcohol widens the blood vessels in your skin, which leads to increased body heat.
- Quitting smoking. Not only does it cause a myriad of critical health issues, it can also cause excess sweating. Nicotine triggers your body to release acetylcholine, which stimulates your sweat glands. It raises heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature, also triggering excess sweating.
- Wear breathable, natural fabrics, such as cotton, silk and wool, to allow for ventilation. Use dress shields or sweat-absorbing undershirts to reduce visible underarm wetness.
- Use a stronger, clinical strength over-the-counter antiperspirant with a higher level of aluminum. Read the instructions, as these antiperspirants are usually applied at night to give the active ingredient aluminum chloride time to create a block in the sweat glands.
Advanced treatments:
- If clinical strength does not work, you can ask your doctor about prescription antiperspirants – an even higher strength, aluminum salt-based antiperspirant.
- Oral Anticholinergic agents: Your physician can prescribe drugs that reduce the function of the neurotransmitters that cause you to sweat.
- Botulinum toxin type A (Botox) treatments: Injections of this anti-wrinkle drug can turn off underarm sweat glands for several months. Botox is more than 90 percent effective as a hyperhidrosis medication, but treatments must be repeated every few months.
- Surgical sympathectomy: A thoracic surgeon can perform a surgical procedure to cut or clamp the sympathetic nerve, which can give long-lasting relief from severe hyperhidrosis. This permanent procedure is used as a last resort.
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health enews staff is a group of experienced writers from our Advocate Health Care and Aurora Health Care sites, which also includes freelance or intern writers.
Is it safe to clog up your pores with excessive aluminum?
Hi Eileen, I would talk to your physician/dermatologist about your aluminum concerns. I personally found the clinical strength anti-antiperspirant incredibly itchy. I opted for an FDA-cleared treatment that uses a device with electromagnetic energy to (hopefully) permanently eliminate underarm sweat glands, which does not does not require a prescription. Though on the pricey side, it was life-changing. I still can’t drink coffee regularly though – a big trigger for me that apparently can bust through the electromagnetic field!
I stopped using aluminum antiperspirant after a breast cancer scare. I used to be super sweaty and stinky. After detoxing my armpits for 2 weeks (not using any deoderant or antiperspirant) I now only use a natural deoderant. I still sweat, but not as badly, and no more bad odor. I think the chemicals blocking the sweat glands causes the excess sweating and odor, our bodies know it isnt supposed to be there and try to get it out.
A friend of mine was going to have surgery for excessive armpit sweating but at the PCP appt, the doctor also recommended the Wheat Belly diet to help him lose some weight. Within three days of going gluten free, my friend stopped sweating! The excessive sweating was his body’s way of detoxing. Not only did his sweating go away, but his psoriasis greatly improved. A healthy gut is the foundation for a healthy brain, skin and immune system!