Unique Ways to Cope with Excess Sweating

In the intense summer heat, you will always sweat a bit more than usual. Sweating is your body’s natural way to keep cool and avoid overheating. However, there are some instances when sweating isn’t particularly helpful; and it can also be extremely embarrassing.  Take, for example, people who suffer from hyperhidrosis, or excessive sweating.  These folks might find that their hands, armpits, and feet sweat a lot, even when they are in a cool room and don’t feel warm at all.

Do you sweat too much?

How do you know if you sweat more than the average person? The location of the sweat can be one clue. People suffering with hyperhidrosis may sweat from their hands, feet, underarms, or even the top of their head. While those areas will see excess sweat, the rest of the body will be dry. Another clue is if you see unusual sweat even when you’re not exercising, exerting yourself, or over heated.

How is hyperhydrosis diagnosed?

A physician can diagnose hyperhidrosis in a few ways. One method of involves applying an iodine solution to the affected area, then letting it dry. Starch is then sprinkled onto the treated area.  If there was a lot of sweat, the mixture will turn blue.  A second method involves applying a special piece of paper to the suspected area.  Later weighing the paper can tell just how much sweat has been absorbed.

In some cases, a doctor may only need to listen to a patient describe their symptoms and examine the skin to diagnose hyperhidrosis. If you regularly soak through the armpits of your shirts or need to change your socks often because of excess moisture, it’s likely that you are dealing with excessive sweating.

Do antiperspirants really work?

In many cases, antiperspirants are the first course of treatment prescribed to people with excess sweating. Antiperspirants work by blocking the sweat ducts on the skin, preventing them from releasing moisture. The active ingredient found in over-the-counter products is usually less than 20% of aluminum chloride hexahydrate.  When the drugstore products do not work for a patient, a doctor may prescribe a stronger version. Prescription strength antiperspirants usually have a higher dose of aluminum chloride hexahydrate, and can work very well for some patients.

However, there are some drawbacks to using antiperspirants for excessive sweating. The first is that they aren’t effective for everyone. If you are using an antiperspirant, but are not getting much in the way of results, you may want to adjust how you are using it. Some people find that the product works better if they apply it at night, so that it can stop the sweat before it starts. Also, make sure the skin is fully dry before you put on the antiperspirant.

Antiperspirant products can also be fairly irritating, especially if they are applied to broken skin. If you shave your underarms, be particularly careful when putting on antiperspirant, to avoid any irritation. There’s also the chance that the product will transfer from your skin to your clothes, causing stains.

Can Botox Cosmetic Reduce excess sweat?

Botox Cosmetic injections can be an effective, temporary treatment for excessive sweating. Just as the main ingredient in Botox works on wrinkles by keeping the nerves from signaling to targeted muscles, it can also works on the sweat glands.  Botox will keep certain nerves from sending a signal to the glands, halting the production of sweat.

One misconception about the use of Botox for hyperhydrosis is that the injections will cause sweat to back-up or collect in a person’s glands. That is not true. After a successful treatment with Botox Cosmetic, the glands in the treated area will stop producing sweat all together.  The body will continue to sweat normally from other, untreated areas.

The typical Botox Cosmetic treatment for hyperhydrosis involves around 15 very small injections into the affected area. In most cases, people notice that their sweat will cease a month after the treatment. The results from a Botox treatment can last up to six months. As the benefits start to wear off, a repeat treatment can extend the results.

If you soaking through your shirts, even when sitting in an air conditioned room, or are embarrassed by sweaty palms, you may be suffering from hyperhydrosis.  It might also be a good time to consider Botox Cosmetic injections to help control the symptoms. Contact Mirror Mirror Beauty Boutique at 281-810-9083 to schedule a complimentary consultation today!