How to Stop Sweating: The Only Guide You’ll Ever Need
Ever asked how to stop sweating? If so, you’re in the right place. This guide details a three step process to successfully manage sweat.
For better or worse, getting a nickname is a quintessential middle school experience. After PE one day, a SweatRx community member received a not-so-cool one: Sweaty. This middle school nickname led her to search for any and all solutions and made her feel self conscious about a totally normal bodily function. At times, learning how to stop sweating can feel similar to a middle school nickname: lonely, embarrassing, and frustrating. But this doesn’t have to be the case.
With the right resources and support, you can learn how to deal with the sweating problem once and for all—and realize you’re not alone when it comes to excessive sweating.
The Anatomy of Sweat: Why Do I Sweat So Much?
Even though sweat can be frustrating, we don’t tolerate sweat hate. Why? Because sweat is a normal bodily function that did a solid for our ancestors. As humans evolved, sweat glands acted as built-in air conditioning on hot days and a cue from our nervous system that danger was nearby.
Today, our bodies have two to four million sweat glands. These sweat ducts are spread throughout our bodies and respond to various sweat triggers, including:
Hot weather
Physical activity
A higher body temperature due to a fever or other internal cue
Stress and other strong emotions
Some medical treatments
Spicy foods
Tight clothing
Normal vs Excessive Sweating
While everyone sweats, we don’t all sweat the same amount. Certain signs someone may suffer from overactive sweat ducts are:
More than six months of constant, excessive sweat
Sweat episodes last seven days or longer
Sweating impairs daily activities
Sweating is bilateral (meaning if one armpit sweats, the other does too)
If you have any of the four signs above, a doctor may diagnose you with hyperhidrosis. Around 4.8% of the population has this medical condition, causing them to sweat four to five times more than usual. Admittedly, that percentage is a low estimate, since 75% of cases go undiagnosed.
What is Hyperhidrosis?
Hyperhidrosis sweat occurs constantly, though not always for the same reason. It is sometimes due to an underlying medical condition, a hormone imbalance (such as those experienced during menopause), or as a side effect to certain medications. When there is an underlying cause, someone has secondary hyperhidrosis. And if hyperhidrosis isn’t secondary, it’s referred to as primary.
Primary hyperhidrosis doesn’t have a known cause, but genetics do seem to play a role. There are also established sweat triggers that cause uncontrollable sweating episodes, such as an overactive nervous system, hot weather, or a heightened emotional state.
Explaining secondary hyperhidrosis is easier, since there is a direct cause—albeit, the cause varies. Common culprits of secondary hyperhidrosis include:
An overactive thyroid
Menopause
Acromegaly, a rare condition where there’s too much growth hormone in the body
Anxiety and other mental health conditions that deregulate the nervous system
Some types of cancer
Glucose control disorders, like hypoglycemia or diabetes
Hyperthyroidism
Various infections, including the flu
Lung conditions
Parkinson’s disease
Spinal cord injuries
Stroke
Various cardiovascular conditions
Certain medical treatments and medications, such as breast cancer treatment
Hyperhidrosis by Body Area
Often, primary hyperhidrosis is focused in one body part (referred to as primary focal hyperhidrosis). 93% of those with hyperhidrosis have primary focal hyperhidrosis. The most common types of focal hyperhidrosis even have specific names:
Craniofacial hyperhidrosis: about 20% of hyperhidrosis cases impact the face and/or scalp.
Plantar hyperhidrosis: 30% of those with uncontrollable sweating report palmar hyperhidrosis, sweating in the feet.
Axillary hyperhidrosis: Armpit sweat occurs in 50% of hyperhidrosis cases.
Palmar hyperhidrosis: 25% of people with hyperhidrosis experience sweating in the hands.
If you add up those percentages, you’ll get 120%. That’s because sweating can occur in more than one area. It may also occur outside the hands, armpits, feet, and scalp. The back and groin are other common areas.
Okay I Sweat, But How Do I Stop It?
Learning more about hyperhidrosis can be comforting; it’s nice to know that uncontrollable sweating is well documented. But that knowledge doesn’t stop sweating. Fortunately, you can accomplish the latter in three steps.
Before we dive into them, it’s important to note that when we talk about “stopping sweat,” we don’t mean it literally. Sweat is normal and healthy. A successful treatment plan focuses on managing and reducing sweat.
Step One: Understand Why You Sweat
The first step to managing hyperhidrosis sweat is to understand why it occurs in the first place. While the information above is a useful start, knowledge can’t diagnose you. A qualified healthcare provider can.
In theory, getting a hyperhidrosis diagnosis is easy. It’s much more difficult in practice. Almost three-quarters of hyperhidrosis cases remain undiagnosed because some providers write it off as “just sweat.” To get the care and attention you deserve, find a provider who understands the very real impacts of excessive perspiration.
The good news is that there’s two accessible ways to find said provider. The first is through the SweatRx platform, which matches individuals with qualified health providers and helps coordinate treatment delivery. The other is the International Hyperhidrosis Society’s clinician finder, a geographical search tool to find a provider with expertise in sweating.
Step Two: Implement Lifestyle Changes
Most sweat triggers pop up during day-to-day activities. As a result, you may want to switch up those daily activities to manage sweat. Useful lifestyle changes include:
Wear breathable fabric, especially for workouts
Consume less spicy food
Enjoy caffeine or alcohol in moderation
Constantly use deodorant to help with body odor
Manage stress levels
Step Three: Try Targeted Treatments
77% of people with hyperhidrosis find that targeted treatment improves their quality of life. The key, however, is to find the right treatment type for you. A healthcare provider can help you determine which treatments are best for you, but the summaries of the most common treatments below are a good starting point.
Natural Remedies
The basics: Supplements and other home remedies that may help reduce sweat.
Pros:
Readily accessible
Anecdotally effective
Cons:
Not as much clinical evidence to support their effectiveness.
Can be confusing to know the right amount to take
Ideal for: Those with mild hyperhidrosis who prefer a natural approach
OTC Products
The basics Antiperspirants and other products that can reduce sweat gland activity.
Pros:
Easily accessible
Effective for milder cases
Cons:
May not be effective in more severe cases
Lower concentrations of active ingredients
Ideal for: Mild hyperhidrosis
Prescription Antiperspirants
The basics: Antiperspirants with prescription strength doses of aluminum chloride, an ingredient that blocks sweat gland activity.
Pros:
More effective than OTC solutions
Easy to apply
Cons:
Requires a prescription from a healthcare provider
May cause irritation or other side effects
Ideal for: Moderate to severe hyperhidrosis
Topical Treatments
The basics: Topical anticholinergics and other creams and lotions may reduce sweat gland activity in focused areas.
Pros:
Provides robust sweat management
Impacts sweat in problem areas
Cons:
Comes with some side effects, such as dry eyes or mouth
May not be as effective for general sweating
Ideal for: Moderate to severe cases of primary focal hyperhidrosis
Oral Medications
The basics: Oral anticholinergics and other oral medications reduce sweat gland activity throughout the body.
Pros:
Provides more robust sweat management
Impacts overall sweat levels
Cons:
Comes with some side effects
May not be as effective for secondary hyperhidrosis
Ideal for: Moderate to severe cases of primary hyperhidrosis
Botox injections
The basics: Injections containing a purified form of botulinum toxin, a substance that reduces wrinkles and sweating.
Pros:
Provides robust sweat manage in problem areas
Doesn’t require daily action to work
Cons:
More expensive than other options
Has to be done in person
May not be as effective for general hyperhidrosis
Ideal for: Any level of hyperhidrosis, from mild to severe
MiraDry
The basics: A thermal energy treatment that destroys armpit sweat glands.
Pros:
Only FDA-clear treatment for axillary hyperhidrosis
Highly effective
Cons:
Available for armpits only
Can be more expensive than other treatment options
Ideal for: Excessive armpit sweat
Iontophoresis
The basics: A machine that sends electrical currents to sweaty areas through a pad placed in water.
Pros:
Effective solution used for decades
Provides sweat relief quickly
Cons:
Requires the purchase of the machine
Prescription required
Ideal for: Most hyperhidrosis cases
Surgery
The basics: Surgeries, like ETS and sweat gland removal, may be recommended in severe cases.
Pros:
High success rates (about 75% to 80%)
Is a one-time treatment instead of a daily one
Cons:
Have significant side effects
Costs more than most other treatment
Ideal for: Severe hyperhidrosis
FAQs: Your Most Pressing Sweat Questions, Answered
1. Why do I sweat so much?
Sweating is a normal bodily function. That said, some of us sweat more than others. This can be due to sweat triggers (think: a hot climate or hard workout), an underlying medical condition, or medical treatment. Most cases, however, don’t have a known cause, though genetics seem to play a role.
2. Is sweating too much a medical condition?
Excessive sweating is referred to as hyperhidrosis. This medical condition encapsulates excessive sweating without a direct cause and extreme perspiration due to underlying medical conditions or treatments.
3. What are the most effective treatments for sweating?
The most effective treatments for sweating depends on the sweat severity and cause. For mild cases, over-the-counter antiperspirants are effective. More severe cases often require prescription-strength antiperspirants, surgery, botox, oral medications, or an iontophoresis machine.
4. How long does it take to see results?
The exact treatment timeline depends on the chosen hyperhidrosis treatment and sweat severity. Some may take longer before they effectively manage sweat. Others, like oral medications, can work within a few hours or days.
5. What are the side effects of treatments?
The side effects of hyperhidrosis treatments vary based on treatment type. Oral medications, for example, can cause dry mouth and dizziness, among other potential side effects.
6. Are there natural ways to manage sweating?
Alongside traditional treatment, some research suggests supplements may be an effective way to manage sweating. Other natural treatments include magnesium and sage. It’s important to note that the evidence supporting holistic treatments is limited, especially compared to treatments like antiperspirants, oral medications, and iontophoresis machines.
7. Is it safe to block sweat glands?
For most people, it is safe to block sweat glands with products like antiperspirants. These products help manage sweat, not stop it altogether.
8. Will I need to use treatments forever?
Hyperhidrosis is a chronic condition, meaning most people continuously use products to help manage sweat. Some treatments, like miraDry, botox, and surgery can provide longer lasting sweat management.
9. Can these treatments help multiple problem areas?
Almost every hyperhidrosis treatment helps sweat in multiple problem areas. Antiperspirants, for example, are made for different body parts. Other treatments, like oral medication, help reduce sweat in multiple problem areas with one pill.
10. How do I get started?
To get started with hyperhidrosis, find a qualified healthcare provider. SweatRx allows you to do so in three easy steps:
Fill out an online consultation form.
Receive a customized treatment plan from board-certified dermatologists.
Enjoy fast delivery of your personalized solution to your doorstep.
