Excessive Sweating
Sweating a lot, especially in the underarms, hands or feet, can affect daily life. Doctors call it hyperhidrosis. It may be a stand-alone condition or linked to other health issues. Before choosing a procedure, it helps to describe your sweating clearly and to ask whether a medical check is needed.
Common causes
- Primary hyperhidrosis, which often runs in families and has no other cause
- Thyroid and other hormone conditions
- Certain medicines, including some antidepressants
- Weight, infection or other medical conditions that increase sweating
- Anxiety and heat, which can make sweating worse in people who already sweat a lot
How doctors usually approach it
- Describe and rule out causes
- The doctor asks where, when and how much you sweat, and whether you sweat at night. New or sudden heavy sweating may need a medical check.
- Topical products
- Strong antiperspirants with aluminum salts are often the first step. Ask about the right way to use them.
- Injections
- Botulinum toxin can reduce sweating in treated areas for several months. It needs repeat treatment.
- Energy-based reduction
- Microwave treatment of the underarm targets sweat glands and may give longer-lasting reduction in the area, with days of recovery.
- Other options
- Oral medicines and surgery exist for some cases. A dermatologist can explain who they suit.
Treatments often discussed
Describing heavy sweating to a doctor in English
Use concrete examples: "my shirts are soaked through in a cool room," or "my hands drip when I write." Say where it happens and how long you have had it. Say whether it happens at night, and whether you have had weight loss, fever or palpitations. These details can point to a medical cause.
List what you have tried and how it worked, including prescription antiperspirants. Mention your medicines and supplements. Ask which treatments the doctor thinks suit your area of sweating, and what the downtime is. For underarm procedures, ask if you can travel and carry luggage afterward.
Ask for names of any recommended treatments in writing, with the expected duration of effect. If you plan to repeat treatments at home, ask for the product name and amounts used, so another doctor can continue.
Excessive Sweating: common questions
Is heavy sweating a sign of illness?
Often it is not, but sometimes it is. New or sudden heavy sweating should be checked by a doctor.
Do treatments stop sweating completely?
No. They aim to reduce it. Some sweating is normal and necessary.
How long do botulinum toxin results last?
Often several months, but it varies. Repeat treatment is needed.
Can I treat my hands or feet the same way?
Some options apply only to certain areas. Ask the doctor which methods suit your area.
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