Medicines for Excessive sweating

What it is

Excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis) is when a person sweats much more than is needed to control their body temperature. Sweating is normal and important — it is how the body cools itself — but in hyperhidrosis, the sweating is excessive and can happen even when the person is not hot, exercising, or anxious. It is common and, while not usually dangerous, it can be distressing and can significantly affect daily life, activities, work, and confidence. Excessive sweating can affect the whole body, or particular areas — commonly the armpits, palms of the hands, soles of the feet, and face or head. There are two broad types: primary hyperhidrosis, where excessive sweating occurs on its own without an underlying cause (often affecting specific areas such as the hands, feet, or armpits, and frequently starting in childhood or the teenage years); and secondary hyperhidrosis, where the excessive sweating is caused by an underlying factor — such as the menopause, an overactive thyroid, some infections, diabetes-related low blood sugar, anxiety, certain medicines, or other conditions (and this type more often affects the whole body, or comes on later, or occurs at night). Because excessive sweating can occasionally be a sign of an underlying condition, it is worth seeing a GP, particularly if it comes on for no clear reason, affects the whole body, occurs at night, or is accompanied by other symptoms, so any underlying cause can be checked. The good news is that excessive sweating can usually be helped: measures range from stronger antiperspirants and simple self-help through to a variety of treatments for more troublesome cases. The key messages are that excessive sweating is common and can significantly affect quality of life, that it is worth getting checked (to look for any underlying cause and to access help), and that effective treatments are available.

How it is treated

Excessive sweating can usually be helped, and management involves looking for any underlying cause and using treatments that reduce the sweating and its impact, stepping up as needed. It is worth seeing a GP, both to check for any underlying cause (particularly if the sweating is generalised, came on for no clear reason, occurs at night, or is with other symptoms) and to access treatment. Simple self-help measures can help: using a strong antiperspirant (including stronger ones available from pharmacies, applied as directed); wearing loose, breathable clothing and natural fabrics; using absorbent materials or dress shields; avoiding triggers where relevant (such as spicy foods or alcohol for some people); and good foot care and suitable footwear for sweaty feet. For sweating that is not controlled by these measures, a range of medical treatments is available depending on the area affected and the severity, including: stronger prescription antiperspirants; medicines that reduce sweating; treatments applied to or targeting the affected area (for example certain devices or, for some areas such as the armpits, injections of botulinum toxin, which can reduce sweating for a period); and, for severe cases not helped by other treatments, other options considered by specialists. Treating any underlying cause (such as an overactive thyroid, or reviewing a medicine that is contributing) resolves secondary hyperhidrosis in many cases. Support for the emotional impact is also important, as excessive sweating can affect confidence and wellbeing. The reassuring messages are that excessive sweating is common and treatable, that it is worth getting checked to look for any underlying cause and access help, and that a stepwise range of effective treatments — from antiperspirants and self-help to medical treatments — can usually reduce the sweating and its impact on daily life.