
No matter what's on the menu, do you sweat profusely when you eat? Or when you simply think about a meal? You may have a unique and distinct form of excessive sweating called gustatory hyperhidrosis or Frey's syndrome. This food-related sweating can be extremely embarrassing, but treatments are available. In fact, Botox injections have been used to provide up to two years of relief from gustatory sweating!
It's not uncommon to sweat when you eat hot or spicy foods. It just makes sense...if eating or drinking a specific food raises your body temperature, then your body will try to cool itself by sweating.
But some people sweat when they eat any kind of food (even ice cream) and some people sweat when they just think about food. Often called gustatory sweating or gustatory hyperhidrosis (and sometimes called Frey's syndrome), this food-related sweating can be extremely embarrassing and uncomfortable. Imagine yourself sweating excessively on your face and neck at a fancy restaurant while on a dinner date, or sweating as you wait for a business lunch to be served. Fortunately, treatment for gustatory sweating is possible, so don't throw away your Zagat's restaurant guide yet!
Many cases of gustatory sweating show up after surgery or trauma to a parotid gland. Most people have a pair of parotid glands, one located on each side of the face, below and in front of the external ear. The parotid glands are the body's largest salivary glands. Saliva, as you probably know, is a fluid secreted by salivary glands to aid chewing, swallowing, and digestion of food. Saliva is produced in preparation for eating (like when you are thinking about a delicious meal) as well as during chewing.
If a parotid gland is damaged or if surgery to a parotid is required (damage can occur due to inflammation, infection, and mumps, and tumors can require surgery) then related nerves may become damaged or may regenerate from such damage in a way that causes them to become "mixed up" and/or "intertwined" (so to speak). The result is that when a person is supposed to salivate, her or she may also sweat and experience facial flushing. This combination of sweating and flushing related to parotid trauma is called Frey's syndrome. Usually Frey's syndrome affects just one side of the face.
Gustatory sweating can also occur for no known reason (idiopathic) or related to another medical condition ("secondary hyperhidrosis" due to conditions such as diabetes, cluster headaches, Parkinson's, and facial herpes zoster or shingles). In these cases, the sweating is often experienced on both sides of the face and particularly on the temples, forehead, cheeks, neck, and/or chest, as well as around the lips. Redness and sweating may appear when an affected person eats, sees, thinks about, or talks about foods.
Gustatory sweating can be very distressing because the mere idea of food can make a patient's face drenched with sweat. And because much of life's business (friendships, romances, networking, and celebrations) is conducted at mealtime, gustatory sweating can have extensive social, economic, and emotional implications. Fortunately, there are treatments available and dermatologists can help. In particular, topical antiperspirants, and Botox injections have been shown to provide significant relief. According to Dr. David Pariser (founding Member and Secretary of the International Hyperhidrosis Society as well as 2009 President of the American Academy of Dermatology), Botox injections can provide "a couple of years" of relief from gustatory sweating. This is a much longer duration of effectiveness than is typically seen when Botox is used to treat other forms of hyperhidrosis. (Please note, Botox has not been approved by the FDA for the treatment of gustatory sweating or Frey's syndrome so this is an "off-label" use of the medication. Off-label uses of medications are, however, very common.)
If you suffer from gustatory sweating, the first step is to try and figure out why. Your primary care physician can help you begin this process with a physical exam and thorough medical history. He or she may refer you to specialists if necessary.
Be sure to tell your doctor when and how much you sweat – Do some foods cause more problems than others? Where do you sweat? How much? How upset does this sweating make you? How does it affect your life and your relationships (at home and at work)? Do you sweat elsewhere on your body and at other times? Do you have other medical conditions? Have you ever had parotid surgery or mumps?
If your gustatory sweating is not due to another, treatable medical condition, then perhaps a dermatologist who specializes in hyperhidrosis is a good choice for "next steps." A dermatologist can help you decide if a topical treatment (antiperspirant) or Botox is appropriate to treat your unique case of hyperhidrosis.
Don't let another meal be ruined by sweat. You can get help for eating-induced sweating, and we are here to help.

While you're doing your online shopping, you could simultaneously be donating to the International Hyperhidrosis Society. GoodShop is a tool that allows you to donate to American charities by shopping online at any of the 2,500 participating retailers. Every major retailer in the country participates and up to 20% of every purchase can be donated to our cause. Plus, they have more than 100,000 money-saving coupons and deals! Or, if you or someone you know suffers with hyperhidrosis, take a look at the Deals and Discounts page on SweatHelp.org. You'll find a variety of special items that will make living with excessive sweating just a bit easier and more comfortable.
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No matter what's on the menu, do you sweat profusely when you eat? Or when you simply think about a meal? You may have a unique and distinct form of excessive sweating called gustatory hyperhidrosis or Frey's syndrome. This food-related sweating can be extremely embarrassing, but treatments are available. In fact, Botox injections have been used to provide up to two years of relief from gustatory sweating!
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Check out some surprisingly useful and innovative products on the International Hyperhidrosis Society's Deals and Discounts page. The page includes promo codes on a variety of sweat-busting products that help hyperhidrosis sufferers find a little comfort in the midst of a very uncomfortable condition. Night sweats? We got you covered. Sweaty feet? Stinky shoes? Give them the boot! And when you use our special promo codes, you are supporting the International Hyperhidrosis Society programs. Start shopping today; feel good about feeling good. Thanks!
It's the moment that medical professionals who treat (or who want to treat) patients with excessive sweating have been waiting for: On Saturday, June 16 in Chicago, Illinois and Saturday, September 8 in Hoboken, New Jersey, the International Hyperhidrosis Society will hold its highly-regarded continuing medical education (CME) seminar, Hyperhidrosis Treatment and Practice Excellence. This unique program provides comprehensive hyperhidrosis education and up-close, live-patient treatment training in emerging and traditional treatments. Conducted by hyperhidrosis experts in treatment and care, attendees are urged to register now; this is an intimate learning experience and spaces go quickly!

Medical algorithms provide healthcare professionals and their patients with concise, logical treatment plans. The algorithms are guides to increase consistency in care. They steer physicians to solutions based on scientific evidence. But, to work well, algorithms must be up-to-date based on the latest research. There have been so many advances in hyperhidrosis treatment in recent years that the International Hyperhidrosis Society has revised its algorithms. The new diagrams are essential tools for physicians AND patients. Download yours today, or better yet, medical professionals can attend our education sessions for first-hand dialogue with the authors!
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Glycopyrrolate is an anticholinergic medicine used to treat certain types of excessive sweating. But swallowing the pills can be tough for kids – forcing parents to try all sorts of tricks to get the right therapeutic dose into a child. A new liquid formulation (Cuvposatm, Glycopyrrolate Oral Solution) for pediatric patients could change that. Recently approved by the FDA, Cuvposa can help the hyperhidrosis medicine go down.
Crushed into Jello, slipped into ice cream, or my childhood favorite -- squeezed into a square of chocolate. Parents will try all sorts of tricks to get a necessary pill into a child who’s unable, or unwilling, to swallow it whole. The trouble with these methods is that kids can often still taste the medicine so they don’t take it all and get a less-than-optimal dose.
Read MoreWorld-class training in life-changing treatment for medical professionals. Register Here!
Subscribe to SweatSolutions and be sure to get the Summer and Back-to School issue--always full of incredible offers!
Subscribe to SweatSolutions and be sure to get the Back-to School issue--always full of incredible offers!
World-class training in life-changing treatment for medical professionals. Register Here!
Subscribe to SweatSolutions and be sure to get the Back-to School issue--always full of incredible offers!