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  • I Don't Want to Lose My Son.
    I Don't Want to Lose My Son.

    "My son is 32 and sweats to a point that his clothes are drenched. I can remember him as a baby he always had sweat beads on his nose even in a cool room with only a diaper on. It has had a devastating effect on his relationships, work, and personality. He sees the same doctor that he's seen all of his life--who laughs when my son tells him about this and just puts him on Zoloft. Which makes my son sweat even more! I am getting very concerned about my son's mental state. Where do we go for help?" Read More

  • My Hyperhidrosis Started in 4th Grade.
    My Hyperhidrosis Started in 4th Grade.

    "I remember having to fold paper to place under my hand so when I wrote I didn't sweat onto the paper. I never wanted to raise my hand for fear someone would see rings of sweat under my arms. I thought I was a freak because none of my other friends had palms that dripped. At 31 I spoke to my doctor about it. He said, “Oh, you have hyperhidrosis” Wow there is a name for this? It is a medical condition? Life began for me at that moment." Sophia is now an invaluable volunteer for the IHHS and contributes actively on our Facebook page. Read More

  • Scar Pits.
    Scar Pits.

    "I could really use some help. I have sensitive skin, and Drysol is absolutely killing me. I quit using it for a year after I developed a horrible rash on my underarms which led to scarring, but I started using it again because it has been the only thing that keeps me dry. The same irritation and rashes are occurring again. They are quite painful, and I'm very close to just throwing the Drysol away. What are my options? At this point I'd try anything." Read More

  • Stupid Sweaty Hands Ruined My Cell Phone!!! :(
    Stupid Sweaty Hands Ruined My Cell Phone!!! :(

    "Today i went to the doctor and he told the best and only way to treat sweaty palms was the surgery. He said that botox hurts A LOT and iontophoresis was a waste of money...Now i am really in doubt, I've looked for another 3 doctors already and only 1 of them told me not to do the surgery. i really wanna do it, but im afraid of regretting it later. What should I do?" Read More

  • More Than Anything in the World.
    More Than Anything in the World.

    "My entire life I have been carrying around a towel to dry my wet sweaty hands. I see couples who hold hands on the street and have a family. For as long as I can remember I've been praying this to be possible for me. I wish this more than winning the lottery. This would be a dream come true. Can you help?"
    Read More

  • Dripping Sweat.
    Dripping Sweat.

    "Since I was 10 I sweat in my palms and pits. I had sweat marks all the way to my waist! At 14 I got ETS surgery. It stopped the sweating in my palms, but a year later the underarm sweating returned, and I started to suffer from severe compensatory sweating all over--abdomen, back, chest, butt, thighs, and feet. It completely ruined my life. I totally regret the surgery and wish I had never done it. Botox and iontophoresis help, but just on certain areas. The thing is, it doesn't stop the problem--the rest of my body stays the same: Dripping sweat. Now what?"
    Read More

  • Sweat Runs Down My Back Like a Highway.
    Sweat Runs Down My Back Like a Highway.

    "I've know for awhile I have hyperhidrosis but it wasn't until 2010 my Dr. actually diagnosed it. He did nothing about it or said nothing about it -- except "some people just sweat a lot." Not like this they F don't I said. I was so angry about his offhand casual comment, as if to say yeah so what! It runs down my back like a highway, right down my tail, soaks my clothes, down my legs into my socks. This IS a disease. It affects me EVERY day."
    Read More

  • There Are Heroes Here.
    There Are Heroes Here.

    "Treating hyperhidrosis leads to a greater improvement of a patient's quality of life than treatment of any other dermatologic condition." David Pariser, MD International Hyperhidrosis Society Co-founder, Board Member & Secretary, American Academy of Dermatology President 2009. Read More

  • High Fives Bring Me Down.
    High Fives Bring Me Down.

    "I've had hyperhidrosis since the seventh grade and I'm a junior now. It gets really hard for me in social settings. I love to dance salsa, and that involves hand to hand contact and my hands sweat sooo much. Also my feet--I can hardly wear heels because my feet slip and slide so much. My self esteem is slowly reaching the pits. Going out with friends involves pre-meditation, and an action plan if I start having a sweating episode. I feel so incompetent. Little things like when people say "High five!" bring me down cause I am so embarrassed. This is destroying me." Read More

  • Bye-Bye Bright Colors.
    Bye-Bye Bright Colors.

    "I think I might have hyperhidrosis, but I'm not sure. I sweat a ton under my arms at school, and any other time I'm out in public. I could be outside in a blizzard in a T-shirt and shorts but still be sweating majorly from my armpits. I could be with Lauren (she's been my best friend for seven years, and I'm totally comfortable with her) and still sweat. I hide behind baggy hoodies, black tops, and never raise my hand in class in fear someone might see my secret. Should I talk to my mom about it? Should I go to a doctor?" Read More

  • Slip, Sliding Away.
    Slip, Sliding Away.

    "I sweat a lot on my face. My doctor said he can't do anything more as i have tried all the relevant medications. He's given up. This is depressing me as i feel i can not proceed higher in my work due to sweating. This is so embarrassing! Please can you advise me what to do?" Read More

  • "Look Mom! Dry Hands!"

    "For the first time, my son has dry hands. It's been weeks since my son had his hands treated and he still comes to me daily and says, "Feel! They're dry!" It's made such a positive impact. Thank you IHHS! We found help and hope at last." Read More

  • Excessive Sweating Ruins More Than Just Clothing.
    Excessive Sweating Ruins More Than Just Clothing.

    "I was basically walked out the door today due to hyperhidrosis. I was in disbelief because of my 4 years of service to an institution putting in one of the most complex computer systems ever designed. Now what?" Read More

  • I Can't
    I Can't "Just Live with It"

    "I have sweat running off of my scalp and down my face then dripping on the floor even if I just put laundry in the washer. It doesn't take much for me to sweat profusely and it doesn't stop until I sit in front of a fan with a towel. This is not something new for me, I have had this problem for at least 45 years. I have gone to a Neurologist, a G.P., Gynecologist, Dermatologist, Endocrinologist and I just keep getting passed off to different doctors. Are there any doctors that can help me instead of telling me that I'm a woman and will just have to live with it?"
    Read More

Diagnosing Hyperhidrosis

If you suffer from excessive sweating, chances are, you suffer every day. You may constantly worry about how much you’re sweating. You may spend hours each day dealing with sweat - changing clothes, "freshening up", wiping, placing napkins or pads under your arms or in your pockets, bathing, and hiding under dark-colored, bulky clothes. You may have lost friends and opportunities because of extremely sweaty palms, feet, face, or armpits. Afraid of what people will think, you may even make excuses to stay home, or choose careers in which you don’t have to interact with people, shake hands, or give presentations. Emotional problems, including depression, social isolation, and decreased confidence, can result.

In addition to psychological troubles, excessive sweating can also cause painful or irritating skin problems, such as bacterial or fungal overgrowth, infections, and disintegration (also called maceration) of the skin. From physical discomfort, to anxiety, embarrassment, and the stress of always hiding your sweat from others, hyperhidrosis can impact nearly all aspects of your life.To help your physician, your health insurance plan, even your friends and loved ones understand how much hyperhidrosis negatively affects you, it’s useful to think about and keep track of its daily effects.

Print out the following worksheet and use it to keep track of how excessive sweating manifests itself in your life and how sweat impairs your daily activities. Write in your answers to the questions and cite examples. Bring the questions and your answers to your next doctor’s appointment, or use them as evidence of the seriousness of your condition if you need to convince your health insurance plan to cover your treatments. Click here for a printable worksheet of the questions below.

  • How many times per day do you think or worry about sweating?
  • How many times per day do you change clothes? Bathe?
  • Do you carry “supplies” (such as pads, extra clothes, napkins, powders, antiperspirants, or towels) to help you manage your sweat?
  • How often do you have to purchase new clothing or shoes? Do you find that you make such purchases more frequently than other people?
  • How many minutes or hours per day do you spend “dealing” with sweat?
  • Have you tried any topical solutions (antiperspirants, powders, or deodorants) designed to control sweating? If yes, how many different types?
  • Do you ever change your social plans due to excessive sweating or fear of excessive sweating?
  • Have you ever damaged reading or writing material, artwork, paperwork, a musical instrument, or an electric or metallic device due to sweating?
  • Does excessive sweating affect your work performance or career choices?
  • Have you experienced skin irritation or infections due to excessive sweating or your attempts to manage excessive sweating?
  • Does sweating in public cause you distress?
  • When you are in a situation involving contact with other people, or when you think about such a situation, do you experience sweating?
  • Have you ever lost friends or a job due to excessive sweating?

While it's important to document how excessive sweating impacts the quality of your life, it's also key to understand that there are two main types of hyperhidrosis--primary focal and secondary generalized--and your next step is to learn the difference so you can move forward in finding relief.

SweatSolutions Latest News

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Sweat is Not Appetizing! Help for Eating-induced Hyperhidrosis

Do you sweat profusely when you eat? Or when you simply think about a meal? You may have a 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 shown (anecdotally) to provide up to two years of relief from gustatory sweating.

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Shopping Online? Your Clicks Can Support the IHHS!

While you're doing your online shopping this holiday season, you could simultaneously be donating to the IHHS. 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 on your gift list 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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Protect Sweaty Skin from Cold-Related Injuries

We write a lot about the practical, emotional, and social consequences of excessive sweating. But in the winter, it's important to also think about basic health and safety. Did you know that hyperhidrosis can put skin at risk of cold injuries? If your skin and clothing is damp and you are out in the cold weather, you need to know about the signs and symptoms of frost nip and frost bite.

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Baby It's Cold Outside and I'm STILL Sweating!

Winter's wonderland brings relief from sweating problems, right? Wrong. Often, hyperhidrosis ignores the thermometer - bringing discomfort and embarrassment even in January. In fact, at New Year, excessive sweating can be particularly distressing in the workplace with new challenges, high expectations, and even interviews taking center stage. Fortunately, we've got tips to help you shine (and not with sweat) in 2012...

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