Although it’s normal for us to sweat especially, in very warm, enclosed spaces, or when working out, uncontrollable sweating is a genuine medical complaint known as hyperhidrosis. People who have hyperhidrosis normally report excessive perspiration of their armpits, feet and hands, but it’s not uncommon to also suffer from abnormal sweating of the groin, back, scalp and pretty much any other areas where sweat glands are found. There’s even one kind of profuse sweating that only occurs during the night, called sleep hyperhidrosis. It doesn’t matter where the profuse sweating occurs because all variations cause issues for the sufferer, from the sweaty hands causing accidents, a social problem with handshakes or underarm stains, on top of which all will lead to body odour unless the sweat is washed off frequently.

Before seeking treatment of hyperhydrosis, it is important to know what causes normal sweat activation. In people with normal sweat mechanisms, the sympathetic nervous system (part of the central nervous system) regulates the function of the eccrine glands. People have little control over the functions of the sympathetic nervous system . It’s what regulates our involuntary body activities such as our heart rate, breathing, gut movement etc.. unless something stops working properly.

The regulation of sweating goes wrong in sufferers of hyper-hidrosis. Scientists know the root of the problem is over-active nerve cells which activate the eccrine glands, because anti-cholinergic drugs, injections of botox, or surgery to sever the nerve leading to the sweat glands will stop the sweating. Those three methods to stop hyperhydrosis are quite drastic. Less dramatic solutions for excessive sweating are mental relaxation techniques, not drinking caffeinated drinks, using strong anti-perspirants such as those with aluminium chloride and avoiding spicy foods. It’s also thought that the mineral zinc can help decrease sweating, as can sage tea.

Almost all people who have excess sweating will try the less aggressive, natural treatments that they can do at home, and if they don’t work will, think about  the more expensive treatments. It’s important to note that the most advanced remedies (surgery and drugs) can have side-effects, so check with a doctor before taking any action regarding excessive perspiration.