Every person sooner or later different conditions faces the problem of increased sweating during physical activity, excitement or changes in environment. However, there is also a pathological manifestation of profuse sweating - the so-called profuse sweat.

In such cases, usually certain areas of the body sweat: feet, armpits, groin, palms, face. As a rule, in such cases the skin is cold, and a bluish tint to the skin may appear on the extremities.

Causes of pathology

Not surprising, but increased sweating most often - a consequence of some disease. In this case, it is necessary to turn Special attention for symptoms and consult a doctor as soon as possible.

First of all, profuse sweating serves as a signal of disturbances in the autonomic nervous system. Profuse sweating may indicate the presence of bromism. In this case, hyperhidrosis is observed in the groin area, palms, armpits, feet and even around the navel. All this is accompanied bad smell from mouth. This problem is characteristic mainly of adolescents during puberty, when the body is rebuilt.

Among the main reasons for the appearance of profuse sweat may be autonomic neurosis- in addition to intense sweating, the patient’s facial skin and hair follicles become oily. That is, even naturally dry hair becomes dirty more often and gives off a greasy sheen. Blood circulation is also impaired, as evidenced by sweating of the palms and plantar area.

Do not confuse profuse sweat with excessive sweating due to fever, fever or any infectious disease. But pathology can be a signal for the onset of obesity or diabetes mellitus

, For example. In such cases, you should always consult a doctor as soon as possible and avoid self-medication.

Non-pathological causes of profuse sweat A healthy person may experience profuse sweat, but for other reasons. So, if you are not diabetic and do not know what dysfunction is endocrine systems

• It’s likely that the cause of the pathology lies elsewhere:
• frequent stress, insomnia, depression and everything associated with disorders of the nervous system; poisoning chemical products
• or food;
• salivary gland infection or damage facial nerve.

Methods to combat profuse sweating

The first thing to do when profuse sweat is detected is to replenish the water balance in the body: drink as much as possible more water. No need to drink clean water- the liquid can be completely replaced with fruit drinks, weak tea or compote.

If the body temperature is elevated, it is necessary to take antipyretic medications or wipe the body with a weak solution of vinegar. You can speed up the cooling process by creating a small draft. However, it is worth noting that if the cause of profuse sweat still lies in the disease, you should not get carried away with self-medication. In this case, it is better to consult a doctor.

If you cannot overcome excessive sweating at home, a therapist will help - the doctor will conduct the necessary tests.

Medical intervention is necessary if symptoms such as:

• hyperthermia;
• loss of appetite;
• insomnia due to excessive sweating;
• general malaise.

First of all, the doctor will diagnose the disease as the root cause of the manifestation of profuse sweat and prescribe treatment. Without establishing the main reason for the appearance profuse sweating, get rid of it like usual symptom It won't work.

If sweating is related in any way to disturbances in the lymphatic system, breathing problems or problems with the endocrine system, the following tests must be performed to prevent severe acute illnesses:

• chest x-ray;
• CT scan;
• Ultrasound of the heart.

It is possible that after completing these initial diagnostic methods, test results for blood glucose and hormone levels will be required.

During treatment it is necessary to observe basic rules hygiene and introduce some restrictions on the menu. For example, you should avoid spicy foods, fatty foods, coffee, strong tea, alcohol and allergens. In addition to this, from medications can help in the fight against profuse sweat sedatives(this is suitable for emotional overload and any stress factors) or Botox injections into problem areas.

To temporarily get rid of sweat on the head or any other affected areas of the body, you can use wet wipes - they slightly mattify the smell and refresh the skin. But it is worth noting that wet wipes, creams and deodorants do not have medicinal properties, but only hide the manifestations of excessive sweating.

Preventing abnormal sweating

To prevent this pathology, you should pay attention to external factors, affecting healthy sleep. For example, monitor the temperature in the bedroom, choose comfortable and light clothes for sleeping, etc.

Don’t forget about the so-called “sleep hygiene”. If you have a backlog of work that needs to be completed before morning, you shouldn't do it in the bedroom. Let your bed or sofa be associated only with relaxation and a pleasant pastime.

Finally, even walking before bed will have a positive effect on your health.

If you notice any of the following situations, you should not delay the thought of visiting a doctor - timely treatment will protect both your body and your wallet. Health requires care and timely prevention of diseases.

In this article we will explain what hyperhidrosis is and describe the most common causes that cause it. We will also touch on the main manifestations of excessive sweating and methods of treating this problem, including at home.

Content:

Hyperhidrosis is increased sweating, which is not associated with physiological, that is, normal, provocateurs of increased work of the sweat glands (physical or emotional stress, overheating, high temperature environment). However, excessive sweating may be individual feature and be inherited, or may have a pathological basis.

Types of hyperhidrosis

Hyperhidrosis is classified according to several factors. Based on the reason for its occurrence, there are primary (adolescent) hyperhidrosis, which occurs very rarely during the peak of puberty, and secondary hyperhidrosis, which is diagnosed more often and has a somatic, neurological or endocrine cause. According to the “scale” of the manifestation of the disease, there is local hyperhidrosis, that is, local, when a certain area of ​​the body sweats intensely (armpits, face, feet, groin area, palms), and generalized, when increased sweating is observed throughout the body and is most often consequence of a serious illness.

Armpit hyperhidrosis

Excessive activity of the sweat glands in the armpit is the most common form of hyperhidrosis. Constant wet spots on clothes combined with unpleasant smell become a subject of irritation not only for others, but also for the person who suffers from this disease.

Hyperhidrosis of the palms

An equally common location for severe sweating is the back of the hand. Despite the fact that in this case there is no need to worry about stains on clothes, such a disease brings no less discomfort into the life of its owner. For example, such people find it difficult to communicate, especially tactile (touching, shaking hands), when moving objects or working with documents, when the former may simply fall out of their hands, and the latter may have fingerprints on them.

Increased sweating in the armpits

The most unpleasant moments that accompany sweating in the armpit area are not only stains on clothing, specific “odors” and increased nervousness. The product of increased sweating, that is, sweat is an excellent environment for fungi and bacteria with all the conditions for their existence and reproduction. Hence the intensity of the odor and the risk of irritation or, worse, skin diseases.

Hyperhidrosis of the head and face

The peculiarity of this local form of increased sweating is that in pathological process The entire head and neck, as well as individual areas (upper lip, forehead, nose, cheeks) can be involved. Moreover, it is often provoked by stressful situations, including phobias (for example, fear of public speaking). Quite often, this type of hyperhidrosis is combined with hyperhidrosis of the palms and erythrophobia (when, due to stress, the face, as they say, “fills with paint”).

Inguinal-perineal hyperhidrosis

This disease does not occur often, but it can significantly complicate a person’s existence, including in the intimate sphere. The structural features of the perineal organs, supplemented by constantly damp underwear and clothing due to sweating, can lead to irritation and diaper rash, as well as the occurrence of painful, itchy wounds and skin diseases.

Local hyperhidrosis

Another representative of local, that is, local hyperhidrosis, is increased sweating of the feet. This is a fairly common disease, manifested by profuse sweating in the soles and an unpleasant odor from the feet, and over time, from the shoes.

Causes of excessive sweating

Nature has provided our body with a mechanism that will protect it from overheating or remove excess fluid. This mechanism is called sweating. It is triggered during sports and physical labor, high temperatures outdoors or indoors, as well as stressful situations. However, there are other activators of the sweating mechanism when the cause is illness.

It would seem that it is not at all difficult to find the cause of hyperhidrosis. In fact, the true mechanism for the occurrence of this condition is still unknown. What is certain is that the function of regulation, or rather activation of sweating, is assigned by nature to the sympathetic parts of the nervous system. Scientists have not yet determined exactly when the failure occurs, but they have named the possible factors that could cause it.

These included: non-compliance with personal hygiene, wearing synthetic clothing and linen, infectious diseases, hormonal disorders, obesity, traumatic brain injury and focal brain lesions, tumor processes, Parkinson's disease, neurasthenia, cardiovascular or kidney disease. There is also so-called essential hyperhidrosis, the cause of which cannot be determined.

Infectious diseases as a cause of hyperdrosis

Profuse sweating during the flu or acute respiratory infections is not the only manifestation of hyperhidrosis in infectious diseases. This condition can be a manifestation of much more serious pathologies and even sometimes helps a specialist make the correct diagnosis. Thus, increased sweating at night may indicate the presence of infectious agents in the lungs or bronchi (tuberculosis, purulent bronchitis, pleurisy), as well as the presence of HIV infection or AIDS. Excessive sweating our body reacts to malaria, late stages of syphilis, brucellosis.

Diseases of the endocrine system as a cause of sweating

Increased sweating can be caused by disturbances in the functioning of the endocrine glands, that is, hormonal imbalances. For example, sweating often occurs in people with hyperthyroidism, which is an overactive thyroid gland. The same unpleasant problem It also occurs in most women who are in menopause, as well as in patients with diabetes.

Oncological diseases as a cause of profuse sweating

Despite the fact that the diagnosis of cancer still remains difficult due to the variety of symptoms, most specialists will definitely pay attention to such a symptom as hyperhidrosis. Often this condition accompanies tumor processes localized in the adrenal glands, ovaries, pituitary gland, intestines (carcinoma) and lymphoid system (Hodgkin's disease). It is noteworthy that most often excessive sweating indicates a fairly serious development of the process.

Excessive sweating and pregnancy

An interesting situation is also a powerful hormonal shift in the body expectant mother, therefore, not only taste preferences and mental condition, but also the work of the sweat glands. Usually, this nuance of pregnancy goes away along with it, that is, after childbirth, but it can also linger during breastfeeding.

Main symptoms of hyperhidrosis

Manifestations of excessive sweating in any area of ​​the body have similar symptoms, namely:

• Excessive sweating, accompanied by a feeling of moisture and discomfort at the site of its manifestation.
• An unpleasant odor, which may indicate both untidiness and the addition of a bacterial or fungal infection.
• Skin changes in the area of ​​increased sweating: on the hands - cyanosis, coldness to the touch, in the armpits and groin - irritation, rashes, diaper rash.

At the same time, a mild form of the disease may not yet be perceived as a problem. But the middle and severe stages become noticeable both for the patient himself and for those around him.

Treatment of hyperhidrosis

The main rule successful treatment Excessive sweating, like any other disease, requires identifying and eliminating the cause. And first of all, it is necessary to exclude the most significant pathologies (oncology, infectious diseases and endocrine disorders). Naturally, it is impossible to do this on your own, so you should mandatory consult a doctor who will prescribe (if necessary) additional examinations from specialized specialists.

Treating hyperhidrosis at home

Let us immediately note that the fight against excessive sweating at home will be effective only if you know exactly the cause of the disease, and the disease itself has a mild stage.

• Sweaty palms can be relieved with salt baths (1 liter of hot water + 3 tablespoons of any salt), which should be carried out twice a day, without removing your hands from the water until it cools.
• Foot sweating can be reduced by using oak bark powder or potato starch powder.
• Sweating of the face and head can be reduced by rubbing them with cucumber juice in the form of ice cubes several times a day.
• An infusion of sage (2 tablespoons of crushed plant in 0.5 liters of boiling water) will help overcome general sweating, which should be taken three times a day no earlier than an hour after meals.

Let's not deviate from the topic and recall that the diagnosis and treatment of hyperhidrosis is established by a specialist, that is, a doctor. In the case when the cause of increased work of the sweat glands is serious illness(infection, cancer process or hormonal disorders), treatment will be aimed specifically at it.

If all of the above factors are excluded, the main treatment regimen for excessive sweating consists of the following conservative methods: psychotherapy, medications, antiperspirants, physiotherapy (iontophoresis).

Wherein prerequisite Successful treatment of hyperhidrosis is based on personal hygiene: frequent washing problem areas of the body, regularly changing underwear and bed linen, taking baths with soda, string, chamomile, calendula. It is recommended to limit your intake of liquids and spicy foods, especially hot ones. If the cause of increased sweating is excess weight, then you should get rid of it.

Modern methods of combating hyperhidrosis include the introduction of botulinum toxin-containing drugs - Botox, Dysport - into the problem area. They block the work of the sweat glands, but only for a while (from six months to 8 months).

Laser treatment for sweating

Another modern way to cope with the problem of excessive sweating is laser therapy. It gives a longer-lasting result than Botox, since the laser beam does not block the work of the sweat glands, but destroys them. The procedure is carried out in outpatient setting under local anesthesia. As with the administration of drugs containing botulinum toxin, the entire procedure laser treatment takes up to half an hour and does not require a subsequent hospital stay.

Surgery for hyperhidrosis

Although conservative methods at correct appointment can be quite effective, the problem of increased sweating can only be radically solved surgery. But it is not used so often and only if conservative treatment is ineffective.

The surgical techniques used to treat hyperhidrosis can be divided into 2 types:

1. Local, that is, surgical intervention in the problem area (liposuction, curettage - removal of sweat glands, excision of a section of skin along with the glands).
2. Central(sympathectomy, that is, partial or complete violation work sympathetic trunk, which regulates the process of sweating). Such a radical method as sympathectomy is used only in severe cases of hyperhidrosis.

Medications against hyperhidrosis

As drug therapy, if the cause of hyperhidrosis is not a disease, the following groups of drugs are prescribed:

• Sedatives (calming) and tranquilizers to relieve nervousness and thereby prevent increased sweating.
• Atropine drugs, which affect the sympathetic nervous system, reducing its activity.
• General strengthening agents, these include vitamins, iron, fluorine, and calcium supplements.

How to treat profuse sweating- look at the video:

As you can see, hyperhidrosis is not only discomfort and unpleasant odor. Excessive sweating may be a sign of a serious pathological condition. Therefore, you should not ignore it and try to treat yourself. Contact your doctor and strictly follow all his recommendations - then coping with the problem will be much easier and safer.

It can even be pleasant to sweat a lot in a bathhouse or sauna, or to sweat profusely during physical activity in the gym. Excessive sweating is normal for human body. However, sometimes it becomes a problem. Excessive sweating in humans is called hyperhidrosis. It is imperative to understand the reasons for this condition, because the inconveniences we experience signal to us that we need to pay attention to our health, and the sooner the better.

The mechanism of sweating in the body

On the surface of our body there are about 2-3 million glands that produce sweat. Their activities are controlled by nerve signals. Skin receptors react to heat, food, overheating of the body as a result of stress or illness. Nerve impulses stimulate fluid production during sleep and wakefulness. Moreover, all this happens without the participation of consciousness. No one has ever been able to dry their armpits by force of will. Why is it that in 1 case out of 10 sweating is higher than normal, too profuse?

Profuse sweating in a person can be observed both on the entire body and on individual parts. Excessive sweating of the whole body is called generalized hyperhidrosis. In the second case, when one thing sweats profusely: head, armpits, arms, legs, back, groin area- This is local hyperhidrosis.

Causes of local hyperhidrosis

Copious, excessive sweating in certain parts of the body (legs, arms, armpits, head, face, etc.) is observed in both men and women.

Moreover, the reasons for such selective sweating may be different.

Before we start fighting hyperhidrosis, let’s look at what profuse sweating in men and women may indicate. individual parts bodies.

Extremities sweat profusely

The most common problem in men and women is profuse sweating of the extremities. Moreover, for some reason, women suffer from this disease much more often. By the way, they say that in Great Britain, a husband even has the legal right to divorce his wife if her feet are cold and wet. But in countries South America the smell of sweat is considered arousing.

According to experts, it is in these places on the body that there are too many sweat glands that are simply doing their job. There is also an incorrect, too strong reaction of the body to such stimuli as physical exercise, warm weather, and emotional experiences. In a situation of stress, sweating can become very profuse and exceed the norm by 10 times. Such sweating can already be called not just profuse, but excessive.

Why does my face sweat a lot?

Some people experience profuse sweating on the face. As a rule, this happens more often during the day rather than during sleep. They want to take out a handkerchief, blot their forehead and the area above the upper lip.

More often, men suffer from facial local hyperhidrosis. The reason for this is various factors:

• Tea, coffee, alcohol or other hot and intoxicating drinks.
• Chocolate, honey and other sweets.
• Spicy dishes.
• Thyroid disease.
• Damage to the facial nerve in newborns. This happens if the doctor uses obstetric forceps.

Causes of profuse sweating of the head

According to statistics, the head sweats more often in women than in men. Although many ladies wear voluminous hair in the heat and do not sweat a bit. Some representatives of the fair sex, even in cool weather, are forced to wash their hair every day due to excessive sweating. Increased sweating on the head, especially often occurs in women and men at night, during sleep. The head may sweat profusely for several reasons:

• Excess weight (here profuse sweating may be caused by a metabolic disorder, which obese people often suffer from).
• Problems with the endocrine system (here hormonal changes or diabetes mellitus lead to sweating of the head).
• Diseases of the nervous system (hyperhirdosis in this case is a consequence of stress, panic attacks).
• Hypertension (sweating in the head area is caused by changes in intracranial pressure);
• external factors (it may simply be hot in the room where a sweating person sleeps).
• Synthetic bedding and accessories.

Generalized hyperhidrosis

In this condition, the whole body is literally drenched in profuse sweat, regardless of the ambient temperature. The weather may not be hot at all, the person does not play sports or physical work. If this is exactly what happens, experts advise carrying out a thorough diagnosis of the body, because the reasons for constantly having to change shirts that are soaked with sweat may lie in a variety of diseases and no deodorant will save you. Here are just a few of them:

• Excessive sweating is one of the signs of hyperthyroidism.
• Diabetics sweat a lot in their armpits, hands and face, but their feet, on the contrary, can be excessively dry.
• With obesity, sweating also becomes profuse, because the energy that comes from food is not consumed due to sedentary lifestyle the life they lead fat people. They often have metabolic problems and other pathologies, which also leads to profuse sweating.
• Hormonal imbalance leads to the fact that a person often gets a fever; it happens that during sleep he sweats so much that the bed linen needs to be replaced. This is especially true for men during puberty, and for women during menstrual period and during menopause.
• The course of infectious diseases (ARVI, tuberculosis, brucellosis and others) is characterized by copious sweat production.
• High sweating can occur with kidney problems and cardiovascular system, as well as for genetic, tumor and neurological diseases.
• Abstinence syndrome or withdrawal or overdose can cause profuse sweating. medicines.
• It can make a man or woman sweat acute poisoning food or chemical.

Purely women's problems

The cause of profuse sweating in women can be natural hormonal processes in the body:

• Puberty.
• Menstrual cycles.
• Climax.

Sweat is produced especially profusely at night, during sleep. This may be local hyperhidrosis or general increased sweating of the entire body, armpits, head and limbs. The main danger is that during bouts of profuse sweating, a woman tries to cool down: she unwraps herself, opens windows, and creates drafts. An incorrect assessment of your condition at these moments often leads to colds and the occurrence of inflammatory processes in the genitourinary system, which aggravates the situation. You can have a drink at night sedatives on herbs, there should be no nervous activity during sleep.

Hormonal medications help during these periods. However, you should not take them during your menstrual cycles. Helps to get rid of excessive sweating during menstruation warm baths before sleep:

• with sea salt,
• chamomile,
• lavender,
• a weak solution of potassium permanganate.

Also, eliminate synthetic materials from your bedding sets. Thick cotton fabrics (satin, calico, knitwear) are also best left until the end of the process. Use items made from light chintz or natural silk. After taking a bath or shower, dry your body with a cotton towel and apply powder (talc, starch). The use of cosmetics (deodorant, antiperspirant) is not recommended.

How to deal with excessive sweating

In most cases, people use only cosmetic products, without thinking about the causes of sweating, until it becomes profuse and deodorant no longer provides an opportunity to get rid of the smell of sweat. As a remedy for copious discharge Deodorants help in the area of ​​​​the feet and armpits. Sprays only help get rid of odor; roll-on deodorant has a creamy base and allows you to block sweating for a while. Cosmetic products such as roll-on and gel deodorant are more effective in the fight for a clean armpit area. A special deodorant is produced for legs, so you should not use the same product for legs and armpits.

Excessive sweating must be treated. To do this, you need to be examined for the presence of the diseases listed above.

People's and traditional medicine offers a wide range of solutions to the problems of sweating during sleep and wakefulness at any age. As a rule, when the illness that causes profuse sweating is treated, the problem resolves on its own. In case of genetic predisposition, chronic diseases A local effect is applied to the sweat glands. The smell will be removed by deodorant, powder, ointment, gel.

Thus, people who suffer from any type of hyperhidrosis need to understand whether high sweating is independent disease or you need urgent treatment for some other serious illness. In any case, it is necessary to treat profuse sweating; cosmetic products alone will not get rid of this problem.

What is the cause of profuse sweating and how to deal with it?

What is increased sweating, forms (primary, secondary) and degrees of hyperhidrosis, treatment methods, doctor’s recommendations - video

Treatment of hyperhidrosis with folk remedies: oak bark, soda, vinegar, potassium permanganate, diet

Heavy sweating (excessive sweating) is called hyperhidrosis and is a condition in which a person produces large amounts of sweat in various areas of the body in situations in which little or no sweat is normally produced. Heavy sweating can occur all over the body or only in certain areas (armpits, feet, palms, face, head, neck, etc.). If increased sweating is observed throughout the body, then this phenomenon is called generalized hyperhidrosis. If excessive sweating affects certain areas of the body, then this is localized (local) hyperhidrosis.

Treatment of hyperhidrosis, regardless of its location (generalized or localized) and the mechanism of development (primary or secondary), is carried out using the same methods and drugs, the action of which is aimed at reducing the intensity of the sweat glands.

Heavy sweating - the essence of pathology and the mechanism of development

Normally, a person constantly produces a small amount of sweat, which does not cause any discomfort. At high ambient temperatures (for example, heat, bathhouse, sauna, etc.), during physical activity, when eating hot food or drinking, as well as in some other situations (for example, stress, spicy food, etc.) sweating may increase and become noticeable to the person himself and others. However, in these cases, increased sweating is a normal reaction of the body aimed at cooling the body and preventing overheating.

Heavy sweating refers to the increased production of sweat in situations for which this is not normally typical. For example, if a person sweats at rest or with slight excitement, then we're talking about specifically about increased sweating.

Factors that provoke heavy sweating can be absolutely any physical, mental or physiological phenomena. However, the main difference between heavy sweating and normal sweating is the onset of profuse sweating in situations in which this would not normally occur.

The general mechanism for the development of any type of hyperhidrosis, regardless of the nature and strength of the causative factor, is excessive activity of the sympathetic nervous system, which activates the sweat glands. That is, along nerve fibers sympathetic division The peripheral nervous system transmits a signal to the sweat glands, which, as a result of this influence, are activated and begin to work in an enhanced mode. Naturally, if the sympathetic nervous system works too actively, then its influence on the sweat glands is also greater than normal, which leads to increased production of sweat.

However, increased activity of the sympathetic nervous system is just a mechanism of hyperhidrosis. But the exact reasons for the increased activity of the sympathetic nervous system are unknown. After all, excessive sweating can develop against the background of complete health, and with certain diseases, and with emotional experiences, and with taking a number of medications, and with a whole series of very interesting factors that, at first glance, have nothing to do with sympathetic nervous system. However, scientists and doctors were only able to establish for sure that with increased sweating, provoking factors lead to one thing - activation of the sympathetic nervous system, which, in turn, enhances the work of the sweat glands.

Since an imbalance in the activity of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems is characteristic of vegetative-vascular dystonia, severe sweating is very common with this disorder. However, many people suffering from excessive sweating do not have vegetative-vascular dystonia, so consider this pathology as the most common and probable cause Sweating is not allowed.

If severe sweating develops in a person against the background of any diseases, then its development mechanism is exactly the same - that is, excessive activity of the sympathetic nervous system. Unfortunately, the exact mechanism of the influence of somatic, endocrinological and psychological disorders on the sympathetic nervous system is unknown, as a result of which the so-called “trigger” point of sweating has not been established. Because scientists and doctors do not know exactly how the process starts active work sympathetic nervous system, then it is currently impossible to regulate the brain centers that control the nerve fibers that transmit signals to the sweat glands. Therefore, to treat excessive sweating, you can only use symptomatic remedies, reducing the production of sweat by the glands.

Classification and brief characteristics of various types of severe sweating

Depending on the presence or absence of predisposing factors, excessive sweating is divided into two types:
1. Primary hyperhidrosis (idiopathic).
2. Secondary hyperhidrosis (associated with illness, medications, and emotional hyperreactivity).

Primary or idiopathic hyperhidrosis

Primary or idiopathic hyperhidrosis is physiological feature human body and develops for unknown reasons. That is, primary excessive sweating develops against a background of complete health without any apparent reason and is not a sign of any disorder or disease. As a rule, idiopathic hyperhidrosis is hereditary, that is, it is passed on from parents to children. According to international data, this form of excessive sweating affects from 0.6% to 1.5% of people. With primary idiopathic hyperhidrosis, a person, as a rule, sweats heavily only in certain parts of the body, for example, feet, palms, armpits, neck, etc. Excessive sweating throughout the body is extremely rare in primary hyperhidrosis.

Secondary hyperhidrosis

Secondary hyperhidrosis develops against the background of any existing diseases, when taking certain medications and with a sharp expression of emotional reactions. That is, with secondary hyperhidrosis there is always a visible cause that can be identified. Secondary excessive sweating is characterized by the fact that a person sweats heavily throughout the whole body, and not just any individual parts. If a person suspects that he has secondary sweating, then he should consult a doctor for a detailed examination, which will identify the disease that has become the causative factor of severe sweating.

In addition to dividing hyperhidrosis into primary and secondary, excessive sweating is also classified into the following three types depending on the volume of skin involved in the pathological process:
1. Generalized hyperhidrosis;
2. Localized (local, local) hyperhidrosis;
3. Gustatory hyperhidrosis.

Generalized hyperhidrosis

Generalized hyperhidrosis is a variant of excessive sweating throughout the body, when a person sweats from all areas of the skin, including the back and chest. Like generalized hyperhidrosis It is almost always secondary and is provoked by various diseases or medications. In addition, this type of sweating develops in pregnant women, in the early postpartum period, in the second half of the menstrual cycle, and also during menopause. In women, sweating in these conditions is due to hormonal characteristics with the predominant effect of progesterone, which stimulates the sympathetic nervous system.

Localized hyperhidrosis

Localized hyperhidrosis is a variant in which a person sweats only certain parts of the body, for example:

• Palms;
• Feet;
• Armpits;
• Area around the lips;
• Face;
• Back;
• Skin of the external genitalia;
• Anal area;
• tip of the nose;
• Chin;
• The scalp.

With local hyperhidrosis, only certain parts of the body sweat, while others produce sweat in normal amounts. This form of sweating is usually idiopathic and is most often caused by vegetative-vascular dystonia. Excessive sweating of each individual part of the body is usually called a special term in which the first word is derived from the Latin or Greek name for the part of the body with excessive sweating, and the second is “hyperhidrosis”. For example, excessive sweating of the palms will be referred to as “palmar hyperhidrosis”, feet – “plantar hyperhidrosis”, armpits – “axillary hyperhidrosis”, head and neck – “craniofacial hyperhidrosis”, etc.

Usually sweat does not have any odor, but with local hyperhidrosis, bromidrosis (osmidrosis) or chromidrosis may develop. Bromidrosis is a foul-smelling sweat that is usually formed by poor hygiene or by consuming foods with a strong odor, such as garlic, onions, tobacco, etc. If a person consumes products with a strong odor, then the aromatic substances contained in them, released from the human body through sweat, give it an unpleasant aroma. Bromidrosis, if hygiene is not observed, develops due to the fact that bacteria living on the surface of the skin begin to actively decompose protein substances released in sweat, resulting in the formation of foul-smelling compounds of sulfur, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, etc. In addition, foul-smelling sweat with hyperhidrosis can occur in people with diabetes mellitus, skin syphilis (syphilitic rashes) and pemphigus, as well as in women suffering from disorders menstrual cycle.

Chromydrosis represents the coloring of sweat in various colors (orange, black, etc.). A similar phenomenon occurs when any toxic substances enter the human body and chemical compounds(mainly compounds of cobalt, copper and iron), as well as in the presence of hysterical seizures and systemic diseases.

Gustatory hyperhidrosis

Gustatory hyperhidrosis is excessive sweating upper lip, skin around the mouth or tip of the nose after eating hot, hot or spicy food or drinks. In addition, gustatory hyperhidrosis can develop with Frey's syndrome (pain in the temple and temporomandibular joint, combined with profuse sweating in the temples and ears).

Many doctors and scientists do not distinguish gustatory hyperhidrosis as a separate type of excessive sweating, but include it as part of the localized form of excessive sweating.

Features of local hyperhidrosis of some localizations

Let's consider the features of increased sweating in some of the most common localizations.

Excessive sweating under the arms (axillary hyperhidrosis)

Heavy sweating under the arms is quite common and is usually caused by strong emotions, fear, anger or excitement. Any diseases rarely cause sweating of the armpits, therefore local hyperhidrosis of this localization is almost always idiopathic, that is, primary.

However, isolated secondary excessive sweating in the armpits can be caused by the following diseases:

• Follicular mucinosis;
• Blue nevus;
• Tumors of cavernous structure.

Axillary hyperhidrosis is treated in the same way as any other form of excessive sweating.

Severe sweating of the head

Excessive sweating of the head is called cranial hyperhidrosis and is quite common, but less common is excessive sweating of the palms, feet and armpits. Such local excessive sweating, as a rule, is idiopathic, but in some cases it is secondary and is caused by the following diseases and conditions:

• Neuropathy in diabetes mellitus;
• Herpes zoster of the face and head;
• Diseases of the central nervous system;
• Damage to the parotid salivary gland;
• Frey's syndrome;
• Skin mucinosis;
• Hypertrophic osteoarthropathy;
• Blue nevus;
• Cavernous tumor;
• Sympathectomy.

In addition, the scalp may sweat a lot after consuming hot, spicy or spicy drinks or foods. The treatment and course of excessive sweating of the head does not differ from that of other localizations.

Excessive sweating of the feet (sweating feet, plantar hyperhidrosis)

Severe sweating of the feet can be either idiopathic or provoked by various diseases or wearing incorrectly selected shoes and socks. Thus, many people develop foot hyperhidrosis due to wearing tight shoes or shoes with rubber soles, as well as the constant use of nylon, elastic tights or socks.

The problem of excessive sweating of the feet is very relevant, since it causes severe discomfort to a person. After all, when the feet sweat, an unpleasant odor almost always appears; the socks are constantly wet, as a result of which the feet freeze. In addition, the skin on the legs, under the influence of sweat, becomes damp, cold, cyanotic and easily damaged, as a result of which a person is constantly faced with infectious and inflammatory diseases.

Excessive sweating of the palms (palmar hyperhidrosis)

Severe sweating of the palms is usually idiopathic. However, sweating of the palms can also be secondary, and in this case it usually develops due to emotional experiences, such as excitement, worry, fear, anger, etc. Sweaty palms caused by any disease are very rare.

Heavy facial sweating

Severe facial sweating can be either idiopathic or secondary. Moreover, in the case of secondary facial hyperhidrosis this problem, as a rule, is caused by diseases of the nervous and endocrine systems, as well as emotional experiences. Also quite often, excessive facial sweating occurs when consuming hot foods and drinks.

Features of excessive sweating in various situations

Let's consider the features of hyperhidrosis in different situations and in certain conditions.

Heavy sweating at night (during sleep)

Increased sweating during the hours of rest at night can bother both men and women, and the causative factors of this condition are exactly the same for all people, regardless of gender and age.

Night sweats can be idiopathic or secondary. Moreover, if such sweating is secondary, then this indicates a severe systemic infectious or oncological disease. The causes of secondary night sweats can be the following diseases:

• Systemic fungal infection (for example, aspergillosis, systemic candidiasis, etc.);
• Long-term chronic infections of any organs (for example, chronic tonsillitis, etc.);

If, in addition to night sweats, a person experiences rapid fatigue, weight loss, or frequent increases in body temperature above 37.5 o C, then hyperhidrosis is undoubtedly secondary and is a sign of a serious illness. In the case when none of the above, besides sweating at night, bothers a person, hyperhidrosis is idiopathic and does not pose any danger.

It should be said that despite the fact that night sweats may be symptom severe illness, in most cases, people suffering from this problem do not have any health problems. Typically, idiopathic night sweats are caused by stress and anxiety.

If a person has idiopathic night sweats, then to reduce its severity it is recommended to follow the following rules:

• Make the bed as comfortable as possible and sleep on a hard mattress and pillow;
• Ensure the air temperature in the room in which you plan to sleep is no more than 20 - 22 o C;
• If possible, it is recommended to open the bedroom window at night;
• Lose weight if you are overweight.

Heavy sweating during physical activity

During physical activity, increased sweating is considered normal, since a large amount of heat generated by muscles during intense work is removed from the human body by evaporation of sweat from the surface of the skin. A similar mechanism of increased sweating during physical activity and in the heat prevents the human body from overheating. This means that it is impossible to completely eliminate sweating during exercise. However, if this problem greatly bothers a person, then you can try to reduce sweating.

To reduce sweating during physical exercise You should wear loose, open, light clothing that does not cause additional heat to the skin. In addition, the areas of the most pronounced sweating can be treated with a special antiperspirant deodorant containing aluminum 1–2 days before planned physical activity. You should not apply deodorant to large areas of the body, as this blocks the production of sweat and can cause overheating of the body, manifested by weakness and dizziness.

Heavy sweating when sick

Excessive sweating can be caused by a fairly wide range of different diseases. Moreover, sweating itself, as such, does not play a significant role in the mechanisms of disease development, but is simply painful and unpleasant symptom causing serious discomfort to a person. Since sweating in diseases is treated in the same way as idiopathic hyperhidrosis, it makes sense to pay attention to it only in cases where it may indicate an unfavorable course of the pathology and the need for urgent medical attention.

So, you should definitely consult a doctor if sweating is combined with any of the following symptoms:

• Significant reduction in body weight without dieting, physical activity, etc.;
• Weakening or increasing appetite;
• Persistent cough lasting more than 21 days in a row;
• Periodic frequent increases in body temperature above 37.5 o C, occurring for several weeks in a row;
• Chest pain, worsened by coughing, breathing and sneezing;
• Spots on the skin;
• Enlargement of one or more lymph nodes;
• Feeling of discomfort and pain in the abdomen, which occurs quite often;
• An attack of sweating is accompanied by palpitations and increased blood pressure.

Sweating when various diseases can be generalized or localized, recorded at night, in the morning, during the day, or against the background of emotional or physical stress. In other words, the characteristics of sweating in any disease can be quite variable.

In diseases of the thyroid gland and other internal secretion organs (endocrine glands), sweating develops quite often. Thus, attacks of generalized excessive sweating can occur with hyperthyroidism (Graves disease, thyroid adenoma, etc.), pheochromocytoma (adrenal tumor) and dysfunction of the pituitary gland. However, with these diseases, sweating is not the main symptom, since the person has other, much more serious dysfunctions of the body.

At hypertension Generalized sweating often develops, since during an attack of high blood pressure the activity of the sympathetic nervous system increases.

Heavy sweating during menopause

About half of all women experience hot flashes and sweating during menopause, but these symptoms are considered normal because they develop due to hormonal changes occurring in the body. When menstruation finally stops and a woman enters menopause, hot flashes, sweating and other painful symptoms characteristic of the period of decline menstrual function, will pass. However, the fact that sweating and hot flashes during menopause are normal does not mean that women should endure these painful manifestations of the body’s transition to another stage of functioning.

Thus, at present, to improve the quality of life and alleviate a woman’s condition, there is a wide range of medications that relieve manifestations of the decline of menstrual function, such as sweating and hot flashes. To choose the best remedy for yourself, it is recommended to consult a gynecologist who can recommend hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or homeopathic medicines (for example, Klimaksan, Remens, Klimadinon, Qi-Klim, etc.).

Heavy sweating after childbirth and during pregnancy

During pregnancy and for 1 – 2 months after childbirth, a woman’s body produces progesterone in large quantities. Progesterone and estrogen are the main sex hormones female body, which are produced with a certain cyclicity so that in some periods one hormone has a predominant effect, and in others - the second.

Thus, during pregnancy, some time after childbirth, as well as in the second half of the menstrual cycle, the effects of progesterone prevail, since it is produced much more than estrogen. And progesterone increases the functioning of the sweat glands and their sensitivity to ambient temperature, which, accordingly, leads to increased sweating in women. Accordingly, increased sweating during pregnancy and some time after childbirth is completely normal occurrence, which should not be feared.

If sweating causes discomfort to a woman, then to reduce it during the entire period of pregnancy, you can use antiperspirant deodorants that are safe for the baby and do not affect its growth and development.

Night sweats - why we sweat at night: menopause (relief of symptoms), tuberculosis (treatment, prevention), lymphoma (diagnosis) - video

Heavy sweating in women and men

The causes, frequency of occurrence, types and principles of treatment for heavy sweating in men and women are exactly the same, so it is inappropriate to consider them in separate sections. The only distinctive feature of female excessive sweating is that the fair sex, in addition to all other causes of hyperhidrosis, has one more - a regular increase in progesterone levels in the second half of each menstrual cycle, during pregnancy, after childbirth and during menopause. Therefore, women can suffer from sweating for the same reasons as men and additionally during certain periods of their lives when the influence of progesterone prevails in the hormonal background.

Heavy sweating - causes

Obviously, idiopathic severe sweating does not have any obvious and visible causes, and it can be provoked by ordinary situations, such as eating, mild excitement, etc. And sometimes attacks of sweating can occur without any visible provoking factor.

The situation is completely different with secondary severe sweating, which is always caused by some reason, which is a somatic, endocrine or other disease.

So, the following diseases and conditions may be the causes of secondary severe sweating:
1. Endocrine diseases:

• Thyrotoxicosis (high level of thyroid hormones in the blood) due to Graves' disease, adenoma or other diseases of the thyroid gland;
• Diabetes;
• Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar);
• Pheochromocytoma;
• Carcinoid syndrome;
• Acromegaly;
• Pancreatic dysfunction (decreased production of enzymes by the pancreas).

2. Infectious diseases:

• Tuberculosis;
• HIV infection;
• Neurosyphilis;
• Systemic fungal infections (for example, aspergillosis, systemic candidiasis, etc.);
• Herpes zoster.

3. Infectious and inflammatory diseases of various organs:

• Endocarditis;
• Chronic tonsillitis, etc.

4. Neurological diseases:

• Diencephalic syndrome of newborns;
• Diabetic, alcoholic or other neuropathy;
• Vegetative-vascular dystonia;
• Syringomyelia.

5. Oncological diseases:

• Hodgkin's disease;
• Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas;
• Compression of the spinal cord by a tumor or metastases.

6. Genetic diseases:

• Riley-Day syndrome;

7. Psychological reasons:

• Fear;
• Pain;
• Anger;
• Anxiety;
• Stress.

8. Other:

• Hypertonic disease;
• Hyperplasia of sweat glands;
• Keratoderma;
• Withdrawal syndrome in alcoholism;
• Opium withdrawal syndrome;
• Damage to the parotid salivary glands;
• Follicular mucinosis of the skin;
• Hypertrophic osteoarthropathy;
• Blue nevus;
• Cavernous tumor;
• Mushroom poisoning;
• Poisoning with organophosphorus substances (OPS).

In addition, severe sweating may develop while taking the following medications as a side effect:

• Aspirin and products containing acetyl salicylic acid;
• Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists (Gonadorelin, Nafarelin, Buserelin, Leuprolide);
• Antidepressants (most often Bupropion, Fluoxetine, Sertraline, Venlafaxine);
• Insulin;
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (most often Paracetamol, Diclofenac, Ibuprofen);
• Opioid analgesics;
• Pilocarpine;
• Sulfonylurea derivatives (Tolbutamide, Gliquidone, Gliclazide, Glibenclamide, Glipizide, etc.);
• Promedol;
• Emetics (ipecac, etc.);
• Medicines for the treatment of migraine (Sumatriptam, Naratriptan, Rizatriptan, Zolmitriptan);
• Theophylline;
• Physostigmine.

Excessive sweating in a child - causes

Severe sweating can occur in children of all ages, even in infants in their first year of life. It should be remembered that excessive sweating in a child over 6 years of age causal factors, varieties and methods of treatment are completely equivalent to those in an adult, but in children under 6 years of age, hyperhidrosis is provoked by completely different reasons.

Thus, many newborn babies sweat intensely during feeding, when they suck on the breast or milk from a bottle. Children during the first 3 years of life sweat very much during their sleep, regardless of whether they sleep during the day or at night. Increased sweating accompanies them during both night and nap. Scientists and doctors consider children to sweat during meals and sleep as a normal phenomenon, which reflects the baby’s body’s ability to remove excess heat to the outside and prevent overheating.

Remember that the child is adapted by nature to be well tolerated relatively low temperatures, and the optimal ambient temperature for him is 18 - 22 o C. At this temperature, a child can calmly walk in a T-shirt and not freeze, although almost any adult in the same clothes will be uncomfortable. Considering the fact that parents try to dress their children warmly, focusing on their own feelings, they constantly expose them to the danger of overheating. The child compensates for too warm clothes by sweating. And when heat production in the body increases even more (sleep and food), the child begins to sweat intensely in order to “shed” the excess.

There is a widespread belief among parents that excessive sweating of a child in the first 3 years of life is a sign of rickets. However, this opinion is completely untrue, since there is no connection between rickets and sweating.

In addition to these physiological causes of increased sweating in children, there are a number of factors that can cause hyperhidrosis in children. These factors represent diseases internal organs, which always manifest themselves with other, more noticeable and important symptoms, by the presence of which parents can understand that the child is sick.

Excessive sweating in children: causes, symptoms, treatment. Hyperhidrosis during pregnancy - video

Heavy sweating - what to do (treatment)

For any type of severe sweating, the same treatment methods are used, aimed at reducing sweat production and suppressing the activity of the glands. All these methods are symptomatic, that is, they do not affect the cause of the problem, but only eliminate a painful symptom - sweating, thereby increasing a person’s quality of life. If sweating is secondary, that is, provoked by some disease, then in addition to using specific methods to reduce sweating, it is imperative to treat the direct pathology that caused the problem.

So, currently the following methods are used to treat severe sweating:
1. External application of antiperspirants (deodorants, gels, ointments, wipes) to the skin to reduce sweat production;
2. Ingestion of tablets that reduce sweat production;
3. Iontophoresis;
4. Injections of botulinum toxin (Botox) in areas with excessive sweating;
5. Surgical methods for treating sweating:

• Curettage of sweat glands in areas of excessive sweating (destruction and removal of sweat glands through an incision in the skin);
• Sympathectomy (cutting or compressing the nerve going to the glands in the area of ​​excessive sweating);
• Laser lipolysis (laser destruction of sweat glands).

The listed methods represent the entire arsenal of ways to reduce excess sweating. Currently, they are used according to a certain algorithm, which involves first using the simplest and safest methods, and then, in the absence of the necessary and desired effect, moving on to other, more complex methods of treating hyperhidrosis. Naturally, more complex methods of therapy are more effective, but they have side effects.

Thus, the modern algorithm for using methods for treating hyperhidrosis is as follows:
1. External use of any antiperspirant on areas of skin with excessive sweating;
2. Iontophoresis;
3. Botulinum toxin injections;
4. Taking pills that reduce hyperhidrosis;
5. Surgical methods for removing sweat glands.

Antiperspirants are various means applied to the skin, such as deodorants, sprays, gels, wipes, etc. These products contain aluminum salts, which literally clog the sweat glands, blocking the production of sweat and thereby reducing sweating. Antiperspirants containing aluminum can be used long time, achieving optimal level sweating. Previously, drugs containing formaldehyde (Formidron) or methenamine were used as antiperspirants. However, at present their use is limited due to toxicity and relatively low effectiveness compared to products with aluminum salts.

When choosing an antiperspirant, you need to pay attention to the aluminum concentration, since the higher it is, the stronger the activity of the product. You should not choose products with maximum concentration, as this may cause severe irritation skin. It is recommended to start using antiperspirants with a minimum concentration (6.5%, 10%, 12%) and only if they are ineffective, use a product with a higher aluminum content. The final choice should be made with a product with the lowest possible concentration that effectively stops sweating.

Antiperspirants are applied to the skin for 6–10 hours, preferably at night, and then washed off. The next application is made after 1 - 3 days, depending on how much the effect of the product is sufficient for that particular person.

If antiperspirants are ineffective in reducing sweating, an iontophoresis procedure is performed, which is a type of electrophoresis. With iontophoresis using electric field Medications and salts penetrate deep into the skin, which reduce the activity of the sweat glands. To reduce sweating, iontophoresis sessions are performed with plain water, botulinum toxin or glycopyrrolate. Iontophoresis can stop sweating in 80% of cases.

If iontophoresis is ineffective, then to stop sweating, botulinum toxin is injected into the problem parts of the skin. These injections eliminate the problem of sweating in 80% of cases, and their effect lasts from six months to one and a half years.

Tablets that reduce sweating are taken only in cases where antiperspirants, iontophoresis and botulinum toxin injections are ineffective. These tablets include products containing glycopyrrolate, oxybutynin and clonidine. Taking these tablets is associated with numerous side effects (for example, difficulty urinating, sensitivity to light, palpitations, dry mouth, etc.), so they are used very rarely. Typically, people take anti-sweating pills before important meetings or events when they need to eliminate the problem reliably, effectively and for a relatively short period of time.

Finally, if conservative methods of stopping sweating do not help, you can use surgical methods treatments that involve destroying and removing sweat glands or cutting the nerves leading to the problem area of ​​the skin.

Curettage involves scraping out the sweat glands directly from the problem area of ​​skin with a small spoon. The operation is performed under local or general anesthesia and eliminates sweating in 70% of cases. In other cases, repeated curettage is required to remove some more glands.

Laser lipolysis is the destruction of sweat glands with a laser. In essence, this manipulation is similar to curettage, but is more gentle and safe, since it allows minimizing skin trauma. Unfortunately, currently laser lipolysis to reduce sweating is performed only in selected clinics.

Sympathectomy involves cutting or clamping the nerve leading to the sweat glands located in the problem area of ​​the skin with heavy sweating. The operation is simple and highly effective. However, unfortunately, sometimes, as a complication of the operation, a person experiences excessive sweating in the adjacent area of ​​skin.

What is increased sweating, forms (primary, secondary) and degrees of hyperhidrosis, treatment methods, doctor’s recommendations - video

Deodorant (remedy) for heavy sweating

Currently, the following antiperspirant deodorants with aluminum are available to reduce sweating:

• Dry Dry (Dry Dry) – 20 and 30% aluminum concentration;
• Anhydrol Forte – 20% (can only be purchased in Europe);
• AHC30 –30% (can be purchased through online stores);

In medical practice, excessive sweating, or hyperhidrosis (from the Greek hyper - “increased”, “excessive”, hidros - “sweat”), is profuse sweating that is not associated with physical factors, such as overheating, intense physical activity, high ambient temperature, etc.

Sweating occurs in our body constantly; it is a physiological process in which the sweat glands secrete a watery secretion (sweat). This is necessary to protect the body from overheating (hyperthermia) and maintain its self-regulation (homeostasis): sweat, evaporating from the skin, cools the surface of the body and reduces its temperature.

So, in the article we will talk about such a phenomenon as excessive sweating. We will consider the causes and treatment of hyperhidrosis. We will also talk about generalized and local forms of pathology.

Excessive sweating in healthy people

In the body of a healthy person, sweating increases at air temperatures above 20-25 degrees, during psycho-emotional and physical stress. Physical activity and low relative humidity contribute to increased heat transfer - thermoregulation is carried out, overheating of the body is not allowed. Conversely, in a humid environment where the air is still, sweat does not evaporate. This is why it is not recommended to stay in a steam room or bathhouse for a long time.

Sweating increases with excessive consumption liquids, so if you are in a room where the air temperature is high, or during intense physical activity, you should not drink a lot of water.

Stimulation of sweat secretion also occurs in the case of psycho-emotional arousal, therefore increased sweating of the body can be observed when a person experiences powerful emotions, such as fear, excitement.

All of the above are physiological phenomena that are characteristic of healthy people. Pathological disorders of sweating are expressed in an excessive increase or, conversely, a decrease in sweat secretion, as well as a change in its smell.

Physiology of the sweating process

Wet armpits, damp soles and palms, Strong smell sweat - all this does not add confidence to a person and is perceived negatively by others. It’s not easy for people who sweat excessively. The reasons for this condition can be found out if you understand the physiology of the sweating process as a whole.

So, sweating is a natural mechanism that cools the body and removes toxic substances, excess fluid, and food from it. water-salt metabolism and decay. It is no coincidence that some medications that are excreted from the body through the skin give sweat a blue-green, reddish or yellowish tint.

Sweat is secreted by sweat glands located in the subcutaneous fat. The greatest number of them is observed on the palms, armpits and feet. In terms of chemical composition, 97-99 percent of sweat consists of water and salt impurities (sulfates, phosphates, potassium and sodium chlorides), as well as other organic matter. The concentration of these substances in sweat secretion varies from person to person, and therefore each person has an individual smell of sweat. In addition, bacteria present on the surface of the skin and the secretion of the sebaceous glands are mixed into the composition.

Causes of hyperhidrosis

Modern medicine cannot yet give a clear answer to the question of what causes this disorder. But it is known that it develops, as a rule, against the background of chronic infectious diseases, pathologies of the thyroid gland, oncological diseases. Increased sweating of the head in women, oddly enough, can be observed during pregnancy. Besides, similar phenomenon occurs when acute respiratory viral infections are accompanied by high fever, taking certain medications, or metabolic disorders. Another reason for increased sweating of the head is allergies. This form of hyperhidrosis can also be triggered by stress, poor diet, alcoholism, drug addiction, etc.

Sweating on the face

That's pretty too a rare event. It is also called granifacial hyperhidrosis or sweaty face syndrome. For many people, this is a big problem, since it is almost impossible to mask the sweat in this area. As a result, public speaking, and sometimes even ordinary communication, becomes overwhelming. Excessive facial sweating in severe form can lead to major psychological problems: a person becomes withdrawn, suffers from low self-esteem and tries to avoid social contacts.

This type of hyperhidrosis can be caused by increased activity sympathetic nervous system. The problem is often combined with excessive sweating palms and blushing syndrome ( sudden appearance red spots), against the background of which erythrophobia (fear of blushing) can develop. Facial hyperhidrosis can appear due to dermatological disorders, hormonal causes, or as a result of a reaction to medications.

Sweating during menopause

In women, excessive sweating may be associated with impaired thermoregulation due to hormonal changes. In this case, so-called tides occur. Incorrect impulses of the nervous system force blood vessels expand, and this inevitably leads to overheating of the body, which, in turn, gives an impulse to the sweat glands, and they begin to actively secrete sweat in order to normalize body temperature. During menopause, hyperhidrosis is usually localized in the armpits and face. It is important to monitor your diet during this period. You need to eat more vegetables, as the phytosterols they contain can reduce the strength and number of hot flashes. It is recommended to replace coffee with green tea, which helps remove toxins. Spicy foods and alcohol should be excluded from the diet as they increase sweat production.

When increased sweating occurs in women during menopause, treatment should be comprehensive. You need to take vitamins, lead active life, maintain personal hygiene, use antiperspirants and look positively at the surrounding reality. With this approach, you will definitely win in the fight against hyperhidrosis.

Excessive sweating in a child

Excessive sweating is quite common in children. But this phenomenon should alert parents, since it may indicate the presence of a serious illness. To find out the nature of the symptom, you need to contact your pediatrician. Excessive sweating in a child may be accompanied by restless sleep or insomnia, changes in behavior, crying and moodiness for no apparent reason. What causes this condition?

• Lack of vitamin D. In children under two years of age, excessive sweating may be a symptom of rickets. In this case, during feeding, you can see distinct droplets of sweat on the baby’s face, and at night his head sweats, especially in the occipital region, so in the morning the entire pillow becomes wet. In addition to sweating, the child experiences itching in the head area, the baby becomes lethargic or, conversely, restless and capricious.
• Colds. Sore throat, flu and other similar ailments are often accompanied by an increase in body temperature, which leads to increased sweating in children.
• Lymphatic diathesis. This pathology occurs in children three to seven years old and is manifested by enlarged lymph nodes, high irritability and hyperhidrosis. It is recommended to bathe the child more often and engage in physical therapy exercises with him.
• Heart failure. If there are disturbances in the functioning of the heart, this affects the functioning of all organs and systems, including the sweat glands. One of anxiety symptoms in this case - cold sweat.
• Vegetovascular dystonia. This disease in children can manifest itself as essential hyperhidrosis - excessive sweating in the area of ​​​​the feet and palms.

It should be remembered that increased sweating in children can be a physiological temporary phenomenon. Babies often sweat when they don't get enough sleep, are tired or worried.

Non-surgical treatment

If hyperhidrosis is not a symptom of any disease, then in medical practice it is treated conservatively, using drug therapy, antiperspirants, psycho- and physiotherapeutic methods.

If speak about drug therapy, then different groups of drugs can be used. The prescription of a particular medication depends on the severity of the pathology and existing contraindications.

For people with an unstable, labile nervous system, tranquilizers and sedatives (sedative herbal mixtures, medicines containing motherwort, valerian) are indicated. They reduce excitability and help fight daily stress, which acts as a factor in the occurrence of hyperhidrosis.

Medicines containing atropine reduce the secretion of sweat glands.

Antiperspirants should also be used. They have local action and prevent sweating due to its chemical composition, including salicylic acid, ethyl alcohol, aluminum and zinc salts, formaldehyde, triclosan. Such drugs narrow or even completely block the excretory ducts of the sweat glands, and thus block the excretion of sweat. However, when using them, negative phenomena may be observed, such as dermatitis, allergies and swelling at the site of application.

Psychotherapeutic treatment is aimed at eliminating the patient's psychological problems. For example, you can cope with your fears and learn to keep your emotions under control with the help of hypnosis.

Among the physiotherapeutic methods, hydrotherapy is widely used ( cold and hot shower, pine-salt baths). Such procedures have a general strengthening effect on the nervous system. Another method is electrosleep, which involves exposing the brain to a pulsed low-frequency current. The therapeutic effect is achieved by improving the activity of the autonomic nervous system.

Excessive sweating in men and women is now also treated with Botox injections. With this procedure pharmacological effect is achieved through long-term blocking of the nerve endings that innervate the sweat glands, as a result of which sweating is significantly reduced.

All of the above conservative methods, when used in combination, can achieve lasting clinical results for a certain time, but do not radically solve the problem. If you want to get rid of hyperhidrosis once and for all, you should pay attention to surgical treatment.

Local surgical methods of treatment

• Curettage. This operation involves the destruction of nerve endings and subsequent removal of sweat glands in the area where excessive sweating occurs. Surgical procedures are performed under local anesthesia. A 10-mm puncture is made in the area of ​​hyperhidrosis, as a result of which the skin peels off, and then scraping is carried out from the inside. Most often, curettage is used in cases of excessive sweating of the armpits.

• Liposuction. This surgical procedure is indicated for overweight people. During the operation, the nerves of the sympathetic trunk are destroyed, due to which the action of the impulse that provokes sweating is suppressed. The technique used to perform liposuction is similar to curettage. A puncture is made in the area of ​​hyperhidrosis, a small tube is inserted into it, through which the nerve endings of the sympathetic trunk are then destroyed and the fiber is removed. If an accumulation of fluid forms under the skin, it is removed using a puncture.
• Skin excision. This manipulation gives good results in the treatment of hyperhidrosis. But at the site of exposure there remains a scar about three centimeters long. During the operation, the area of ​​increased sweating is identified and completely excised.