Sweating is an individual characteristic for everyone. It depends on the number and location of the sweat glands, the composition of the blood and the human nervous system. It is not the fact of sweating itself that speaks of the arrival of a disease, but a sharp change in the amount of sweat or its smell.

Sweating is distinguished by several signs.

• There is general sweating, when a person sweats all over the body, and local sweating, when only part of the body sweats: legs, palms, armpits.
• Also, severe sweating can be congenital and acquired.

These characteristics and accompanying symptoms are the most important arguments in determining the causes of excessive sweating.

You won't be able to sweat at all. Sweat is produced by the human body for several purposes:

• body cooling in hot weather
• removal of excess fluid from the body
• removal of excess minerals and toxins

Violation of any of these functions can lead to serious diseases, so you need to deal with sweating in moderation. How to understand when profuse sweating still does not exceed the norm? Proper sweating is physiologically justified. It must fulfill its function. The causes of sweating in a healthy person can be: sports, rich food, hot climate, unexpected fright.

In these cases, the rejection of synthetic fabrics and the correct regulation of the temperature in the room will help reduce sweating.

Innate tendency to sweat

If a person sweats a lot during childhood, this is called congenital sweating. In this case, the cause of excessive sweating is an increase in the number of sweat glands and their greater responsiveness to stimulation from the nervous system. Such people sweat more often during stress and strong emotions, and sweat very much during physical exertion.

Knowing this physiological feature behind them, they need to wear loose-fitting clothes and only from natural fabrics - this will help them sweat less. You shouldn't overuse antiperspirants at all. This type of deodorant clogs the ducts of the sweat glands and sweat is forced to accumulate in the duct and partially absorbed back into the skin. You still won’t be able to stop sweating completely, and the accumulation of sweat is an excellent environment for the reproduction of microbes and inflammation.

Hormonal changes

Excessive sweating can occur when the body experiences hormonal changes: during adolescence, during pregnancy and menopause.

All these processes force the human body to adapt to new conditions. And if adaptation is complicated by stress, illness or an unhealthy lifestyle, one of the complications may be an increase in the responsiveness of the sweat glands to stimuli.

Teenage years

During adolescence, increased sweating is caused by hormonal changes in the body and increased stress levels.

Receptive teenagers are often nervous - at the blackboard, at the exam. A characteristic sign of nervous sweating is wet palms. In this case, in order to sweat less, you need to be less nervous. The easiest option is to drink soothing tea with mint and lemon balm, or herbal tablets like Persen or Novopassit. A much better way to reduce youthful passions is yoga, dancing, or any other hobby that calms the child.

Pregnancy

Excessive sweating during pregnancy is caused by a decrease in estrogen production and an increase in progesterone, which provokes a deterioration in metabolism. So with sweat, excess fluid can come out. To sweat less, you should avoid synthetic fabrics in clothes and styles that fit your figure. It is also better to temporarily abandon hot shoes and shoes with rubber soles.

Climax

With the cessation of menstruation, the amount of estrogen in the blood of a woman decreases and the amount of follicle-stimulating hormone increases. These changes lead to the appearance of "hot flashes" - sudden bouts of heat, followed by intense sweating of the whole body.

This creates especially many problems when it is cold, since it is easy to overcool a wet body. You can stop sweating only by contacting a gynecologist. He will prescribe the necessary corrective treatment, most often hormone replacement therapy.

Physiological causes

The most natural cause of increased sweating is high ambient temperature. When it is hot outside and in the house, a person sweats to cool off. The main thing is to maintain the correct drinking regime - from 2 liters of fluid per adult. It is advisable to drink water, mineral water and fruit drinks with a minimum sugar content.

Hypersweating is also natural when playing sports. When the muscles work under load, they generate heat and heat the body very much. In cases of sports, getting rid of sweating is a very bad idea. On the contrary, if you sweat a lot, you work well. And a shower after a good workout will not leave traces of the smell of sweat.

Synthetic clothing and shoes are the most common causes of excessive sweating. Shoes with rubber soles and synthetic fabrics do not remove heat at all, the body overheats and sweat is released. If you wear such shoes all the time, fungi will begin to develop in a humid environment, and in addition to an unpleasant smell, there will also be a problem with the feet. In order not to sweat, you need to choose breathable shoes made of leather, suede. And open shoes for the warm season.

When to Start Worrying

In diseases, a person sweats differently than he did all his life before. Depending on the type of disease, sweating may occur constantly, or come only periodically. However, any change in the amount of sweat emitted and its smell is a sign that you should pay attention to. It may hint at an endocrinological disorder - like diabetes mellitus or hyperthyroidism. Or, together with a decrease in the amount of urine excreted, talk about kidney disease.

Endocrinology

Due to the increase in the amount of sugar in the blood caused by diabetes, the fibers of the peripheral nervous system suffer - the very ones that innervate the sweat glands. As a result, the stimulation of the glands increases, more sweat is released.

Severe sweating can indicate diabetes, if at the same time a person is constantly thirsty. Also important symptoms are increased frequency of nocturnal urination and poor heat tolerance. If these symptoms are found, you need to make an appointment with a therapist or endocrinologist.

The second endocrine disorder that causes heavy sweating is hyperthyroidism - excessive production of hormones by the thyroid gland.

In addition to body sweating, the patient will be disturbed by the following symptoms:

• nervous excitability, irritability
• enlargement of the thyroid gland
• weight loss
• trembling in the hands
• heat intolerance
• exophthalmos - protrusion of the eyes

By itself, hyperfunction of the thyroid gland will not go away. All these symptoms are corrected by hormonal therapy, or by surgery - as prescribed by an endocrinologist.

kidney disease

If a person sweats a lot, you need to pay attention to the amount of urine. A decrease in the volume of urine excreted, the appearance of sediment, foam in it, a change in its color are symptoms of kidney disease. They also have swelling. It starts under the eyes and then goes down.

With kidney disease, their ability to filter blood deteriorates, and fluid is retained in the body. In this case, increased sweating is an attempt by the body to get rid of excess moisture.

If any of the listed symptoms are available, you need to go to a therapist, and preferably immediately to a nephrologist.

When you need to urgently see a doctor

Sometimes sweating is a symptom of an emergency. If the rush of cold sweat is accompanied by chest pain and fear of death, it may be a myocardial infarction, and you need to urgently call an ambulance.

If profuse sweating is accompanied by a high temperature, these are symptoms of infectious diseases.

And if salivation and pain in the abdomen - poisoning with organophosphorus chemistry or muscarine.

infectious diseases

One of the symptoms of infectious diseases can be a high temperature, and profuse sweating is associated with it. Of course, in the case of infections, other symptoms will be pronounced. But sweating is a hallmark of the five infectious diseases.

Poisoning and drug use

These are aspirin, insulin and pilocarpine. Also, sweating is caused by painkillers of the morphine and promedol groups.

This is a side effect that is almost ignored when reading the instructions, and then mistakenly perceived as a symptom. If sweating has become completely intolerable, you should consult your doctor about switching to another drug.

Excessive sweating may also be associated with organophosphate and fungal poisoning.

If there is pronounced lacrimation, increased salivation, constriction of the pupils, watery diarrhea and abdominal pain, these are symptoms of poisoning, with which you urgently need to call an ambulance.

Treatment and prevention

With excessive sweating, it is customary to fight using cosmetics and antiperspirants. This is bad, because instead of curing sweating, antiperspirants clog the duct of the sweat gland. Microbes accumulate there and inflammation develops - hydradenitis. It manifests itself in swelling of the sweat glands, most often in the armpits, pain and itching. Hydradenitis is a reason to immediately consult a doctor.
Treatment of sweating, as a rule, consists in treating the causes that caused this symptom.

If hyperhidrosis haunts from birth or due to hormonal changes, then this is part of the normal physiology of the body, it cannot be “improved”. All you can do is follow simple rules:

1. To keep your feet and body from sweating, wear clothes made from natural fabrics and breathable shoes according to the weather.
2. In order not to sweat your palms, be less nervous and drink sedatives.
3. In order not to sweat your face - give up very hot and spicy food.
4. Take a contrast shower once a day.
5. Take care of yourself and avoid drafts

And remember, sweating is not a symptom, but a normal reaction of the body to overheating. Sweating in the heat or in sports, or from excitement is not a shame. This means that the person is healthy and all systems work fine for him.

Bibliography

When writing the article, the therapist used the following materials:

• Adikari S. General practice according to John Nobel / [S. Adikari and others] ; ed. J. Nobel, with the participation of G. Green [and others]; per. from English. ed. E. R. Timofeeva, N. A. Fedorova; ed. Transl.: N. G. Ivanova [and others]. - M. : Practice, 2005
• Mikhailova L. I. Encyclopedia of Traditional Medicine [Text] / [ed.-comp. Mikhailova L. I.]. - M: Tsentrpoligraf, 2009. - 366 p. ISBN 978-5-9524-4417-1
• Palchun, Vladimir Timofeevich ENT diseases: learning from the mistakes of others: a guide with a reference book of medicines: dozens of case histories, medical errors, a pharmaceutical reference book, diseases of the nose and paranasal sinuses, ear diseases, pharynx disease, larynx and trachea disease, medical documentation, anamnesis of mordi and vitae / V T. Palchun, L. A. Luchikhin. - M: Eksmo, 2009. - 416 p. ISBN 978-5-699-32828-4
• Savko Lilia Universal medical reference book. All diseases from A to Z / [L. Savko]. - St. Petersburg: Peter, 2009. - 280 p. ISBN 978-5-49807-121-3
• Eliseev Yu. Yu. A complete home medical reference book on the treatment of diseases: [clinical manifestations of diseases, methods of traditional therapy, non-traditional methods of treatment: herbal medicine, apitherapy, acupuncture, homeopathy] / [Yu. Yu. Eliseev and others]. - M: Eksmo, 2007 ISBN 978-5-699-24021-0
• Rakovskaya, Ludmila Alexandrovna Symptoms and diagnosis of diseases [Text]: [detailed description of the most common diseases, causes and stages of development of diseases, necessary examinations and methods of treatment] / L. A. Rakovskaya. - Belgorod; Kharkov: Family Leisure Club, 2011. - 237 p. ISBN 978-5-9910-1414-4

Excessive sweating of the armpits, face, head, legs or generalized profuse sweating is medically called hyperhidrosis. Sweating is a natural process of cleansing the body, removing water secretions under the influence of physical factors, such as overheating of the body at elevated ambient temperatures, during intense physical exertion, nervous tension, excitement. This physiological process, as it were, saves the body from overheating, since when sweat evaporates from the surface of the skin, cooling occurs and the body temperature drops. However, the causes of increased sweating can be many diseases, one of the symptoms of which is hyperhidrosis.

Excessive sweating can be a physiological feature of a person and does not pose a particular threat to health, it only causes psychological discomfort and worsens the quality of life for both women and men. But since there are no uniform evaluation criteria, there are no devices that determine excessive sweating or normal, then the disease of hyperhidrosis should be discussed only if excessive sweating greatly affects the quality of human life.

You can self-diagnose excessive sweating if you:

• You have to make a lot of efforts to deal with the consequences of excessive sweating - take a shower several times a day, change clothes, etc.
• You have to give up certain activities, classes in gyms due to excessive sweating
• You have to stay at a certain distance when in contact with work colleagues, friends, you avoid communicating with people once again, you feel insecure and worry about excessive sweating

Types of hyperhidrosis

Hyperhidrosis is divided into local(local, limited), i.e. when:

• sweating only face, head
• extremities sweat - palms, feet, the most common localization, over the armpits
• palms, feet, forehead, armpits sweat, both individually and simultaneously

and generalized- when the whole body sweats, simultaneously and profusely, as a rule, this occurs with feverish conditions, infectious and other diseases. In this case, you should definitely consult a doctor.

There is also a classification into primary and secondary:

• Primary - happens during puberty, in adolescence in 1% of the population.
• Secondary - is the result of a number of different somatic, endocrine, neurological diseases.

Sweat is odorless, however, each person has a different odor when perspiring. Why does sweat get an odor? The unpleasant smell of sweat is given by toxic substances, from which the body is released with the help of sweat glands, as well as bacteria that enter from the outside and decompose the protein components of sweat.

Increased sweating at night

If during sleep at normal temperature in the room, appropriate bedding and a blanket, a person sweats, wakes up wet, sweats on the head or back, chest, it is necessary to determine the causes of increased sweating.

During sleep, the process of natural sweating decreases, as a person does not move, does not get nervous, the body is calm, all processes are slowed down. Therefore, the occurrence of increased sweating at night is a signal to see a doctor, as this can be a symptom of a serious illness.

With increased sweating at night, the causes may be the following diseases: SARS, influenza, pneumonia, vegetative-vascular dystonia, tuberculosis, malignant tumors, lymphomas, Hodgkin's disease, leukemia, thyroid diseases, immune disorders, stroke, diseases of the cardiovascular system, systemic fungal infections, abscesses, hepatitis, AIDS, etc.

What can the doctor ask when contacting him?

To exclude or suspect serious pathological conditions, the doctor may ask the patient the following:

• Constant or intermittent sweating, does it increase with stress?
• Is sweating limited to certain areas (forehead, head, palms, feet, armpits) or is it general?
• Does anyone else in the family suffer from similar discomfort?
• When is sweating more common at night or during the day?
• Do you get hot when others don't feel the same or even get cold?
• Do you experience increased fatigue, weakness, tremors, lack of coordination, fainting?
• Does increased sweating affect your work, social, personal life?
• Has there been a decrease in weight and appetite?
• What medications do you take - for pain, hypertension, glaucoma, etc.?
• Do you have a cough, fever, swollen lymph nodes?

Causes of local excessive sweating

Localized hyperhidrosis often runs in families.

• Gustatory hyperhidrosis - excessive sweating associated with eating

This type of local manifestation of hyperhidrosis appears after eating certain foods, such as hot tea, coffee, chocolate, other hot drinks, as well as spicy dishes, seasonings, sauces. At the same time, increased sweating of the face appears, namely, sweating is localized more often on the upper lip and on the forehead. The cause may be a condition that occurs after severe viral or bacterial infections of the salivary glands or surgical interventions on the salivary glands.

• Idiopathic hyperhidrosis

Increased sweating is associated with re-irritation or initially high tone of the parasympathetic part of the autonomic nervous system. Most often, a person begins to feel the manifestations of idiopathic hyperhidrosis at the age of 15-30. Increased sweating appears both at once in all these areas, and in combination, most often it is palmar and plantar. This type of disease often goes away on its own. It is believed that women are most susceptible to increased sweating due to constant hormonal changes - puberty, pregnancy and childbirth, menopause.

Men who play sports or sweat profusely in the gym 3 times a week should take supplemental magnesium supplements. Research scientists have shown that bodybuilders, due to regular increased sweating during training, risk lowering magnesium levels to a critical value, at which there is a breakdown, heart rhythm failures - cardiac arrhythmia. Therefore, men with excessive sweating during sports should diversify their daily diet with foods containing magnesium.

Causes of generalized increased sweating

Most experts are convinced that in 80% of cases, the causes of increased sweating are hereditary disposition. Pathological conditions that are familial in nature and are manifested by hyperhidrosis include:

• Diabetes
• Thyrotoxicosis
• Arterial hypertension

Hyperhidrosis can be a sign of somatic diseases, neuropsychiatric, be the result of neglecting the rules of personal hygiene or taking medications. After infectious diseases, against the background of antibiotic treatment, it may develop, which is also accompanied by excessive sweating (see 11 rules).

• Infectious diseases, poisoning

Most acute and chronic diseases of viral or bacterial origin, poisoning (or toxic substances) cause an increase in body temperature and, as a result, intoxication, chills, hyperhidrosis. Diseases such as malaria, brucellosis, septicemia are accompanied by profuse sweating. For pulmonary tuberculosis and extrapulmonary forms of the disease, high body temperature is not typical, most often patients have a subfebrile temperature of 37.2-37.5, and increased sweating at night.

• Endocrine disorders

Diseases such as thyrotoxicosis, diabetes mellitus, (low blood sugar), in addition to the main symptoms, are also manifested by generalized excessive sweating. Excessive sweating in women is often observed during pregnancy, and during the premenopausal period, many women suffer from menopausal syndrome, accompanied by hot flushes and sudden sweating (see). Generalized hyperhidrosis is experienced by 60% of patients with dysfunction of the pituitary lobe - acromegaly. In pheochromocytoma, excessive sweating combined with hypertension is sometimes the only sign of the disease.

• Oncological diseases

Any malignant tumors can be accompanied by weakness and increased sweating. Lymphomas, Hodgkin's disease are accompanied by a febrile state, alternating with a decrease in body temperature, increased fatigue and generalized excessive sweating in the evening and at night (see).

• kidney disease

With kidney disease, there is a violation of the formation and natural filtration of urine, so the body strives to get rid of excess fluid through the sweat glands.

• Vegetative-vascular dystonia

Very often, with VVD, the patient suffers from excessive sweating, including at night (see).

• Taking certain medications

Taking insulin, analgesics (morphine, promedol), aspirin, pilocarpine, betanekol, antiemetics - in case of overdose or prolonged use, cause increased sweating.

• Central nervous system lesions

Neurological disorders, such as stroke, dorsalis versa, damage to nerve tissues in neurosyphilis, can also be causes of hyperhidrosis.

• Psychosomatic disorders

Against the background of stress, nervous overload, depression, fear, anger, rage, mechanisms are triggered that lead to hyperactivity of the sympathetic nervous system, which is also accompanied by sweating.

• Response to pain syndrome

When a sharp intense pain occurs, many people, as they say, are covered with a cold sweat. Therefore, during severe pain, spasms, chemical irritation, stretching of the internal organs, increased sweating can occur.

Treatment for excessive sweating

If hyperhidrosis is an independent disease, and not a sign of the serious diseases listed above, then to mitigate its manifestations, today modern medicine offers a lot of different methods and methods of treatment:

• Use of antiperspirants- the best of them are Odaban (effective up to 10 days), Drydry (1 bottle is enough for half a year), Maxim (a bottle is enough for almost a year)
• Medical therapy- drugs based on belladonna alkaloids (Bellataminal, Bellaspon, Belloid), belladonna reduces the secretion of sweat glands and helps in the fight against hyperhidrosis without causing dependence. For local treatment use Formagel, Formidron
• Sedative drugs, such as motherwort, valerian, belladonna, as well as hypnosis sessions, meditation, yoga classes, positive positive attitudes, affirmations that should be spoken daily - all this helps to calm the nervous system, take a calmer attitude to stressful situations
• Physiotherapy procedures- coniferous-salt baths, iontophoresis, electrosleep, etc.
• Laser - for excessive sweating of the armpits today, doctors use a laser that destroys 70% of the sweat glands.
• Botox injections, Dysport- the effect of this method is to block the nerve endings of the sweat glands for a long time, which reduces sweating.

Procedures such as Botox and laser are extreme measures and should only be used in special cases. These methods are actively advertised and recommended today, but they have a number of contraindications and may have long-term consequences. Sweating is a natural process of cleansing the body, removing toxins, which may not be safe to interfere with using such methods and have long-term negative consequences for health.

Excessive sweating, or in scientific terms "hyperhidrosis", is one of the most delicate problems that mankind has been facing for over a decade. Much more often, severe sweating is observed in the female. The causes and remedies for this unpleasant condition are very diverse.

The main factors causing heavy sweating

• sweating as a result of diseases;
• excessive sweating in women due to natural (physiological) reasons.

The root cause ultimately determines further treatment options.

Sweating during exercise - such as when playing sports, does not require treatment

Physical exercise

Profuse sweating during increased physical exertion (such as playing sports, working on a personal plot) is a natural process. In this way, the body fights excess heat and normalizes body temperature. Treatment in this case is not required.

Overweight

For obese people, excessive sweating is generally considered normal. Any movement for them is a strong load on all muscles and organs, as a result of which there is a noticeable overheating of the body. To cope with it allows intensive evaporation of moisture from the surface of the skin. The main thing here is to exclude the presence of other diseases that cause hyperhidrosis.

Extra pounds - it's always profuse sweating

Sweating in women who are expecting a baby

Often there is severe sweating in pregnant women. The reasons depend on the period on which the future mother is. Hyperhidrosis manifests itself in the 1st trimester, which is associated with hormonal changes during the period of gestation.

It is also possible to increase sweating in the third trimester. The reason is an increase in the load on the mother's body. After the birth of a child and the normalization of the hormonal background of a woman, the unpleasant phenomenon of strong sweating goes away by itself.

Hormonal changes

Hormonal changes of various origins (such as puberty, menopause, menstruation) may be accompanied by intense sweating. They provoke the appearance of hyperhidrosis and malfunctions of the endocrine system.

Weak immunity

Exhaustion and a general weakening of the body (especially caused by illness) is another likely explanation for excessive sweating in women. At the same time, profuse sweat can accompany both the disease itself and disturb after some time after recovery, which is considered the norm.

But if hyperhidrosis lasts more than a month, then this is a reason to seek medical help.

Psychological problems. Disorders of the nervous system

Sometimes increased sweat production occurs in a situation of strong psycho-emotional stress, negative experiences. In this way, the body reacts to stress - it releases adrenaline into the blood, which leads to increased sweating.

Genetic predisposition, pathologies

In some cases, hyperhidrosis is not a consequence of the presence of any problem or deviation in health. The predisposition to excessive sweating can be genetic and passed down from generation to generation. A cure is possible, but requires considerable time and labor.

Heart failure, dysfunction

Severe sweating is also a signal of malfunctions in the cardiovascular system. Patients with these disorders have severe weakness, low blood pressure and high pulse, and as a result, increased sweating.

Diabetes

For people suffering from diabetes, hyperhidrosis of the upper body (head, palms, axillary zone) is characteristic. This is due to disturbances in the work of the semantic department of the autonomic nervous system, which is responsible for the processes of sweating.

Osteochondrosis

Often people sweat a lot with cervical osteochondrosis, when the nerve endings responsible for the work of blood vessels and glands are pinched. Hyperhidrosis may be accompanied by a change in skin color, dizziness.

Tuberculosis

Sweating is one of the symptoms of tuberculosis. At the moment, there is no exact scientific data on why an increase in sweating occurs with tuberculosis. But experts note that strong night sweats are typical for patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.

In the pulmonary form of tuberculosis, the patient has profuse sweat at night.

HIV infection

Increased sweating is closely associated with severe neurovascular disorders in HIV infection. According to doctors, about half of infected patients suffer from night sweats in the early stages of HIV.

Oncological diseases

Hyperhidrosis is one of the companions of cancer. This is explained by an increase in body temperature and a general decrease in the body's resistance to various infections. Usually strong sweat is observed with the following ailments:

• malignant neoplasms of the liver and intestines;
• tumors of the nervous system;
• cancers in the brain area;
• with Hodgkin's lymphoma;
• in adrenal cancer.

The cause of severe sweating in women can be cancer.

Cancer is most effectively treated in the early stages of development., so do not underestimate such a symptom as increased sweating.

Acute poisoning

Excessive sweat is also the first sign of severe poisoning (both food and toxic substances, drugs). Accompanying symptoms are often gastrointestinal disorders, fever, weakness, blurred consciousness.

The presence of worms in the body can also be the cause of hyperhidrosis.

Increased sweating during menopause

Hyperhidrosis in women often coincides with the period of menopause (menopause). The reason is a violation of thermoregulation processes due to a decrease in estrogen levels. As a result, many women suffer from sudden bouts of intense sweating - hot flashes.

During menopause, most often the armpits, upper body and face sweat.

Causes of women sweating at night

In many cases, severe sweating in women at night brings tangible discomfort. The reasons may be due to physiological factors:

• stages of the menstrual cycle;
• pregnancy
• postpartum period;
• lactation;
• menopause.

Severe sweating in women (various reasons) at night is one of the signs of menopause

In addition, as stated earlier, Night sweats can also be caused by a number of diseases:

• neurological disorders;
• malignant formations;
• deviations in the work of the endocrine system;
• infections, etc.

But sometimes, if a woman sweats a lot in a dream, it is enough just to adjust the external attributes: use a lighter blanket or less warm clothes, ventilate the room, change the diet.

Symptoms of excessive sweating

Depending on which parts of the body hyperhidrosis manifests itself, one can judge the presence or absence of diseases, and therefore select methods for its elimination.

When there is severe sweating in women, the causes are the first thing to find out, and the second factor is the symptoms, which will determine the presence of the disease.

underarm sweating

Excessive sweating in the armpits has the scientific name axillary hyperhidrosis. Basically, this is a healthy physiological process by which excess heat is removed. But if the amount of sweat goes beyond reasonable, then this is a signal of malfunctions in the body.

The most common causes include vegetovascular dystonia, emotional stress and hormonal changes.

Sweating palms

A characteristic symptom of this type of hyperhidrosis is cold clammy palms. Sometimes there may be an unpleasant odor and a rash. The symptoms are aggravated by an overdose of certain drugs, stress and a number of diseases.

Sweating feet can lead to a number of dermatological problems

Sweating feet

Sweating feet in itself is not dangerous to health, but can provoke:

• the appearance of a characteristic odor and inflammatory processes;
• fungal infection;
• cracking of the skin.

If your feet sweat, then there are a lot of reasons. Among them, insufficient foot care, skin diseases, CNS pathologies, problems in the endocrine system, stress exposure, low-quality shoes and a number of others can be distinguished.

Whole body sweating

Any physical activity is accompanied by heavy sweating throughout the body. But if hyperhidrosis manifests itself in the rest of the time, then this may be due to infectious diseases, endocrine disorders, or problems in the emotional sphere.

Increased sweating during sleep can be caused by both external and internal causes.

Sweating while sleeping

Night sweats are a huge inconvenience for people suffering from this form of hyperhidrosis.

Sleep is disturbed, you have to change bed linen and clothes more than once a night. If excessive sweating is not associated with external factors (stuffy room, synthetic clothing, etc.), as well as age-related hormonal changes, then most likely this is a sign of serious disorders in the body, and then you should not postpone a visit to the doctor.

In general, according to how excessive sweating manifests itself, the following reasons for its occurrence can be distinguished.

Heavy sweating in women	Causes
At night	External factors, hormonal changes, tuberculosis, infectious and oncological diseases, disorders of the nervous system, HIV infection
Of the whole body	Physical activity, diabetes, hormonal changes, nervous system disorders, heart disease, cancer, genetic abnormalities
Underarms	Vegetovascular dystonia, emotional stress, hormonal changes, malnutrition
feet	Insufficient foot care, skin diseases, problems in the endocrine system
Hands	Physical activity, genetic predisposition, stress, vegetovascular dystonia, malnutrition

How to get rid of heavy (excessive) sweating

To facilitate the course of the disease allows the observance of a number of rules for skin care. Proven folk remedies and the achievements of modern medicine will also be a good help.

Hygiene rules for getting rid of heavy sweating

In some cases, simple hygiene rules help to cope with the unpleasant symptoms of hyperhidrosis:

• daily shower (at least once a day, better contrast);
• hair removal in the armpits;
• the use of modern cosmetics (deodorants, powders, creams);
• exclusion from the diet of spicy, salty foods, alcohol and caffeinated drinks.

Personal hygiene is the first rule to help eliminate the symptoms of excessive sweating

Choosing the right clothes and shoes

An important role in the tendency to heavy sweating is played by a careful selection of shoes and clothing. The basic rule is to let the skin breathe. Therefore, the ideal option would be loose-fitting clothes made of linen, cotton fabrics and shoes made of genuine leather.

Drug therapy for excessive body sweating

In cases where compliance with hygiene rules does not bring the desired relief, medications come to the rescue.

Furacilin for sweating

Furacilin is one of the proven remedies for severe sweating of the legs. The medicine is produced in the form of a solution, tablets (for taking baths) and in the form of an aerosol, which allows you to choose the most convenient method of application.

Iontophoresis

The procedure is aimed at the use of low voltage current pulses, which are passed through the patient's skin. Currently, iontophoresis is used in the treatment of almost all types of hyperhidrosis.

HRT is a procedure designed to normalize hormonal levels.

HRT - hormone replacement therapy (HRT). The method allows you to minimize such unpleasant manifestations of menopause as hot flashes. The drugs used in this case make up for the lack of estrogens in the woman's body, which in turn helps to reduce the intensity and frequency of hot flashes, and, accordingly, reduce sweating.

Glycerin for the preparation of baths

Another drug for hyperhidrosis is glycerin. It is added to baths for sweating hands.

hormone therapy

Any hormonal disorders in the body (be it menopause, puberty, malfunctions of the endocrine system, gynecological diseases, etc.) can lead to the development of hyperhidrosis. Severe sweating in women, the causes of which lie in a change in hormonal balance, can be well corrected with a course of hormone therapy.

To normalize hormonal imbalance in women, the following drugs are often prescribed:

1. Indole-3 is a popular drug for normalizing hormonal levels in women;
2. Cyclodinone is used to normalize the level of the hormone prolactin;
3. "Regulon", "Mersilon", "Logest" are hormonal contraceptives and are used to normalize the menstrual cycle;
4. Novinet, Lindinet, Belara, Minisiston are designed to restore balance in the female body.

Folk ways and recipes to eliminate severe sweating

Traditional medicine offers a fairly wide range of simple and affordable means to get rid of the unpleasant symptoms of hyperhidrosis.

Oak bark

Contains extracts that regulate the activity of the sweat glands. The spectrum of action is very wide. Decoctions, baths, infusions and pastes using oak bark help to cope with the manifestations of sweating in any part of the body.

The following recipe is used for bathing: in 2 liters of boiling water, dilute 2-3 tbsp. spoons of oak bark. The mixture is put on a strong fire. As soon as the water boils, the fire is reduced and kept for another 20 minutes. The broth must be filtered and can be added to the bath.

Sage

There are many well-known remedies based on this plant to combat hyperhidrosis, both during the day and at night. At the same time, the most effective recipes are obtained by mixing sage with other herbs. The most famous combination is a mixture of sage, horsetail and valerian officinalis.

All herbs are mixed in a ratio of 8:2:1, then pour 1-1.5 cups of boiling water and let it brew for 2 hours. The finished infusion is filtered. Take 100 ml in the morning and evening.

Sage in the treatment of excessive sweating has been used by mankind for thousands of years, but only 3 TYPES of the plant are suitable as a medicine (and only one of them grows in Russia).

Therefore, in order to protect yourself, you should buy sage officinalis in a pharmacy.

Lemon

Due to the drying and antibacterial effect, citric acid copes well with excessive sweating in any part of the body. It is enough just to rub the problem area with a slice of lemon or hold it on the skin for several minutes.

Mint and Melissa

Both plants stimulate blood circulation, strengthen skin vessels, relieve tissues of excess fluid and toxins. Regular baths with mint or lemon balm significantly reduce the symptoms of hyperhidrosis.

For 50 gr. mint and lemon balm use 1 liter of water. The mixture is brought to a boil, then kept for 15 minutes on low heat, filtered and added to the bath.

No less useful is tea with the addition of these herbs.

Infusion of birch buds

Another available remedy is birch buds. For 1 part of the raw material, 5 parts of vodka are used. Insist for a week. It is recommended to wipe the areas prone to excessive sweating 1-2 times a day.

Beer

It has established itself as a remedy for the treatment of hyperhidrosis and regular beer. It is enough just to add 1 liter of drink to a bath of water. It is recommended to take such a bath every day for 15-20 minutes. Course - 2 weeks.

chamomile

Chamomile has gained well-deserved popularity due to its anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and disinfectant properties. Its action is enhanced in combination with soda. For example, prepare such a solution: 6 tablespoons of flowers are brewed in 2 liters of boiling water for an hour. Then add two tbsp. tablespoons of soda. The resulting mixture is used for taking therapeutic baths.

horsetail tincture

Horsetail tincture helps with hyperhidrosis. To do this, horsetail grass is mixed with vodka in a ratio of 1 to 10. The solution is infused for two weeks in a warm, dark place. It is recommended to wipe the problem areas with this tincture twice a day.

Horsetail has long been used in folk medicine. But, despite its healing properties, this plant is also known for its toxicity to humans.

The herb can cause severe allergic reactions. Therefore, before use, it is necessary to treat a small area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe skin on the arm with tincture to make sure that there are no negative reactions from the body.

Soda

The beneficial properties of soda to absorb moisture and odors from the surrounding air have found their application in the treatment of sweating of the feet and hands. The recipe is simple: mix baking soda, water and any essential oil. The mixture is applied before going to bed for 10-15 minutes on the skin. Then wash off with cool water.

Vinegar

To make your feet sweat less, you can take baths with the addition of natural apple cider vinegar 5% -6%: 1 tbsp. (200 gr.) Vinegar is diluted in 5 liters of warm water. It is enough to hold your feet in the solution for about half an hour.

How to get rid of sweating permanently with surgical methods

Modern medicine has developed a number of techniques to get rid of sweating both for a long time and forever.

Botox treatment. The essence of the method lies in the fact that problem areas of the skin are treated by injecting Botox under the skin, which neutralize the sweat glands. The use of Botox can relieve hyperhidrosis in the treated area for up to six months.

Iontophoresis or galvanization. One of the most affordable procedures for getting rid of hyperhidrosis of the hands and feet. It is carried out both in special salons and at home. To do this, you only need to purchase a special device that acts on the skin using a low voltage current. Thus, there is a narrowing of the channels of the sweat glands, and sweating decreases.

Microwave therapy will help get rid of hyperhidrosis on any part of the body

Microwave (radio frequency) therapy. The ability of radio waves to have a detrimental effect on the sweat glands has found its application in the treatment of hyperhidrosis. This method is suitable for eliminating sweating on any part of the body.

Liposuction. The procedure is suitable for overweight patients. It is carried out, as a rule, in the armpit area. The essence of the method is that when excess fat is removed, the nerve endings of the glands are also destroyed.

Excision of the problem area. In this case, we are talking about the removal of skin in the armpits. It is used quite rarely, since after the operation a scar remains, which causes certain inconveniences.

Curettage. Another surgical method for the treatment of axillary hyperhidrosis. The operation is a kind of curettage of the subcutaneous tissues, in order to destroy the nerve endings in the area with excessive sweating. At the same time, the sweat glands are removed.

Laser therapy is considered the most effective and safe treatment for hyperhidrosis.

Laser treatment. According to experts, it is the safest and most effective way to deal with hyperhidrosis. During the procedure, a laser beam is used, which permanently blocks the action of the sweat glands.

Sympathectomy. A surgical procedure involving the destruction of a specific area of ​​the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system. According to the place of surgical intervention, there are:

• lumbar sympathectomy (used in the treatment of leg hyperhidrosis);
• thoracic sympathectomy (aimed at the treatment of sweating of the palms, face, neck, armpits, feet).

Severe sweating in women depends on many factors. It is important to remember that finding the cause and choosing the appropriate method of treatment in each case is the task of a qualified doctor.

Severe sweating in women: causes and treatment - in this video:

About the treatment of sweating folk methods:

As a protection against overheating, sweat glands were formed in the process of evolution. Simultaneously with sweat, excess salts are removed from the body, the water-salt balance is regulated. However, excessive sweating is a problem not only for those who sweat, but also for those who are nearby.

Reasons for excessive sweating

We must immediately make a reservation that the concept of "increased" sweating is quite individual. Sweating in men for physiological reasons is stronger than in women.

With uniform overheating, some zones sweat much more, others almost imperceptibly. The largest accumulation of sweat glands is located in the armpits, on the palms and feet. Sweat in the armpits becomes a breeding ground for bacteria that impart a persistent odor to the body and clothing. The situation is even worse in cases where the feet sweat a lot: "fragrant" socks must be changed after a few hours. What does hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) mean?

Problems with hormones

The most noticeable hormonal surges in women are observed during pregnancy and at the end of the reproductive age (menopause). In addition to excessive sweating, a jump in the level of female hormones during menopause entails a feeling of heat in the face, “hot flashes”, and a rapid heartbeat.

During pregnancy, excessive sweating exacerbates excess weight and accelerated metabolic reactions.

However, if, along with hyperhidrosis, other alarming symptoms appear that can in no way be considered a variant of the norm:

• Numbness of the limbs
• Swelling of soft tissues
• Pain in the region of the heart
• Headache
• High blood pressure
• The appearance of the smell of ammonia, protein in the urine,

you should consult a doctor and undergo a comprehensive examination to make sure that against the background of hormonal changes, the disease of the internal organs does not progress.

Hyperthyroidism

Problems with the thyroid gland among residents of modern megacities are not rare. The "legacy" makes itself felt - the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, environmental pollution, lack of iodine in products.

Diseases in which the thyroid gland produces an excess amount of hormones is called hyperthyroidism. One of the symptoms that indicates the pathology of the thyroid gland is excessive sweating. If, in addition to it, there are:

• Heart failure
• Tremor of the limbs
• Dry mouth
• Weight loss with normal and increased appetite
• Irritability, nervousness,

then it is time to urgently pay a visit to the endocrinologist - perhaps it is not only and not so much about a thyroid disease, but about a neoplasm in the pituitary gland.

Unnecessary sweetness

Excessive sweating is one of the symptoms of high blood glucose levels. In diabetes, the connection between tissues and sweat glands is disrupted, thermoregulation is lost, as a result of which a person constantly sweats, especially at night.

Cold sweats, combined with weakness, headache, dizziness, and impaired consciousness, are associated with extremely low blood sugar levels.

Heart problems

Very many violations of the heart and blood vessels are accompanied by excessive sweating. People suffering from arterial hypertension, atherosclerosis, vascular thrombosis, angina pectoris, ischemic manifestations know about this problem firsthand and, unfortunately, it is not the most terrible in this case.

The sweat glands also work in an enhanced mode with inflammation of the heart muscle or tissues of the heart bag.

Emotions under control!

A person who is able to control the external manifestation of his emotions may not give out a strong shock, surprise, fear, anxiety, anger with facial expressions, words, gestures. But the body reacts by releasing adrenal hormones - adrenaline and noradrenaline - into the blood. They cause the heart to beat faster, blood vessels to narrow, and sweat glands to give off excess moisture. Particularly noticeable in stressful situations, palms, forehead, neck, armpits sweat.

Finally

The causes of hyperhidrosis can be much more prosaic:

1. Overheating of the body
2. Too much salt in the body
3. Clothing that interferes with normal heat dissipation
4. Taking medications that have a diaphoretic (diuretic) effect
5. Gastrointestinal disorders
6. Abuse of chocolate, coffee, alcohol, sweet soda, hot spices, foods high in trans fats
7. Smoking

Deodorants, antiperspirants, cosmetic powders are just one of the ways to hide the consequences of malfunctioning sweat glands. If the problem is acute and is accompanied by other unpleasant symptoms, there is a need to visit a doctor and undergo an examination. You need to eliminate the cause, not its manifestations.

What is sweating and why is it necessary for the human body? This is the process during which the production of liquid secretion by the sweat glands occurs. Sweat is colorless and odorless and is 98% water. Thanks to sweating, the water-salt level is regulated, the body is cleansed of toxins and does not overheat.

Why does a person need sweat:

1. The main task of sweat is to maintain normal body temperature, not exceeding 37 degrees. The resulting sweat comes out, evaporates and thus cools the whole body.
2. Sweat glands cleanse the body of toxins, harmful metabolic products, chemicals that make up drugs. In addition, toxic components such as arsenic, iron, and mercury come out with sweat.
3. The sweat glands sometimes take on the role of the sebaceous glands. For example, there are no sebaceous glands on the palms and soles of the feet, but sweat glands are located there. They moisturize the skin and make it supple.
4. Maintains normal acid-base balance. The liquid secretion secreted by the sweat glands contains chlorides. They are formed in the body due to the consumption of salty and spicy foods. Thanks to the release of chlorides along with sweat, the metabolism is normalized, and the balance of acid and alkali is established.

Sometimes during the examination, chlorides are found above the norm. This may indicate poisoning or dehydration of the body, become a signal of the onset of pathological processes in the organs of the urinary system.

Characteristics of the composition and mechanism of sweat production

How does sweating happen? The functioning of the sweat glands is under the control of the nervous system. Physical activity, rise in body temperature, taking hot drinks or food, excitement cause a reaction of receptors in the skin, internal organs, muscles. Nerve impulses enter the sweat glands and lead to a contraction of the ducts. As a result, sweat is released. It contains ammonia, creatinine, urea, amino acids, mineral salts, toxins, metabolic products. In total, there are about 250 substances excreted along with sweat.

Normally, sweating increases during heavy physical work, sports, hot air, hot food or drinks, as well as during excitement and stress.

Healthy people produce sweat all the time, but at different speeds and intensities. How much sweat does a person produce? Even in a calm state and at a comfortable ambient temperature, the human body produces about 650 ml of sweat per day. In hot weather or during physical activity, the sweat glands produce up to 10 liters of liquid secretion. Throughout his life, a person loses about 17 thousand liters of liquid secretion.

There are two types of sweat glands:

1. Eccrine glands are evenly distributed throughout the body. They begin to function from birth. The main purpose is to regulate the temperature of the human body by moisturizing the skin. Sweat is colorless and contains salts and toxins.
2. In certain parts of the body (on the forehead, in the perineum, genitals) are apocrine glands. They are larger than the eccrine glands. The secret secreted by the glands does not get to the skin, but to the hair follicles. Their functioning begins only with a period of hormonal changes in adolescence. Apocrine glands are not involved in regulating body temperature. Activated during fear, pain, physical activity. Sweat has a sticky texture, milky color. The composition includes fats, proteins, hormones.

It is noted that the body of a woman emits less sweat than the body of a man, even with the same physical activity. This is due to the greater activity of the apocrine glands. In addition, the body of men is larger and, accordingly, contains more water.

Suspicious changes

If everything is in order with a person’s health, then the sweat is colorless or whitish, without a specific smell. But sweat contains many lipids and other substances, which, when decomposed, become a favorable environment for the reproduction of pathogenic bacteria.

With various diseases, the composition, color and amount of sweat changes. For example, in diseases of the thyroid gland, the iodine content may decrease or increase. The content of glucose in the liquid secretion secreted by the sweat glands increases in diabetes mellitus. Bile acids increase in liver pathologies.

The addition of the smell of ammonia or chlorine can indicate diseases of the kidneys and liver. At the same time, yellowish sweat stains remain on light-colored clothes. Traces of a bluish tint may appear as a result of inflammatory processes in the digestive tract.

Increased sweating is called hyperhidrosis. There are primary and secondary forms of this disease. It is the secondary form of hyperhidrosis that is associated with pathological processes in the body:

1. Diseases of the respiratory system: pneumonia, bronchitis, tuberculosis. Therefore, if over the past month there has been an increased formation of sweat during sleep or at rest, you need to take an x-ray and consult a specialist.
2. Oncological diseases at the initial stage are often accompanied by excessive sweating, weakness, body temperature may rise. For example, malignant formation of the adrenal glands. Ultrasound or MRI will help rule out the problem.
3. Problems with the thyroid gland (for example, hyperthyroidism) lead to changes in the hormonal background. There are failures in the thermoregulatory process.
4. Increased sweating may occur due to vegetative-vascular dystonia. There are changes in the nervous system, blood pressure changes. At the slightest adverse factors, sweat production increases.
5. Excess weight causes hyperhidrosis at night and during the day. As a result of excess kilograms, there is a load on all internal organs, and they begin to work in an enhanced mode.
6. Diabetes mellitus changes the hormonal background, disrupts the process of heat transfer.
7. A person can sweat a lot against the background of a rheumatological disorder.
8. The cause of the problem is diseases of the nervous system against the background of stress, depression, conflict situations, insomnia.
9. Nicotine and alcohol reduce the tone of muscles and blood vessels, the sweat glands begin to work incorrectly. Any movement leads to difficulty breathing, weakness, headaches and sweating.
10. Infectious and inflammatory processes in the body associated with a cold are accompanied by an increase in body temperature. Chills, weakness may be felt. Armpits, forehead, palms sweat not only during illness, but also during the recovery period after illness.
11. Prolonged and improper use of certain drugs leads to the fact that the body tries to get rid of harmful chemical compounds through sweat.
12. Diseases of the urinary system.

If the amount of sweat released has increased, then you should contact a therapist who will give directions for tests. Based on the results of the survey, the issue of further referral to narrow specialists will be decided. You may need the help of a neurologist, cardiologist, endocrinologist.

Therapeutic actions

Treatment should begin with preventive measures.

1. Personal hygiene should be carefully observed: take a shower, change underwear every day.
2. Choose clothes only from non-synthetic, breathable material (linen, cotton, wool).
3. The menu should be based on natural products rich in vitamins and minerals. Ready meals should contain as little spices and salt as possible. Limited or completely eliminated carbonated drinks, coffee and alcohol.
4. If possible, stressful situations should be avoided.

Common remedies in the fight against increased sweat formation are:

• taking drugs that calm the nervous system (Persen, Novo-Passit, Valerian);
• the iontophoresis method cleanses the pores, improves the functioning of the sweat glands;
• hormonal drugs stabilize the hormonal background;
• Botox injections are prescribed, which block the work of the sweat glands.

Deodorants and antiperspirants can fight excessive sweating. The action of most of these cosmetics is aimed at blocking the work of the sweat glands. Sweat continues to be produced, but has no way to come to the surface of the skin.