In medicine, there is such a thing as hyperhidrosis or excessive sweating. This phenomenon can be either an independent pathology or a symptom of a disease. Hyperhidrosis - common symptom diabetes, thyroid problems or an infectious disease. How do you understand when sweating becomes abnormal, and in what cases you need to deal with it?

Sweating is a natural process and normal reaction body, allowing it to be protected from overheating. The amount of sweat secreted directly depends on what a person is doing or in what temperature conditions is located, because it is impossible to sweat equally at noon in the desert and in the evening in the Arctic. Absolutely normal natural increase Sweating is caused by the following reasons:

• high temperature air, unusual for the body;
• physical activity, such as sports or heavy work;
• state of excitement, stress, nervous tension, fright.

At the same time, profuse sweating May be individual feature a person who causes some discomfort and is not the most in the best possible way affects the psychological state, as it reduces the quality of life.

But this problem can be easily overcome with the help of modern care and hygiene products. Today there are many strong deodorants - antiperspirants that lock sweat in place. It is much more dangerous if sweating is caused by a disease, in which case it is necessary to look for the cause of hyperhidrosis and first of all treat the underlying disease.

Signs of hyperhidrosis

When can increased sweat production be considered abnormal? Doctors advise you to think about treatment if you sweat a lot regardless of weather conditions, physical activity or psychological state. At the same time, sweat is released so profusely that no deodorants or other hygiene products help, and you have to wash and change clothes several times a day. Another reason for concern is the unpleasant, pungent odor sweat that causes people around you to avoid communication or stay away from you.

Excessive sweating, from the point of view of doctors, is of two types: local and generalized.

Local pathology, that is, limited to certain areas of the body, is usually “prescribed” in the following areas:

• palms, feet, ;
• face, area above the upper lip;
• groin area;
• bends of legs and arms.

It is believed that the local form of excessive sweating affects from 1% to 3% of the population and the first manifestations of the disease occur in adolescence. Experts do not consider this condition a sign of a serious illness. In most cases, the local form of increased sweating is associated with minor violations in the nervous system or hereditary predisposition.

From a medical point of view, the generalized type of hyperhidrosis is a manifestation of pathology. In this case profuse sweating noted throughout the body and is associated with a number of diseases. Therefore, if such a symptom appears, it is necessary to undergo a full medical examination.

Excessive sweating does not require correction or treatment in the following cases:

1. in adolescence, during puberty;
2. during pregnancy;
3. during menopause and the corresponding restructuring of the body;
4. when changing the climate zone to a hotter one.

Also, doctors do not consider treatment of pathology justified in cases of diseases or dysfunctions of the body such as:

• somatic;
• endocrine;
• neurological;
• hormonal;
• metabolic failures;
• drug treatment

In these cases, as in a number of others, hyperhidrosis is only a symptom, that is, a consequence of some illness in the body; accordingly, the disease itself should be treated, and not its manifestation.

Increased sweating at night

When a person sleeps, all processes in his body slow down, so excessive sweating during sleep is an anomaly, and if it occurs, you should consult a doctor. Of course, provided that the appearance of sweat is not due to reasons such as an overly hot room, an overly warm blanket or nightmares. Excessive sweating at night can indicate the presence of a number of serious diseases, for example:

• influenza or acute respiratory viral infection;
• pneumonia;
• tuberculosis of any kind;
• vegetative-vascular diseases;
• various malignant formations, tumors, including cancer;
• nervous system disorders;
• thyroid diseases;
• immune or hormonal disorders;
• fungal infections;
• all types of hepatitis;
• HIV or AIDS.

This is an incomplete list of ailments that may indicate copious discharge sweat while sleeping. Travelers and tourists returning from trips to tropical countries(especially to Asia or Africa). In this case, night sweats may be the first sign of infection with an exotic virus.

Causes of excessive sweating

Increased sweating in certain areas often runs in families and is inherited. Local, that is, local, hyperhidrosis is divided into two types:

1. taste;
2. idiopathic.

Gustatory hyperhidrosis occurs after consuming any food or drink and is localized on the face, usually above the upper lip or on the forehead. The most common culprits of this phenomenon are:

• hot chocolate;
• coffee;
• heavy spicy food (for example, khash or solyanka);
• spices such as pepper or curry.

The idiopathic type of pathology is mainly caused by severe irritation or initially high level activity of the autonomic nervous system. Most often, such sweating occurs between the ages of 16 and 30 years. This is the period of life when a person experiences the strongest emotional experiences. Typically, sweat is concentrated in three areas: on the palms, soles, and armpits.

Excessive sweating in women is additionally caused by the following reasons:

• changes in hormonal levels;
• pregnancy;
• menopause.

Excessive sweating in men has other characteristics and appears when:

• sports or just physical activity;
• heart diseases (including arrhythmia);
• prolonged stress.

At generalized hyperhidrosis, the reasons usually lie in a certain disease. Excessive sweating accompanies such “dormant” ailments in the body as diabetes, vascular pathologies, diseases thyroid gland. In addition, sweating throughout the body may occur under the following conditions:

• infectious and colds;
• all forms of tuberculosis;
• malaria, synthecymia or brutellosis;
• endocrine pathologies;
• hypertension;
• all kidney diseases, in which the body removes excess moisture in a “backup” way;
• acromegaly - dysfunction of the pituitary gland, one of the symptoms of which is sudden sudden sweating throughout the body;
• pheochromocytoma, insidious disease, which is often disguised as symptoms of hypertension and manifests itself in the form of severe sweating of the body;
• oncological diseases are accompanied by increased sweating in the evenings, at rest (for example, when watching TV);
• vegetative-vascular dystonia;
• illnesses affecting the nervous system, for example, Parkinson's disease, neurosyphilis, strokes;
• consequences of taking medicines, for example, analgesics, insulin, aspirin-containing drugs if the dosage is incorrect or if they are used for too long;
• psychosomatic disorders and disorders such as stress, panic attacks, depression, paranoia are often accompanied by severe sweating.

Let us separately dwell on excessive sweating of the feet, which is not always caused by any disease. Often the reason is completely banal - incorrectly selected shoes. Great value has the material from which the “clothing” for the legs is made.

Synthetic shoes do not allow the skin to breathe and thereby create conditions for increased sweating. However, using foot deodorants will not have a positive effect. In addition, many people wear synthetic socks, which only aggravates the problem. Therefore, if you have hyperhidrosis of the feet, you need to wear only cotton socks and take care of finding high-quality shoes from genuine leather which will provide the necessary ventilation and air access.

Treatment of the disease

Treatment of excessive sweating, like any other disease, begins with a visit to a specialist. During the appointment, the doctor will ask whether the person sweats constantly or whether it happens from time to time, and whether sweating increases under stress.

During the conversation, the specialist should find out whether the immediate family suffered from similar symptoms, at what time of day the person sweats, which areas are affected, and assess the general condition of the patient in order to exclude infectious diseases.

Very often, the reason for the progression of hyperhidrosis is the person himself, as he begins to worry about his own sweat, experiencing discomfort in life and at work because of it. These thoughts and worries trigger psychosomatic mechanisms, increasing the symptoms of the pathological condition.

Excessive sweating in a child requires special attention. If the baby is not predisposed to sweating and does not genetically suffer from allergies, and an older child has not yet entered puberty, it is necessary to urgently consult a doctor and undergo a full examination.

In children heavy sweating is almost always a symptom serious illnesses(for example, heart disease). Therefore, if a child sweats profusely without objective reasons is an alarm that cannot be ignored.

Therapy methods

Modern medicine uses following methods And With remedies for excessive sweating:

• drug treatment;
• use of antiperspirants;
• physiotherapy;
• cosmetic procedures (Botox, laser);
• surgical operation.

Medical antiperspirants are in steady demand for hyperhidrosis. One bottle of a product such as Maxim will be enough for intensive use throughout the year. Drydry deodorant is less economical, the package will last for six months, and Odaban is the strongest, the effect of one application lasts up to 10 days.

Most antiperspirants contain special components that prevent sweating. These are aluminum salts, zinc salts, salicylic acid, ethyl alcohol. The effect of these substances is to narrow or completely block the excretory channels of the sweat glands, which helps reduce sweat production. However, regular use of such products can cause dermatitis, allergic reactions, or swelling and inflammation in the area of ​​blocked ducts.

Widely used drug correction, which relieves excessive sweating based on medications containing alkaloids (bellataminal, bellaspon, belloid). These drugs reduce excessive activity of the sweat glands and do not cause dependence on the intake.

If the cause of hyperhidrosis is a dysfunction of the nervous system, it is recommended sedatives(valerian, motherwort, belladonna preparations), physical therapy or yoga. For people with an unstable, labile nervous system, the doctor usually prescribes tranquilizers that reduce increased excitability, help cope with stress and thus eliminate the cause of hyperhidrosis.

Physiotherapeutic methods

Physiotherapeutic procedures provide a good therapeutic effect. For example, hydrotherapy and the use of contrast showers and pine-salt baths have restorative effect and reduce the excitability of the nervous system.

Especially beneficial influence provides electrosleep - a therapeutic method based on the effect of low-frequency impulses directly on the brain. Electrosleep sessions have a pronounced sedative effect, inhibit nervous excitement and strengthen the autonomic system.

Another common method is therapeutic electrophoresis, during which problem areas are exposed to a constant electric current in combination with medicines. This exposure causes temporary dehydration of the area with increased sweating, and active ingredients medications penetrate the skin and prevent sweat production for up to 20 days.

Popular methods

1. Botox injections. One of the most modern methods treatments for hyperhidrosis are Botox injections, which long term(up to 6 months) block the nerve endings in the sweat glands and prevent excessive sweating. You can inject Botox into a problem area in a beauty salon, but the procedure should only be performed by an experienced cosmetologist.
2. Laser treatment. The latest development by experts in the field of cosmetology is a laser method for treating hyperhidrosis. The procedure is performed in outpatient setting using local anesthesia. The essence of the method is to use thermal radiation neodymium laser that destroys sweat glands. In just one session, you can completely cure axillary hyperhidrosis. The procedure is practically painless, does not require preliminary preparation and does not cause complications.
3. Surgical treatment. This is the most radical way to combat hyperhidrosis, which is associated with a certain risk. Therefore, they resort to it only in especially severe cases and after conservative treatment did not bring results. There are both local and central methods surgical treatment. The specialist decides which one to choose after assessing the patient’s condition and possible risks. Most interventions are aimed at removing part of the sweat glands in order to normalize sweating processes.

Folk remedies

The traditional, popularly accepted methods of combating excess sweat include three areas:

• hygiene;
• sedatives;
• measures against odor.

Body hygiene involves visiting a bathhouse, with a mandatory steam room and brooms, which should contain not only leaves, but also birch buds. This method, in addition to the pronounced hygienic effect, “drives” many ailments out of the body.

Recommended herbal teas from mint, lemon balm, motherwort and others medicinal plants, which have a calming effect and eliminate psychosomatic disorders. Measures aimed at combating sweat odor include the use of various natural deodorant substitutes, such as fruits or herbs with a pleasant, fresh smell, which can be used to treat the armpit area.

Rubbing tinctures have an excellent effect. problem areas prepared from medicinal plants (chamomile, birch buds, mint, sage, oak bark). You can take pine baths two or three times a week, adding a few drops of a weak solution of potassium permanganate to the water.

People use a mixture of talc and starch or powder to treat their feet. boric acid. It is enough to treat them with this powder every evening after washing your feet to reduce excessive sweating.

Excessive sweating of the body can be a sign of various ailments, an independent pathology, or simply an individual characteristic of a particular person. Anyway, solve this unpleasant problem It is quite possible that doctors have enough tools and opportunities for this in their arsenal.

The production of sweat by the body is a physiological necessity, leading to cooling of the body and the removal of various types of toxins and fluids from the body. A secretion is released in case of overheating of the body at high air temperatures, stress, long-term stress nerves. In some cases, sweat secretion is released in excess quantities, causing inconvenience, discomfort in the form of odor and constantly wet clothes. Excessive secretion is called hyperhidrosis. Reasons excessive sweating are hidden, more often, in various diseases body, and hyperhidrosis is one of the symptoms of the disease. For a long time, excessive sweat secretion was not considered a disease. However, recently excessive sweating attributed to diseases endocrine system.

In some cases, sweat secretion is released in excess quantities, causing inconvenience, discomfort in the form of odor and constantly wet clothes.

How can you tell if you have hyperhidrosis?

Normally, sweat is secreted through the eccrine and apocrine glands. The liquid they secrete consists of salts, water, organic components and other things. Sweat secretion can appear all over the body in the form of a film, or appear abundantly on separate parts bodies. The work of the sweat glands is regulated by the autonomic nervous system.

Doctors found out that normal amount sweat secreted by a person living in middle lane, should not exceed nine hundred milliliters. However, it is difficult to measure the amount of sweat secreted. Therefore, the diagnosis of hyperhidrosis will be made based on complaints of deterioration in quality of life due to excessive sweating. Define this pathology no problem if:

1. You sweat in a state of mental and physical peace, that is, the room temperature is comfortable, you were not nervous, did not work physically;
2. Sweating occurs not only in the armpits, but also on other parts of the body, in particular, on the soles of the feet, on the palms of the hands, on the scalp, back, and abdomen;
3. You need to take a shower and clothes several times a day, as they quickly become damp;
4. You are nervous about excessive sweat secretion;
5. Excessive sweating has been observed for three years or more;
6. You cannot visit gym due to excessive sweating;
7. You don’t want to contact people, keep your distance from them, you have self-doubt, and you constantly have thoughts about excessive sweating.

Sweat secretion can appear on the entire body in the form of a film, or appear profusely on individual parts of the body.

Species

Hyperhidrosis is divided into two types:

• local;
• generalized.

Local – local increase in sweating. For example, if the head sweats, or only the palms, soles of the feet or armpits, or the palms, soles of the feet, head, armpits sweat simultaneously or separately;
Generalized – sweat production by the entire body simultaneously and in large quantities. This happens when the temperature of the whole body is high, for example, during illness.

Hyperhidrosis is divided into primary and secondary.

• Primary – occurs in adolescents, of which 1% are affected;
• Secondary – due to various diseases of the nervous, endocrine system, heart and blood vessels.

Sweat does not have any odor, but everyone notices an odor when sweating. The unpleasant odor of the secretion comes from toxins, bacterial agents that are eliminated by the body, as well as proteins from the sweat secretion.

By degree:

1. Available mild degree sweating, which may go unnoticed by a person;
2. The secretion is abundant, the sweat secretion sometimes flows down the face, body, clothes quickly becomes damp and smells unpleasant;
3. Excessive sweating, constantly damp skin, unpleasant odor, skin diseases appear.

Excessive sweating at night

If at night, when normal temperature in the room, a person wakes up wet from sweat, which is localized on the back, chest or head, then the causes of excessive sweating should be found out.

Normally, at night, all processes in the body slow down, including the secretion of sweat. This is due to the fact that during sleep a person is emotionally and physically calm. Therefore, if the body sweats at night, then an appointment with a doctor is necessary to find out the reasons. excessive sweating, since hyperhidrosis can be one of the symptoms of a serious illness.

What questions might a doctor ask to diagnose hyperhidrosis?

To diagnose hyperhidrosis and determine the causes of excess sweating in the future, your doctor may ask the following questions:

• Is sweat secretion constantly or periodically increasing?
• Does sweating increase with nervous tension or stress?
• Is sweat secreted locally (on the forehead, soles of the feet, arms, back or abdomen, armpits) or throughout the body simultaneously?
• Do relatives have the same problems?
• Sweat secretion is released in greater quantities at night or during daytime days?
• When the temperature is comfortable or even low for those around you, do you feel hot?
• Do you experience weakness, impaired consciousness, or trembling limbs?
• Does hypohidrosis affect your life and work in any way?
• Do you have a cough or swollen lymph nodes?
• Are you taking any medications?
• Have you lost weight? Has your appetite decreased?

Causes of excessive sweating

The causes of local and generalized hyperhidrosis are different.

Local

More often it has a hereditary cause.

• Gustatory – manifested by sweating on the face, in particular on upper lip or forehead. Secretion of sweat fluid occurs after eating spicy food, alcohol, or hot drinks. The reason is surgery on salivary glands, or infectious diseases of the salivary gland;
• Idiopathic – associated with excessive irritation of the parasympathetic nervous system. It is felt at a young age, up to about thirty years of age. Secretion of sweat fluid can be observed both on all of the listed parts of the body at the same time, and on the palms and soles of the feet; often no treatment is required, the disease goes away on its own. The weaker sex is most susceptible to this type hard work sweat glands due to hormonal changes, pregnancy, childbirth, menopause;

Generalized

Most doctors are sure that excessive work of the sweat glands is due to hereditary factors eighty percent of the time. The following diseases can cause excessive secretion:

• Diabetes mellitus;
• Hypertension;
• Thyrotoxicosis.

In addition, nervous diseases, insufficient hygiene, taking medications and antibiotics can be the cause.

• Intoxication – can occur due to infectious lesions of the body or poisoning. Fever leads to intoxication, chills and increased activity of the sweat glands. Abundant secretion of sweat fluid is observed in malaria, brucellosis, and septicemia. And with tuberculosis infection, a person sweats at night, since that is when he develops a low-grade fever;
• Diseases of the endocrine system - thyrotoxicosis (thyroid disease), diabetes, low blood sugar - the symptoms of all these pathologies include excessive secretion of sweat fluid. In women, excess secretion can be observed during pregnancy and menopause. The generalized form can occur with acromegaly and pheochromocytoma;
• Oncology – for malignant tumor processes sweating may increase. For example, Hodgkin's lymphoma is accompanied by alternating fever and low temperature, generalized hyperhidrosis at night, fatigue;
• Kidney diseases - since in case of kidney diseases, the discharge various substances, Not needed by the body, through the kidneys is difficult, then this process occurs through sweat secretion;
• Vegetative-vascular dystonia - hyperhidrosis can be observed not only during the day, but also at night;
• Medicines - insulin, antiemetics, NSAIDs, painkillers - if they are overdosed, excessive sweating may occur;
• CNS diseases - Parkinson's disease, neurosyphilis, tabes;
• Reaction to pain - may sweat when intense pain syndrome, spasm;
• Psychosomatic disorders - rage, anger, stress, nervous tension - all this leads to activation of the sympathetic nervous system, which causes excessive secretion of sweat fluid;
• Obesity.

Excessive sweating, which lasts for a long time, manifests itself not only during the day, but also at night, can be a symptom of a serious illness. Therefore, if you have excessive sweat secretion, you should consult a doctor.

Experts say: with this method, antiperspirants will not work effectively. What's the right way?

The floor goes to our expert, Candidate of Medical Sciences, head of the Center for the Treatment of Hyperhidrosis (Excessive Sweating - Ed.) at Central Clinical Hospital No. 6 Vladimir Kuzmichev.

Evening morning is wiser

To expect the antiperspirant to work properly, it must be applied thin layer for the night. If you still want to use it before rushing out to work, then go ahead, but then do it 2 times a day: in the morning and late in the evening.

This rule applies only to antiperspirants; it does not apply to deodorants. The fact is that in the armpits there are special mixed sweat glands - ecrino-apocrine. Ecrine - produce sweat, apocrine - the smell that seems so unpleasant to us. The deodorant will simply drown it out with its aroma.

The purpose of antiperspirants is different: to mechanically plug the ducts of the sweat glands, which do not function in the late evening and at night. If you use a stick or ball in the morning, especially immediately after a shower, the product will get on your wet armpits and simply wash off.

Some ladies complain: “My clothes get dirty from antiperspirants.” It is precisely because most of us grab the “stick” or “ball” in the morning in a hurry that trouble occurs. If you apply the product in the evening, it will instantly dry on dry skin. Now the clothes you put on in the morning will remain clean throughout the day, and your armpits will remain dry.

If you forgot to apply antiperspirant in the evening, immediately after your morning shower, thoroughly dry your armpits with a hairdryer, switching the air supply to room temperature. Just a towel is not enough! And then use a sweat remedy.

If "all wet"

You must especially strictly follow the rules for applying antiperspirants if you use special ones - aluminum chloride, which help not with normal, but with increased sweating (doctors call this problem hyperhidrosis). These are quite effective remedies and are considered medicinal because they contain aluminum chloride hexahydrate in high concentrations - up to 40%. But you can use them only at night before bed, on dry, clean armpits, when the sweat glands are not working, so that active substance entered the channels without interference. The strictness is justified: contact of the product with water can lead to a chemical burn.

If aluminum chlorides do not work the first time, you need to repeat the procedure 2-4 evenings in a row. And then determine the application interval. Usually once every 4-5 days is enough - traffic jams that block the path of sweat form during this period. Some pedantic patients manage to use aluminum chlorides for a long time and effectively – 3–4 years. Over time, such people experience atrophy of the sweat glands: the patient began to use the product once every 4 days, then once a week, every two weeks, and finally once a month... Increased sweating becomes normal. And you can switch to ordinary care products.

Seven sweats

The correct use of antiperspirants can be supplemented with other tricks. And then you will feel impeccable even in the thick of it.

Antiperspirants are not very suitable for those who like spicy foods. Substances contained in aromatic spices irritate not only taste buds tongue and palate, but also other areas of the skin. Getting into the sweat glands, which are closed by antiperspirant, they can cause severe inflammation. On the day when you went to a restaurant serving Chinese, Mexican or Caucasian cuisine, it is better not to use it.

Follow the prohibition law. Cold (but not ice-cold) water is best to quench your thirst and will replenish the fluid you lost through sweat. But alcohol stimulates blood flow to the skin, so even a cocktail with ice will make you sweat before you even feel drunk.

Avoid coffee and cola. The caffeine contained in them increases the contractions of the heart, forcing it to work as if our fiery engine was working when overheated.

Lose excess weight. An overweight person sweats more, any physical activity in the heat becomes unbearable for him - the heart cannot cope with blood circulation.

Cool down your ardor. Anxious people break out into a sweat even when a minor worry occurs. Try not to be unnecessarily nervous - resort to sedatives, auto-training, and relaxing breathing exercises.

A gene that makes a person especially sensitive to the smell of sweat has been discovered by Israeli and American scientists. It turned out that the presence of a single copy of the OR11 H7 P gene leads to the fact that a person smells sweat even in the most minimal concentration.

It is difficult to say whether OR11 H7 P brings benefit or harm to people? More likely, the latter. A person gets fixated on a problem and stresses himself out: he just has a “fad”: what do those around him smell like? And he is insanely scrupulous about the cleanliness of his own body.

By the way

If you go for a walk in the forest, be sure to use antiperspirant. And not just for the sake of hygiene. It turns out that this product is an excellent protection against ticks. Harmful insects, from whose bite you can become infected with encephalitis and borreliosis (Lyme disease), are attracted precisely by the smell of human sweat. Therefore, any antiperspirant will protect you no worse than an anti-tick repellent. Treat with your usual product vulnerabilities- the area of ​​the chest, armpits, under the knees, neck, arms and back, and in children - the places behind the ears and on the back of the head (in children it is the head that sweats most).

Important

Remember that sweating, which does not go away even in cool weather, is a very important symptom.

For an endocrinologist. He may suspect hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, diabetes.

For an orthopedist. Congenital flat feet can be caused by constantly wet socks.

For a gynecologist. The so-called hot flashes, when a woman feels hot and cold, almost always accompany menopause.

For the surgeon. Sticky sweat characteristic of gastric bleeding.

For a dermatologist. Excessive sweating may be associated with hidradenitis, an inflammation of the sweat glands. Sweating often causes itchy dermatoses.

For neurologist and psychiatrist. If, in addition to sweating, the patient complains of changes blood pressure, lack of appetite, tightness in the chest, then most likely this is a manifestation of vegetative-vascular dystonia.

For a cardiologist. The doctor may detect angina pectoris or even myocardial infarction in the patient.

Note

The myth that aluminum chlorides and other antiperspirants cause Alzheimer's disease and breast cancer has not been confirmed by serious research. And in general, sweating has only one task - thermoregulation. Sweat glands do not remove toxins. Normally functioning kidneys must cope with this.

But during pregnancy you should not treat your armpits with aluminum chlorides - it is better to buy traditional products.

Aluminum chlorides are not suitable for those who, after using them, begin to experience irritation, itching, or hidradenitis - inflammation of the apocrine sweat glands, the so-called “bitch udder”. However, other antiperspirants may also cause problems for these people. To choose the right ones, they need to consult a dermatologist.

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, so increased sweating of the body can be observed when a person experiences strong emotions, such as fear or excitement.

All of the above is physiological phenomena which are typical for 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, wet soles and palms, a pungent odor of 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 liquid, products of 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. By chemical composition sweat is 97-99 percent water and salt impurities (sulfates, phosphates, potassium and sodium chlorides), as well as others 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 with ARVI, accompanied by high fever, taking certain medications, or metabolic disorders. Another reason for increased sweating of the head is allergies. Stress can also trigger this form of hyperhidrosis, poor nutrition, alcoholism, drug addiction, etc.

Sweating on the face

That's pretty too rare occurrence. 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 of the 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 whims 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 occipital region, so in the morning the whole 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 alarming 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 we talk about drug therapy, they can be used different groups medicines. 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 teas, medicines containing motherwort, valerian). 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 their chemical composition, including salicylic acid, ethyl alcohol, aluminum and zinc salts, formaldehyde, triclosan. Such drugs narrow or even completely block excretory ducts 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 (contrast showers, pine-salt baths) is widely used. 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. 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, the pharmacological effect is achieved due to 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 surgery, nerves 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.

Sweating is an individual characteristic for everyone. It depends on the number and location of sweat glands, the composition of the blood and the human nervous system. The onset of some kind of disease is indicated not by the fact of sweating itself, but by 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 throughout the whole body, and local sweating, when only part of the body sweats: legs, palms, armpits.
• Also heavy sweating may be congenital or acquired.

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

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

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

Violation of any of these functions can lead to serious illnesses, 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, avoiding synthetic fabrics and properly regulating the temperature in the room will help reduce sweating.

Innate tendency to sweat

If a person sweats a lot during childhood, it is called congenital sweating. In this case, the reason for increased 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 under stress and strong emotions, and sweat a lot during physical activity.

Knowing this physiological feature, they need to wear loose-fitting clothes and only made 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 is 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 proliferation of microbes and inflammation.

Hormonal changes

Excessive sweating can occur when the body experiences hormonal changes: 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 irritants.

Adolescence

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

Sensitive teenagers often feel nervous - at the board, during an exam. Characteristic sign sweating on nervous soil- 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 such as "Persen" or "Novopassit". A much better way to reduce youthful passions is to practice yoga, dancing or any other hobby that calms the child.

Pregnancy

Excessive sweating during pregnancy is caused by a decrease in the production of estrogen and an increase in the amount of progesterone, which provokes a deterioration in metabolism. So it can come out later excess liquid. To sweat less, you need to avoid synthetic fabrics in clothes and styles that fit your figure. It is also better to avoid hot shoes and shoes with rubber soles for a while.

Climax

With the cessation of menstruation, the amount of estrogen in a woman’s blood drops and the amount of follicle-stimulating hormone increases. These changes lead to the appearance of "hot flashes" -sudden attacks heat followed by profuse sweating all over the body.

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

Physiological reasons

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

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

Synthetic clothing and shoes are the most common reasons excessive sweating. Shoes with rubber soles and synthetic fabrics do not dissipate heat at all, causing the body to overheat and sweat. If you wear such shoes constantly, fungi will begin to develop in the damp environment of the sneakers, and in addition to unpleasant odor There will also be a problem with the feet. To avoid sweating, you need to choose breathable shoes made of leather or suede. And open shoes for the warm season.

When to start worrying

When sick, a person sweats differently than he did all his life before. Depending on the type of illness, sweating may occur constantly or occur only periodically. However, any change in the amount of sweat produced and its smell is a sign that you should pay attention to. It may hint at an endocrinological disorder - such as 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 blood sugar caused by diabetes, the fibers of the peripheral nervous system - the same ones that innervate the sweat glands - suffer. As a result, the stimulation of the glands increases and more sweat is released.

Heavy sweating may indicate diabetes mellitus if a person also experiences constant thirst. Also important symptoms- increased frequency of nighttime urination and poor heat tolerance. If these symptoms appear, you need to make an appointment with a therapist or endocrinologist.

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

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

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

Hyperthyroidism will not go away on its own. All these symptoms are corrected hormonal therapy, or surgically - as prescribed by an endocrinologist.

Kidney diseases

If a person sweats a lot, you need to pay attention to the amount of urine. A reduction in the volume of urine excreted, the appearance of sediment, foam, and a change in its color are symptoms of kidney disease. They are also characterized by 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 present, you need to go to a therapist, or better yet, go straight to a nephrologist.

When you need to see a doctor urgently

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

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

And if there is drooling and abdominal pain - poisoning with organophosphorus chemistry or muscarine.

Infectious diseases

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

Poisoning and drug use

These are aspirin, insulin and pilocarpine. Painkillers such as morphine and promedol also cause sweating.

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 poisoning from organophosphates and fungi.

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

Treatment and prevention

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

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

1. To prevent your feet and body from sweating, wear clothes made from natural fabrics and breathable shoes appropriate for the weather.
2. To prevent your palms from sweating, be less nervous and drink sedatives.
3. To prevent your face from sweating, avoid very hot and spicy foods.
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 during sports, or from excitement is not a shame. This means that the person is healthy and all his systems are working perfectly.

References

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

• Adhikari S. General medical practice according to John Nobel / [S. Adhikari et al.] ; edited by J. Nobel, with the participation of G. Green [et al.]; lane from English edited by E. R. Timofeeva, N. A. Fedorova; ed. trans.: N. G. Ivanova [and others]. - M.: Praktika, 2005
• Mikhailova L. I. Encyclopedia traditional medicine[Text] / [auto-stat. Mikhailova L.I.]. - M: Tsentrpoligraf, 2009. - 366 p. ISBN 978-5-9524-4417-1
• Palchun, Vladimir Timofeevich ENT diseases: learning from other people's mistakes: a guide with a reference book of medicines: dozens of case histories, medical errors, pharmaceutical reference book, diseases of the nose and paranasal sinuses, ear diseases, pharynx disease, diseases of the larynx and trachea, medical documentation, mordi and vitae anamnesis / B 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. Complete home medical reference for treating diseases: [ clinical manifestations diseases, methods traditional therapy, unconventional methods treatments: herbal medicine, apitherapy, acupuncture, homeopathy] / [Yu. Yu. Eliseev and others]. - M: Eksmo, 2007 ISBN 978-5-699-24021-0
• Rakovskaya, Lyudmila Alexandrovna Symptoms and diagnosis of diseases [Text]: [ detailed description the most common diseases, causes of occurrence and stages of development of diseases, necessary examinations and treatment methods] / L. A. Rakovskaya. - Belgorod; Kharkov: Family Leisure Club, 2011. - 237 p. ISBN 978-5-9910-1414-4