What is excessive sweating?
Excessive sweating, also called hyperhidrosis, happens when the body produces much more sweat than it needs to regulate temperature. This can affect the underarms, face, hands and feet, or sometimes affect the whole body.
Although excessive sweating is common, the impact can be difficult to live with. Constant wet patches, damp palms, or clammy feet can make normal activities uncomfortable and may stop you from doing things you’d usually enjoy.
What causes hyperhidrosis?
Hyperhidrosis happens when the sympathetic nerves that control your sweat glands are overactive. Instead of switching on only when your body temperature rises, they keep sending signals, so you may sweat excessively even when resting or in cool conditions.
For many people, this type of sweating (called primary hyperhidrosis or primary focal hyperhidrosis) isn’t linked to any illness and often starts in childhood or teenage years. It usually affects both sides of the body in the same way – for example, both underarms, hands, or feet.
Sometimes, sweating is caused by another health condition or medication. This is known as secondary hyperhidrosis and can be linked to an overactive thyroid gland, diabetes, the menopause, an infection, or medicines like some antidepressants or painkillers.
If there’s no obvious cause for your sweating, your GP may look at your medical history and sometimes carry out diagnostic tests. In some cases, you may be referred to a specialist through the NHS to rule out other conditions before deciding on the best diagnosis and treatment.
Understanding which type you have can help guide the best approach to treatment, with hyperhidrosis antiperspirants being a common starting point for many people.
Hyperhidrosis Treatments
There are various treatments which can help control hyperhidrosis. The most common starting point is using strong hyperhidrosis antiperspirants that block sweat glands and reduce sweating.
Hyperhydrosis Antipersperants
The best antiperspirants for excessive sweating contain aluminium chloride. They work by blocking the sweat glands, which helps reduce wetness and keep the skin drier for longer. They can be used on the underarms, hands, or feet, depending on where sweating is a problem.
Hydrocortisone Cream
Sometimes, constant moisture leads to itching, soreness, or skin irritation. Hydrocortisone cream is a mild steroid treatment that helps calm redness and soothe discomfort caused by sweating. This type of treatment can be effective when hyperhidrosis causes irritation alongside wetness.
At Click2Pharmacy, you can buy these treatments through our online clinic with quick, discreet delivery across the UK.