FACTS:
About three percent of the U.S. population, or about 7.8 million people, suffered from primary hyperhidrosis, an excessive sweating disorder with no known cause, which most commonly affects the palms, soles, underarms, face and scalp. 0.8 percent are Latinos.
Summer is the season of swimming, sunbathing—and sweating. As the heat index climbs, our bodies work hard to keep us cool.
“When we become hot, a part of our brain called the hypothalamus signals to little nerves in the skin to tell the sweat gland to produce sweat,” said Dr. Whitney Bowe, a dermatologist in New York City. The liquid then cools us when it evaporates.
But while sweating is helpful for cooling us down, few people enjoy having smelly underarms, stinky feet and clothes stuck to their back and groin. And some people sweat excessively no matter the time of year, and in the absence of typical triggers like heat and physical activity.
For people who sweat a lot, Dr. Bowe recommends loose, moisture-wicking clothing. Many athletic brands offer fast-drying layers and outerwear. Numi, a women’s clothing company based in Canada, sells undershirts with sweat-absorbent underarm pads. Mizzen+Main makes sweat-wicking dress shirts for men. It may also help to spend time in well-ventilated, air-conditioned spaces, Dr. Bowe added.
Antiperspirants can also reduce sweating, Dr. Bowe said. These topical treatments are typically made of aluminum compounds that “plug the pores of the sweat glands and prevent sweat from coming out,” said Dr. Lyall Gorenstein, a thoracic surgeon and the surgical director of the Center for Hyperhidrosis at Columbia University Medical Center. (Deodorants are different from antiperspirants: They do not affect sweat production, but can help reduce any accompanying odor.)
Antiperspirants made of up to 15 percent aluminum chloride are sold over the counter, but doctors can also prescribe stronger prescription formulations, Dr. Gorenstein said. These products can be used not just on the underarms, but also on the hands, face and feet.
“If you choose to wear antiperspirant, I recommend applying it at night before you go to bed, rather than in the morning after your shower,” Dr. Bowe said. “Antiperspirant is more effective when it is applied to dry skin rather than damp skin.”
Iontophoresis is an at-home treatment that can also reduce hand, foot and underarm sweat, Dr. Gorenstein said, and it is sometimes covered by health insurance. After soaking the affected skin in water, patients use a small device to produce an electrical current that blocks their sweat glands. The procedure typically has to be done three times in the first few weeks to see initial results, and then once a week to maintain them. Some medical device suppliers may require a prescription for the purchase of an iontophoresis device in the United States.
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