excessive sweating Archives - MiraDry Miami

9 Reasons for Excessive Sweating You May Be Experiencing

Nick Masri MD — Fri, 12 Apr 2019 13:09:38 +0000

If you sweat too much, you’re probably wondering what’s causing your excessive sweating.

The truth is, you can’t pinpoint just one or two reasons for excessive sweating. Several factors might be at play why you’re still sweating even though it’s the cold season and you’re not doing any strenuous physical activity.

Top Reasons for Excessive Sweating

Curious what those reasons are? Keep reading to find out.

Genetics

Sometimes, it runs in the family.

In fact, a 2002 study by the UCLA proved just as much when their findings showed that a dominant gene might be the culprit behind a person’s clammy hands.

If this is the case for you, simple lifestyle changes might not be enough. You need to look for a professional who can guide you on how to combat a hereditary disorder.

Heat and Humidity

It’s not much of a surprise that temperature and humidity can play a factor why you’re sweating excessively.
Since the temperature is at its peak during summer, it’s essential to stay in a cool place to avoid the embarrassment of a soaked shirt.

Exercise and Physical Activity

Activities that demand much from your body might be one of the reasons for excessive sweating.

Ironically, exercising is also a great way to minimize excessive sweating. It lessens your stress hormone levels and triggers the release of your happy hormones.

While lessening your activity isn’t an option, try to work out in a cool place and environment. Make sure that you have an antiperspirant and extra shirt with you. Practice good hygiene before going out of the locker room.

Stress and Anxiety

As if life’s problems aren’t enough, your body now decides to act up. Dealing with tense situations can trigger anxiety, making it one of the reasons for excessive sweating.

When you’re stressed and anxious, you experience increased heart rate and a surge in body temperature. Both of these result in higher sweat production. Perspiration caused by stress can also have a fouler odor than regular sweat.

Hyperhidrosis

Hyperhidrosis is a medical condition characterized by excessive sweating. It has two kinds–primary focal hyperhidrosis and secondary generalized hyperhidrosis.

Primary focal hyperhidrosis is not caused by another medical condition. In other words, excessive sweating is the condition itself.

It starts early on in childhood, with symptoms first appearing on your hands and feet. It can also happen in other parts of your body like your head and underarms.

Secondary generalized hyperhidrosis is the exact opposite, as it is caused by medical conditions and medications you’re taking. You also experience sweating all over your body, not just in focal areas.

Diet

What you stuff your body with can also determine how much you sweat.

Some foods you eat are not only bad for your physique. They might also be one of your reasons for excessive sweating.

With that in mind, avoid processed and fatty foods. Also, avoid those that don’t contain enough fiber because your body works twice as hard to process them.

Foods that have too much salt also force your body to secrete the excess sodium in your urine and sweat. Spicy foods also make your body temperature rise, causing more perspiration. Caffeine also puts your body in fight or flight mode, raising your blood pressure and make you sweat.

Make sure to keep yourself hydrated to replenish all the liquid you lost due to excessive sweating.

Puberty, Pregnancy, and Menopause

Your female hormones can also play a part why you’re sweating excessively.

When you’re pregnant or undergoing menopause or puberty, you may experience symptoms like hot flashes, which increase your blood flow and metabolism. As a result, you experience too much sweating.

Diabetes and Other Medical Conditions

Your hyperhidrosis may also be a side effect of another ailment or condition like diabetes, hyperthyroidism, fever, tuberculosis, and endocarditis.

If you start to notice that you’re sweating excessively all of a sudden, contact your doctor to make sure that everything’s well.

Medications

While medicine can treat ailments and diseases, it might also be one of the reasons for excessive sweating.

Ask your doctor about the side effects of the medication you’re taking. Also ask if it’s possible to switch it to a different drug that doesn’t have hyperhidrosis as a side effect.

What Can You Do About Excessive Sweating?

While you may feel like you’re in a hopeless situation, don’t fret as excessive sweating is not something that you’ll have to bear forever.

Whether you’d like to go for it in the good old natural way with a lifestyle change or you’re looking for a procedure that will yield a more permanent result, numerous solutions are available, such as the following:

Wear cool clothes – The type of fabric you wear can be a huge factor. Go for fabrics made from natural fibers. Cotton is one of your best options.
Antiperspirants – These are accessible and easy to find in the market. Grocery shelves are riddled with deodorants and antiperspirants that will suit any type of body. Go for one that contains aluminum-based compounds to ensure that your sweat glands are temporarily blocked as you go throughout your day.
Botox – This cosmetic procedure helps those with excessive sweating as it blocks the nerves responsible for activating the sweat glands. The only downside is that you’ll have to come back every few months if you’d like to continue keeping your excessive sweating at bay.
miraDry – This is perhaps one of the most innovative solutions to excessive sweating in your underarms. Aside from being non-invasive, it also produces permanent results because it destroys sweat glands. It uses microwave technology to heat your sweat glands, ensuring the total elimination of all your sweat, odor, and hair glands in the armpits. The best part about miraDry is that it only takes a few sessions before it shows how a worthy investment it is. For some people, just one session is enough.

No matter what your reasons for excessive sweating are, it cannot be denied that too much sweating can disrupt your day-to-day life.

If you want to get rid of your underarm sweat glands permanently and eliminate armpit sweating once and for all, schedule a Free Consultation with our miraDry-certified providers here in Face+Body Cosmetic Surgery. We’ll answer any concerns that you may have and help you achieve the sweat-free underarms you’ve always wanted.

The post 9 Reasons for Excessive Sweating You May Be Experiencing appeared first on MiraDry Miami.

Excessive Sweating Treatment: Your 5-Step Guide to Combating Hyperhidrosis

Nick Masri MD — Sat, 02 Mar 2019 23:41:25 +0000

Is too much sweating a problem you want to get rid of? The good news is, you’ve got a lot of options when it comes to choosing the best excessive sweating treatment.

But having all these choices presented to you can confuse you.
Which one should you try first?
Which is the most effective?
Which works best for your situation?

In general, you should start with the mildest excessive sweating treatment and progress from there. After all, some remedies are too drastic to try right away.

We’ve come up with a handy guide to give you an idea of how to start treating your hyperhidrosis—beginning from the easiest down to the most difficult and invasive.

Excessive Sweating Treatment Step 1: Antiperspirants

Applying antiperspirants is considered the easiest way to tackle excessive sweating. You just need to apply it on your sweaty skin every day to block your sweat glands.

Antiperspirants contain aluminum salts, which prevent sweat glands from producing sweat. However, it is a temporary solution, so you must apply it every night before you go to bed.

The best thing about this excessive sweating treatment is that you can find it anywhere. Just visit your local drugstore, supermarket, or grocery to get one.

Though you don’t need a prescription for it, you may ask your doctor for one if you need to get a stronger antiperspirant.

You may also get antiperspirants for your hands, feet, and head, although the most popular ones are for your underarms. Many of these antiperspirants are combined with deodorant to help mask your body odor.

Excessive Sweating Treatment Step 2: Lifestyle Changes

You may also combine the use of antiperspirants with some lifestyle changes. Though these changes won’t exactly stop excessive sweating, they can prevent the body odor that often comes along with it.

Avoid using heavy clothes that trap sweat. Instead of those, wear clothes made of light and breathable fabrics like cotton and silk.

Got sweaty feet? Wear socks that wick moisture away, like those made of polypro and merino wool.

Since you sweat excessively, always bring an extra shirt with you. It comes in handy when you’re exercising or doing outdoor activities.

Good hygiene can also keep body odor at bay. Make sure to use antibacterial soap and dry yourself afterward.

The food you eat can also contribute to excessive sweating. Avoid eating hot and spicy foods because they’ll make you sweat more. Hot drinks and alcohol have the same effect.

Excessive Sweating Treatment Step 3: Home Remedies

There are lots of home remedies that you can try as an excessive sweating treatment.

One of the most popular is apple cider vinegar, which has astringent properties to help control sweat. Simply soak a cotton ball and apply it to your sweaty areas overnight. Rinse it in the morning.

Other home remedies that you can try include baking soda with cornstarch, tea, witch hazel, lemon, and coconut oil.

Excessive Sweating Treatment Step 4: Medications

If you’ve made it this far, then it means that you must go to your doctor and ask for prescription drugs to help you combat hyperhidrosis.

Anticholinergic drugs are the most commonly prescribed oral medications for excessive sweating. They target neurotransmitters that play a part in sweat formation, thus blocking sweat production and keeping your skin dry.

But since these drugs are taken orally, their effects are systemic. It reduces sweat all over your body, which can put you at risk for overheating since your body has no way of cooling itself.

You may also experience other side effects like blurred vision, dry eyes, and drowsiness. Some even get headaches and heart palpitations.

Not keen on taking oral meds? You can try topical meds instead.

One of the newest hyperhidrosis drugs is Qbrexza. It’s a topical cloth pad containing 2.4% glycopyrronium, which is a type of anticholinergic that blocks sweat production.

One cloth pad is enough to treat both armpits once a day.

However, take note that it also has its fair share of side effects, like dry mouth, sore throat, and skin redness.

Excessive Sweating Treatment Step 5: Medical Procedures

If none of the above worked for you, then it’s time to take more serious measures.

Check out the following procedures that can stop excessive sweating in its tracks.

Botox

Aside from wrinkles, Botox injections are effective in controlling excessive sweating of the underarms.

It works by preventing the release of chemicals that signal your sweat glands to activate. But take note that it’s only a temporary solution because you need to get touch-ups every 4-6 months.

Iontophoresis

If your hands and feet sweat a lot, then you may try getting iontophoresis.

In this procedure, you sit with your hands and feet dipped in a tray of water for 20 to 30 minutes. Electrical current travels through the water during the duration of the treatment.

At first, you have to do a few sessions each week to stop sweating. After some time, you might only need to do it twice a month for maintenance. Some people even get iontophoresis machines at home.

Despite being a safe treatment with an 85% success rate, iontophoresis shouldn’t be used for pregnant women. Those with pacemakers and metal implants should also avoid it.

miraDry

If you want to get rid of excessive underarm sweating permanently, then you should try getting a miraDry treatment.

It delivers microwave energy to your sweat glands using a handheld device. As a result, the sweat, odor, and hair glands in your armpits are gone forever.

For most people, one miraDry session is enough to experience lasting effects. But it only works for the armpits because they have underlying fat to protect themselves, unlike your hands and feet.

Surgery

Exhausted all remedies to no avail? That’s the only time that you should consider getting endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy or ETS as an excessive sweating treatment.

In this surgery, your surgeon makes very small incisions to cut the nerve connected to the sweat glands in your underarms.

Though the surgery has a high success rate, its invasiveness makes it the last option for treating hyperhidrosis. You can’t reverse it.

It also has a side effect known as compensatory sweating, wherein another part of your body starts sweating to compensate for your lack of underarm sweat.

You don’t have to suffer from excessive sweating all your life. If you’re interested in the minimally invasive yet effective miraDry treatment, schedule a Free Consultation with our miraDry-certified plastic surgeon here in Face+Body Cosmetic Surgery now. We’ll answer any questions that you may have.

The post Excessive Sweating Treatment:
Your 5-Step Guide to Combating Hyperhidrosis appeared first on MiraDry Miami.

Excessive Sweating of the Hands and Feet: Why Do You Experience It?

Nick Masri MD — Wed, 12 Dec 2018 22:27:29 +0000

Some parts of your body may get clammy and moist after a rigorous fitness routine. But how will you know when you’re already experiencing excessive sweating of the hands and feet?

In this article, we will discuss more about palmar and sole hyperhidrosis. Learn more about how to differentiate it from regular sweating, as well as the treatments that can help you manage it.

Why do you get sweaty hands and feet?

Despite being a minor inconvenience to your day-to-day lifestyle, sweating is still a normal reaction to warm weather and physically demanding activities. When the body is put under these conditions, your sweat glands are activated, resulting in perspiration. Sweating cools down your skin in a process called thermoregulation. It helps manage your body’s temperature so that it won’t overheat.

But when you have excessive sweating of the hands and feet, your sympathetic nervous system triggers not just the sweat glands but also the eccrine glands. They release moisture into the palms of your hand and soles of your feet.

But what causes you to sweat other than the warm weather or exercise?

One is stress. Stress triggers your fight or flight response, so your body releases the stress hormones epinephrine and cortisol. They help you cope up with the stress, but they also increase your body temperature.

Your genes can also play a part in excessive sweating of the hands and feet. A study published in the Journal of Vascular Surgery confirmed that if a parent has sweaty palms and feet, then there’s a 28% risk that it will be passed down to his kids.

Excessive sweating of the hands and feet may also be a symptom of another condition. Thyroid issues, HIV infections, tuberculosis, and Parkinson’s disease may all cause overactive sweat glands.

How do you know if you already have palmar and sole hyperhidrosis?

If you’re used to sweating all the time, it may be hard to know whether it’s still normal perspiration or if you’re already experiencing excessive sweating of the hands and feet.

So how do you distinguish excessive sweating from normal sweating?

For one, your regular antiperspirant doesn’t seem to be working for your sweating. Finding ways to cool yourself down is also not enough to keep the sweat at bay.

It becomes necessary to completely adjust your lifestyle due to fear that your sweaty palms and soles will rear their head halfway through the day. You have an episode of extreme excessive sweating at least once every week.

You also get extremely sweaty even when you’re not doing anything. Cool weather also doesn’t stop you from sweating. You may even perspire heavily even while you sleep.

Do these situations sound familiar? You may already have palmar and sole hyperhidrosis.

If you have been experiencing excessive sweating of the hand and feet for more than six months now, it’s best to seek professional treatment.

How can you treat excessive sweating of the hands and feet?

Fortunately, you have various options to choose from when it comes to managing excessive sweating of hands and feet. Depending on the severity of your condition, treatment may range from a lifestyle change to a medical procedure.

Natural Remedies

You may explore natural remedies, such as soaking your hands and feet in tea, applying coconut oil, or using apple cider vinegar. These solutions help eliminate bacteria and tightens your pores.

Topical Treatments

Topical treatments are also an option. You may ask your primary healthcare provider to give you prescription antiperspirants strong enough to manage hyperhidrosis of the hands and feet. They contain aluminum chloride, which blocks your sweat glands.

Minor Medical Procedures

For extreme cases, you may undergo medical procedures that help get rid of excessive sweating of the hands and feet.

Iontophoresis is a noninvasive way of treating sweaty hands and feet. In this procedure, your doctor submerges your hands or feet in water. He then uses the iontophoresis device to send a mild electrical current through your skin’s surface. It thickens your skin and blocks the flow of sweat.

Another quick fix is Botox, which prevents the release of chemicals that signal the sweat glands to activate. However, you’ll have to regularly go to the doctor every four months or so to maintain its results.

miraDry is another solution that relieves hyperhidrosis, although it only works on excessive underarm sweating.

Surgery

Endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy or ETS surgery is also an option. But since it’s an invasive and risky surgery, it should be your last option. It can also cause complications, like compensatory sweating in other parts of the body.

While excessive sweating of the hands and feet may be inconvenient, always remember that you have a variety of solutions that can help you control them. Schedule a Free Consultation with our board-certified plastic surgeon here in Face+Body Cosmetic Surgery to explore all your treatment options.

The post Excessive Sweating of the Hands and Feet: Why Do You Experience It? appeared first on MiraDry Miami.

Try an Excessive Sweating Home Remedy to Treat Hyperhidrosis

Nick Masri MD — Wed, 05 Dec 2018 20:11:36 +0000

Having hyperhidrosis or excessive sweating is both embarrassing and inconvenient. It may not pose a serious threat to your health, but it can greatly affect your quality of life.

So, if you find yourself sweating buckets on a regular basis, you may want to try an excessive sweating home remedy from this list.

Excessive Sweating Home Remedy #1: Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar has long been considered a miracle worker. From pacifying raging pimples to aiding weight loss, it’s been proven to be one of the most effective natural remedies.

As an excessive sweating home remedy, vinegar has astringent properties that will help control your sweat.

After washing the skin, dab a cotton ball soaked with apple cider vinegar on the target area and leave it overnight. Rinse it off the next day.

You can also drink apple cider vinegar to balance your body’s pH levels and keep body odor at bay.

Mix two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar with a teaspoon of honey to a glass filled with water. Drink it once a day on an empty stomach.

Excessive Sweating Home Remedy #2: Baking Soda

The acids found in your sweat can encourage the growth of bacteria. The alkaline pH of baking soda helps to balance these acids, especially in sweat-prone areas.

Mix a half cup of cornstarch, a half cup of baking soda, and two to three drops of lavender essential oil. Apply it to the affected area after cleansing and let it dry.

You may also apply baking soda directly to your underarms. It acts as a natural deodorant by counteracting the acids and absorbing the odor.

Excessive Sweating Home Remedy #3: Coconut Oil

From being a massage oil to a hair treatment, coconut oil is one of the most versatile ingredients in the market. It helps address many health issues, including generalized sweating.

For areas prone to sweating excessively, combine coconut oil with a half cup of crushed camphor. Mix it well until you achieve a paste-like consistency. Massage it on the skin and allow it to sit for an hour before rinsing it off.

Excessive Sweating Home Remedy #4: Tea

Tea also offers more benefits than just helping you relax. Black tea has a high level of tannic acid, which has antiperspirant and astringent effects.

It allows the sweat glands to constrict and control the flow of sweat to the topmost layer of the skin.

To prepare this remedy, brew two tea bags into three cups of almost boiling water. Let it steep for 10 to 15 minutes before dabbing it on the affected area with a cotton pad.

Excessive Sweating Home Remedy #5: Sage

Sage is rich in magnesium and vitamin B—two ingredients that help control overactive sweat glands.

Steep one to two teaspoons of dried sage herb in a cup filled with hot water for five to seven minutes. Drink the sage tea before bedtime.

You may also apply it directly to your skin. Grab a tablespoon of dried sage leaves and boil it in two cups of water. Once it cools to room temperature, use it to cleanse the areas that are prone to excessive sweating.

To get the best results, repeat these steps two to three times every day.

Excessive Sweating Home Remedy #6: Witch Hazel

Witch hazel contains various compounds (such as catechins, tannins, gallic acid, and flavonoids) and essential oils (like hexanol, carvacrol, eugenol, choline, and saponins) that make an effective excessive sweating home remedy. Aside from having strong astringent properties, witch hazel also helps shrink pores.

Witch hazel is an ingredient commonly used in skincare products like toners. This means that it’s best used when it comes to managing excessive facial perspiration.

To use witch hazel, simply soak a cotton ball and apply a thin layer on the face. But remember to use it in moderation as it has the tendency to dry the skin.

Excessive Sweating Home Remedy #7: Wheatgrass Juice

Since wheatgrass juice is rich in vitamin A, C, B6, B12, and folic acid, it acts as a natural detoxifier. It can also neutralize the acid in the blood, helping fight sweat odor.

To take advantage of its benefits, dilute a tablespoon of wheatgrass in a glass of water and take it once a day.

Excessive Sweating Home Remedy #8: Tomato Juice

Tomato juice is an effective home remedy for excessive sweating because it helps shrink your pores.

You may also eat a tomato-rich diet to help regulate your body temperature and reduce chronic perspiration.

You may even apply the juice on your underarms to help fight armpit sweating. Remember to leave it on for at least ten minutes, and then rinse it off.

Excessive Sweating Home Remedy #9: Potato

Foods rich in potassium help push out the water in the body retained by sodium. That includes potatoes, which help absorb excess water from the skin, leaving you feeling dry and sweat-free.

Simply rub a potato slice across the affected areas every day for a few minutes to maximize its skin drying effects.

Excessive Sweating Home Remedy #10: Lemon

Lemon contains citric acid, which helps eliminate bacteria that might cause body odor.

To help manage excessive sweating, directly rub the sliced lemon on the affected area.

You may also mix a small amount of lemon juice with baking soda. Apply it with a cotton pad and leave it on for 30 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with water afterwards.

Excessive sweating home remedies are natural and budget-friendly solutions to hyperhidrosis. They’re easy to find in your kitchen cupboard, plus they don’t chemicals that might cause skin sensitivity.

But if these natural remedies don’t work for you, don’t hesitate to consult a doctor who can provide other options for you. These options include procedures like miraDry, iontophoresis, and Botox. Schedule a Free Consultation with our board-certified plastic surgeon here in Face+Body Cosmetic Surgery now.

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