Increased sweating. Methods for the treatment of profuse sweating

Excessive sweating is an unpleasant situation for every person. It's quite difficult to control it. In such a situation, even the strongest deodorants may not help. Therefore, clothes are often saturated with sweat, acquiring a characteristic unpleasant appearance. Moreover, sweat often has an unpleasant odor, which creates some inconvenience for a person who is in a public place or communicates with other people.

Also, excessive sweating, or as this disease is also called - hyperhidrosis, can be a symptom of certain diseases and disorders in the body. This must be taken into account, since even the most strong means anti-sweat can fix the problem for a few hours, but they don't get rid of the cause. In this case, sweating will constantly return.

Most often, it is men who suffer from excessive sweating. It is believed that this is due to more actively life, constant physical activity and metabolic characteristics.

Excessive sweating is largely due to the activity of the sex hormone. testosterone. Influencing various structures, it speeds up the metabolism, resulting in excessive sweating. In this case, there is no need to treat or correct the level of the hormone (unless there is a pathological increase in testosterone levels). It is necessary to carefully follow personal hygiene procedures, use individual cosmetics (deodorants, creams) and adjust lifestyle. In particular, daily physical activity at the same time allows you to shift the period of excessive sweating.

Men, just like women, are prone to stress. However, the corresponding social roles also involve additional responsibility and fewer ways to implement stressful situations. Avoid stress in Everyday life does not seem possible. However, in order not to cause psychosomatic diseases and get rid of excessive sweating, it is necessary to correctly express negative emotions. For this, communication with a psychotherapist is perfect - a man gets the opportunity to speak out and better think about his problems.

Sweating at night and during sleep

Excessive sweating causes a lot of inconvenience in daytime. This may be due to physiological characteristics, some diseases. But hyperhidrosis at night may indicate serious illnesses that require immediate treatment.

Profuse sweating in women

Hyperhidrosis is more common in women than in men. This is due to the activity of sex hormones - estrogen and progesterone. In particular, before menstruation, during pregnancy and lactation, during menopause, the activity and quantitative ratio of these hormones change.

It is during these periods that increased sweating is manifested. It can be seen especially clearly . The climacteric period is characterized by the presence of hot flashes - the occurrence of a specific condition, which manifests itself in the form of a sharp change in mood and profuse sweating. This is characterized by a decrease in estrogen activity and an increase in the amount of progesterone.

In this case, get rid of profuse sweating it is possible only by taking hormonal drugs that normalize the work of a woman's body, equalizing the ratio between progesterone and estrogen. In addition to menopause, hormonal correction women are not shown. During the period menstrual cycle, pregnancy and lactation, it is recommended to carefully observe the rules of personal hygiene and not resort to medications.

Causes and Treatments for Excessive Sweating

Regardless of gender and age, profuse sweating is more common in obese people. with overweight. This is due to a lack of oxygen in the body and a slow metabolism. It is quite difficult to get rid of this problem - it is necessary to constantly perform hygiene procedures. However, they will only temporarily eliminate the consequences of excessive sweating - smell, sweat. It is necessary to eliminate the very cause - to normalize metabolism, get rid of overweight body. Only the elimination of the cause will allow you to get rid of excessive sweating.

Hypoglycemia can be the cause of profuse sticky. Hypoglycemia occurs in conditions of diabetes mellitus. In order to prevent the development of this situation, it is necessary to constantly monitor the level of glucose in the blood and, together with the doctor, adjust the treatment regimen.

  • before any physical activity, you need to eat foods rich in fast carbohydrates (bars, sweets, bakery products);
  • for people using insulin, it is necessary to adjust the dose of drugs, depending on the composition of the food;
  • set timers and reminders so as not to skip meals after taking sugar-lowering drugs;
  • always have with you sweet candy or a bar in case of hypoglycemia.

Hyperthyroidism can also cause excessive sweating. This disease occurs due to excessive activity of thyroid hormones.

In addition to excessive sweating, there are also:

  1. insomnia;
  2. hand tremor;
  3. increased blood pressure and heart rate;
  4. temperature increase.

In this case, it is necessary to constantly monitor the level of hormones in the peripheral blood, as well as take the appropriate treatment prescribed by the endocrinologist.

Pheochromocytoma is a tumor of the adrenal glands that causes excessive synthesis of catecholamines - the hormones of adrenaline and norepinephrine. These substances regulate sympathetic system. One of the signs of the occurrence of this tumor is excessive sweating. Therefore, if profuse sweating persists for a long time with normal or reduced body weight, it is imperative to do magnetic resonance imaging of the kidneys and adrenal glands to exclude neoplasms.

Disorders of the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous system may also manifest as excessive sweating. People suffering from this pathology are often emotionally labile, they experience severe headaches and pressure drops. With frequent changes in mood and the presence of profuse sweating, it is necessary to consult a neurologist.

Some malignancies may present as a paraneoplastic syndrome, which may present with a variety of symptoms. One of them is excessive sweating. With the exclusion of other somatic pathologies and persistent profuse sweating, it is necessary to consult an oncologist to exclude malignant neoplasms.

Cystic fibrosis is one of the most common diseases that is manifested by excessive sweating. A distinctive feature is the release of sweat with a rather unpleasant odor. The cause of this pathology are mutations and structural disorders of genes. In practice, the disease manifests itself in adolescence, more often in boys. In addition to profuse sweating with an unpleasant odor, digestive disorders and moderate pain syndrome in the abdomen.

In any case, if excessive sweating occurs, you should consult a doctor. For starters, it can be a therapist who will prescribe the necessary tests or refer you to a specialist. A thorough examination will detect hyperhidrosis.

What is the danger of the disease

In itself, excessive sweating does not pose any danger to a person (provided that adequate drinking regime and the intake of a sufficient amount of fluid and mineral salts in the body). However, in most cases, hyperhidrosis is not
is an independent pathology, but serves only as a symptom of serious diseases.

That is why it is necessary to pay close attention to excessive sweating. To exclude somatic diseases, it is necessary to apply for medical care to the therapist, endocrinologist, neuropathologist.

Timely detection of the problem, in most cases, increases the chances of successful treatment and allows you to get rid of (or stop) the disease. When the cause is eliminated, such a symptom as profuse sweating disappears.

We should not forget about infectious complications in case of non-compliance with the rules of personal hygiene. The constant presence of sweat in the natural folds of the body (knees, elbows, armpits) changes the temperature and acidity of this area and can serve as an excellent breeding ground for bacteria that, in normal conditions do not show their activity.

Methods for the treatment of profuse sweating

Doctors recommend that before you eliminate sweating, find the cause of its occurrence. However It takes time to diagnose and treat. And often people just can't wait. Therefore, there are practical recommendations that will help get rid of profuse sweating and not harm your health.

  1. Showering at least twice a day helps to get rid of sweat and odor.
  2. Compliance with the drinking regime - the use of a sufficient amount of mineralized water. With sweat, both water and mineral salts come out. The lack of replenishment of their reserves leads to a violation of the acid-base balance of the blood and a disruption in the work of all internal organs and systems. Therefore, every day you need to drink mineralized water - at least 1.5 liters per day.
  3. Clean linen. Clothing that has already been worn contains traces of sweat and an unpleasant odor. Make sure you change your clothes after every shower. If possible, it is also necessary to change underwear during the day.
  4. Selection of personal deodorants. Modern antiperspirants clog outlets in armpit. However, people suffering from hyperhidrosis secrete sweat from the entire surface of the skin. Using standard antiperspirants can lead to clogged glands and serious health problems. Therefore, it is necessary to select the right deodorant together with a dermatologist. This will reduce the intensity of sweating and prevent the development of health problems.
  5. Control of chronic diseases. Many chronic diseases in the period of exacerbation are manifested by excessive sweating. The correct intake of medicines according to the scheme prescribed by the doctor helps to prevent the development of relapses and increased sweating.

If a person can confidently say to himself, “I sweat a lot, and it bothers me,” then it’s time to take action and start treatment. Sweat protects the body from overheating in hot weather and its release is a natural process. But if the sweating is regular and profuse, it literally drips from the forehead and back, the legs and palms sweat, we can firmly say that this is hyperhidrosis.
I am familiar with this disease. most of people, forcing them to strictly observe the rules of personal hygiene, use cosmetics and medicines, look for new ways to get rid of the nauseating smell that always accompanies sweat.

Suffering from hyperhidrosis, it is enough to think about a possible handshake and the palms instantly become wet. Excessive sweating causes uncontrollable fear, which causes sweating. Some people cannot find an antiperspirant that can completely eliminate sweat because they sweat a lot.

A person is uncomfortable with hugs, close contact with people, and only one thought is spinning in his head: “I sweat a lot and are unpleasant to others.”
When, you can forget about going to visit, because there you have to take off your shoes. It's the same at the doctor's office, at the gym, and at the shoe store. Physiologists believe that hyperhidrosis is a kind of vicious circle that not everyone is able to break alone. A seemingly banal problem can eventually turn into depression, insomnia and neurosis, causing a lot of related problems with health and life in society.
even in cold weather, the feet get wet, and a characteristic smell appears in the boots. Sweaty armpits due to the constant use of various cosmetics make clothes unusable, requiring regular wardrobe changes.

It happens that a person changes two or three shirts a day, which need a serious wash.
Doctors try to treat sweating with sedatives, formalin, hypnosis and surgical methods that cure the disease forever. But due to the high cost, not everyone can afford such an operation.

Types and causes

Increased sweating is the active release of sweat due to the work of the sweat glands, which receive an impulse from the nerve endings due to violations hormonal balance or other reasons associated with hidden diseases. The appearance of sweat is stressful for a person, and stress causes a new wave of fluid release. Doctors divide hyperhidrosis into general and localized.
General manifests itself under the influence of high humidity and air temperature, physical activity, with strong emotions and the occurrence of many diseases:

  • AIDS;
  • tuberculosis;
  • malignant neoplasms;
  • taking medications;
  • neurological disorders;
  • thyroid diseases;
  • diabetes.

Localized hyperhidrosis is more common. Share:

People with severe hyperhidrosis are more likely to get colds and purulent rashes, and regularly wet feet and palms are a breeding ground for the reproduction of fungi. Healthy people sweat during exercise and hot weather. This is a normal defensive reaction of the body. But if there are pathologies in health, excessive sweating is a signal of a disease that needs to be urgently eliminated. An exception is menopause and pregnancy, when there is a dynamic restructuring in the body. As soon as it ends, the tides will stop. In order to alleviate the condition of a woman during menopause, doctors prescribe hormonal drugs.

When your feet sweat

A person who is faced with sweaty feet should pay attention to:

Feet require careful care. In addition to good shoes and clean socks,:

  • Wash limbs daily with soap and dry them. Dry your feet with a hairdryer.
  • Keep feet dry and warm.
  • When taking a bath, clean the heels with a pumice stone or a grater to remove dead cells in which bacteria and microorganisms accumulate.
  • Antiperspirants help keep sweat and odor out. There is a huge selection of these funds on the market. You can choose the right one, and regularly use it after taking a shower.
  • Wash feet with antibacterial soap. Better economic. It dries the skin and kills germs better than toilet.
  • For treatment, use folk remedies, do not forget to make medicinal baths, drink fresh decoctions and tinctures.

Regardless of whether a person suffers from sweaty feet or not, you should keep them dry. After all, moisture is a breeding ground for bacteria that cause an unpleasant odor. The skin of the feet hardens and cracks. Air therapy helps a lot. If you dry your feet with a hairdryer and then use pharmaceutical products, you can not feel discomfort for a long time. Powders provide a healing, drying and deodorizing effect.
It is recommended to use natural powders - crushed oak bark or. They are simply poured into clean socks and put on at night. You can use starch, tea leaves, talc and mixtures thereof. A good remedy is ordinary salt, which neutralizes persistent odors. And if you sprinkle your feet boric acid in powder, not forgetting the interdigital zones, sweating and a characteristic smell will disappear for several weeks.

If the body sweats

An unpleasant sour smell is caused by microbes that multiply from moisture. Itching and irritation appear on the skin, as well as minor inflammatory processes.

To normalize the release of moisture it is necessary:

If your hands sweat

Often the problem is caused by fear and stressful situations. In order to normalize sweating, you should:

If your head sweats

Sweat occurs with greatly enlarged pores. Recommend to fix:

  • use cleansing lotions or scrubs;
  • apply a pore-shrinking mask;
  • wipe the face and scalp with milk, decoctions of chamomile and oak bark, tea leaves.

night sweat

Both adults and children often complain about it. Night sweats caused by work vegetative system rather than muscle activity and surgical intervention is not subject to. Sometimes sweating is caused by insomnia or extreme fatigue. For treatment it is necessary:

  • drink sedatives- valerian, motherwort, chicory;
  • ventilate the room;
  • get rid of annoying factors.

Important! If all the factors that can cause hyperhidrosis have been eliminated, and sweat still appears, you should consult a doctor and examine the body in detail.

Treatment

Methods of dealing with intense sweating are divided into surgical and conservative. In addition, there are folk methods, which do not eliminate the cause, but help keep the skin dry and clean.

Surgical methods

Botox

Injections can cure sweating of the armpits, hands and feet. The procedure takes a few minutes, and the effect lasts six months. After a couple of days, sweating stops, and the treated areas stop hurting.

Laser

The neodymium laser destroys sweat duct cells permanently. The session is carried out in the clinic with anesthesia for about 40 minutes. The patient then returns to normal life and no longer asks the question "why am I sweating so much." The procedure does not cause overheating and infection, since the radiation sterilizes the treated surface.

Sympathectomy

Cosmetic surgery. It is passed through a small incision. Able to save a person from the appearance of sweat forever. The intervention is divided into local (the surgeon blocks the fibers directly where the most moisture appears) and remote (assumes a short distance from the problem areas).

With increased release of moisture in the armpits, apply

  • Liposuction - using a small tube inserted through pinpoint punctures, the axillary tissue is removed. There is a destruction of nerve fibers and the work of the sweat glands stops. This procedure is recommended for overweight people.
  • Liposuction with ultrasound. It is used by plastic surgeons and is less traumatic.
  • Curettage. Used most often. Provides scraping of fat from areas where the sweat ducts are located. Glands and nerve fibers are damaged, which prevents their further functioning. The operation is not carried out blindly, but with the use of video assistance, thanks to which it is possible to avoid the occurrence of hematomas and fluid accumulation in the postoperative period.
  • Phytotherapy. It is used in conjunction with medical treatment.

conservative methods

  • Means for external use - gels, ointments, sprays that are applied to a clean body and, penetrating inside, temporarily block the sweat ducts.
  • Oral agents. These include sedatives that calm the nervous system. Often it is disorders of the nervous system that cause sweating. The doctor may prescribe other drugs, depending on what disease provokes sweat.

Folk methods

Why do some people do not sweat even in a hot and humid atmosphere, while others perspire constantly. We sometimes hear people with a certain degree of superiority say that they sweat little or no sweat at all. Perhaps they mean that they are more clean than those who.

Most likely, they do not suspect that they are sick, and not to sweat is life-threatening. Absence or slight sweating is a disease associated with a malfunction of the sweat glands. This disease is called anhidrosis. With Greek translates as "absence of sweat." Inadequate sweating is called hypohidrosis. Proper work sweat glands and thermoregulation of the body are controlled by the autonomic nervous system.

What are the reasons why the human body produces little or no sweat at all:


Sweating during exercise in healthy people increases. No wonder they say: "worked up a sweat." The absence of sweating in such cases indicates anhidrosis disease. With this diagnosis heavy loads prohibited, especially high temperature in the surrounding atmosphere, as thermal regulation is disturbed. A person can work with substances harmful to the body, poisons, various toxic and allergenic substances, in dusty rooms. All this gets on the skin, the pores are clogged, sweat glands poorly emit sweat along with toxic and toxic substances. If a person does not sweat long time, undergo atrophy, he may develop chronic anhidrosis.

Even in ancient times, people knew that sweat drives out the disease, they went to baths and saunas to sweat as much as possible, clean their pores, and remove harmful substances. After such procedures, fatigue as it had never happened, vivacity and energy returned. In Russia, baths have long been considered health resorts. To take a steam bath in a bathhouse meant to expand the pores with hot steam, sweat properly and, finally, treat the skin with steamed birch, wormwood, linden, oak brooms. The skin rejuvenated, became elastic and elastic.

Baths and saunas are still extremely popular among the people. For people with poor perspiration, a linden broom is useful, as good remedy for perspiration and lime tea with honey. It is impossible to bathe excessively in baths and saunas; after visiting, you need to drink a lot in order to restore the body's water balance. Healthy man must sweat in the sauna. If the body does not sweat at all in a hot sauna, this is not normal, it indicates anhidrosis. If only some parts of the body sweat, then this is hypohidrosis.

Disease signals are:

  1. dry skin, redness;
  2. poor sweating or its complete disappearance;
  3. dizziness;
  4. muscle cramps;
  5. fatigue;
  6. increased heart rate;
  7. rapid breathing;
  8. body temperature rises;
  9. clouding of consciousness.

With such manifestations, you need to drink a lot, find an urgent place with air ventilation, wipe hot skin with water, do cool compresses, and if the condition remains severe for an hour, call an ambulance and consult a dermatologist. If people do not sweat at all, then a hot bath and sauna are contraindicated, they can cause heat stroke and harm their health.

Why can't people sweat at all?

There are various reasons why a person does not sweat at all and suffers from dry skin.

Often the lack of sweating is caused by various diseases:

  • skin disease, scleroderma, leprosy, ichthyosis, etc.;
  • diabetes mellitus, Addinson's disease, liver cirrhosis;
  • disease of the nervous system;
  • avitaminosis;
  • diarrhea, vomiting, excessive urination;
  • cholera;
  • toxicosis of pregnant women;
  • Parkinson's disease;
  • lungs' cancer

and some others. Usually, when these diseases are cured, then the thermoregulation of the body is restored.

On hot days, a person who has no health problems literally sweats. Water leaves the body, and if you do not drink enough fluids, tropical anhidrosis may develop. Dust that gets on the skin clogs the ducts of the sweat glands. People with reduced sweating are not recommended to live in tropical hot and humid climates.

Anhidrosis is also congenital disease when the sweat glands are not developed or not formed. Sometimes this occurs due to anomalies of the ectoderm in the first period of embryonic development. More often, this genetic abnormality is inherited by boys. A newborn child with such a disease from the first days of life should be observed by a dermatologist. With hereditary anhidrosis, there is no chance of being cured, a person should avoid overheating and physical activity all life.

Dangerous for normal perspiration wrong image life: immeasurable alcohol, narcotic drugs and some drugs for the treatment of the nervous system, diseases of the heart and blood vessels.

Sometimes a person does not sweat because of the internal emotional state, stress, fear, the desire not to betray their feelings to others. Constant containment of feelings and emotions disrupts the functioning of the nervous system, can develop anhidrosis.

How to deal with it

In the absence of sweating, you should consult a dermatologist. Analyzes, tests and diagnostics are carried out, the cause of the disease is established.

Appointed vitamin preparations: multivitamins, vitamins A and E, Bi2 intramuscularly.

It is recommended to wipe painful areas of the skin with lotions containing alcohol, rub in creams and ointments that soften the skin. Helps well oil solution"Retinol acetate" with simultaneous oral administration.

Hypohidrosis does not always impair thermoregulation unless sweat is produced in a small area of ​​the body. It happens that some parts of the body do not sweat, but others emit copious sweat. General anhidrosis is life-threatening, heat stroke can be fatal. It is important to be observed by doctors and strictly follow their recommendations, especially for older people with weakened sweat glands.

Incorrect use of antiperspirants in large quantities they clog pores normal operation sweat glands. Sweat itself does not smell, as it contains water, salt and a small amount of protein, around which bacteria that produce a bad smell gather.

You can get rid of it with the help of frequent hygiene procedures and change of clothes.

Our expert - Candidate of Medical Sciences, Leading Researcher, State Research Center for Preventive Medicine Galina Kholmogorova.

Reason #1: Stress

If, with strong excitement, fear, or a depressed state, local areas of the body (palms, armpits, nasolabial triangle on the face, feet, back) begin to sweat heavily, then the reason is in the excitable nervous system. There are times when the palms begin to sweat just from the thought of the upcoming handshake.

What to do: A psychotherapist and a neurologist will help you. First, specialists will find out the provoking factors, then they will prescribe sedatives and herbs, and conduct psychotherapy sessions. how aid you can use special drying lotions and liquid talc.

Reason #2: Overweight

It is known that fat people sweat more and more. Big body generates a lot of heat, and a thick layer of fat does not allow it to leave, which means that the only way to cool down is sweating.

What to do: Lose weight, but until this happens, take a shower at least twice a day and use antiperspirants and folk remedies (alum and decoction of oak bark).

Reason #3: Menopause or adolescence

These two periods are characterized by a change hormonal background. Because of this, the brain transmits the wrong signal about the state environment and the body, even in hot weather, obediently dilates blood vessels to keep warm.

What to do: Woman in menopause you need to take drugs that reduce the symptoms of menopause. Which ones, the doctor will tell you. You just need to wait out teenage sweating, carefully observing the rules of personal hygiene.

Reason #4: Overactive Thyroid

This disease is called thyrotoxicosis, and its first signs are a feeling of heat even in cold weather. Then insomnia, severe irritability, general weakness and other symptoms join.

What to do: Contact an endocrinologist and undergo a course of treatment.

Reason number 5: vegetative dystonia

This disease is characterized by errors in the functioning of the autonomic nervous system. Violated not only the balance in the work of the vascular, digestive, respiratory systems, but also heat transfer.

What to do: Contact a neurologist, do fitness, exclude from the diet products that provoke increased sweating - spicy dishes, coffee, spices, honey, alcohol.

Reason #6: Long-term use of antibiotics

A sharp change in the intestinal microflora that develops against this background causes severe sweating.

What to do: To restore the normal intestinal microflora - natural kefir or microbial preparations containing a live culture of bacteria, as well as multivitamins, will help you.

Reason #7: Pregnancy

During the first trimester of pregnancy, the body only "adapts" to the changed hormonal background, and this may be accompanied by excessive sweating. But in the II and III trimester, the volume of circulating blood steadily increases (by 30-40%), which, rushing to the skin, can also cause sweating, although not so strong.

What to do: This is a completely safe phenomenon and does not require treatment. Enough of the usual hygiene procedures. You can advise a very simple but effective remedy: in 0.5 liters of cold boiled water add one tablespoon each of 9% vinegar and salt. Stir and wipe sweaty places. Store the prepared solution in the refrigerator.

  • What is increased sweating, forms (primary, secondary) and degrees of hyperhidrosis, treatment methods, doctor's recommendations - video
  • Treatment of hyperhidrosis with folk remedies: oak bark, soda, vinegar, potassium permanganate, diet

  • Heavy sweating (excessive sweating) is called hyperhidrosis and is a condition in which a person produces a large amount of sweat on different areas bodies in situations in which there is normally little or no sweat production. Strong sweating can be observed on the whole body or only in certain areas (armpits, feet, palms, face, head, neck, etc.). If a increased sweating occurs throughout the body, this phenomenon is called generalized hyperhidrosis. If excessive sweating concerns certain parts of the body, then this is localized (local) hyperhidrosis.

    Treatment of hyperhidrosis, regardless of its localization (generalized or localized) and the mechanism of development (primary or secondary), is carried out by the same methods and drugs, the action of which is aimed at reducing the intensity of the sweat glands.

    Strong sweating - the essence of the pathology and the mechanism of development

    Normally, a person constantly produces a small amount of sweat, which does not cause any discomfort. At high ambient temperatures (for example, heat, bath, sauna, etc.), during physical exertion, when eating hot food or drinking, as well as in some other situations (for example, stress, spicy food etc.) sweating can increase and become noticeable to the person himself and others. However, in these cases, increased sweating is a normal reaction of the body, aimed at cooling the body and preventing overheating.

    Strong sweating is understood as increased sweat production in those situations for which this is normally uncharacteristic. For example, if a person sweats at rest or with slight excitement, then we are talking about increased sweating.

    Factors that provoke severe sweating can be absolutely any physical, mental or physiological phenomena. However, the main difference between heavy sweating and normal sweating is the onset copious excretion sweat in situations in which this usually does not happen.

    The general mechanism for the development of any type of hyperhidrosis, regardless of the nature and strength of the causative factor, is the excessive activity of the sympathetic nervous system, which activates the sweat glands. That is, a signal is transmitted along the nerve fibers of the sympathetic department of the peripheral nervous system to the sweat glands, which, as a result of such influence, are activated and begin to work in an enhanced mode. Naturally, if the sympathetic nervous system is too active, then its influence on the sweat glands is also greater than normal, which leads to increased production of sweat by them.

    However, increased activity of the sympathetic nervous system is just a mechanism of hyperhidrosis. But the exact causes of increased activity of the sympathetic nervous system are unknown. After all, excessive sweating can develop against the background of complete health, and with certain diseases, and with emotional experiences, and when taking a number of medications, and with a number of very interesting factors that, at first glance, have nothing to do with sympathetic nervous system. However, scientists and doctors could only accurately establish that with increased sweating, provoking factors lead to one thing - the activation of the sympathetic nervous system, which, in turn, enhances the work of the sweat glands.

    Since an imbalance in the activity of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems is characteristic of vegetative-vascular dystonia, severe sweating is very common in this disorder. However, many people suffering from increased sweating do not have vegetative-vascular dystonia, so consider this pathology as the most common and probable cause sweating is not allowed.

    If severe sweating develops in a person against the background of any diseases, then its development mechanism is exactly the same - that is, excessive activity of the sympathetic nervous system. Unfortunately, the exact mechanism of the influence of somatic, endocrinological and psychological disorders on the sympathetic nervous system is unknown, as a result of which the so-called "trigger" point of sweating has not been established. Since scientists and doctors do not know exactly how the process of active work of the sympathetic nervous system starts, it is currently impossible to regulate the centers of the brain that control the nerve fibers that transmit signals to the sweat glands. Therefore, for the treatment of excessive sweating, only symptomatic agents that reduce the production of sweat by the glands can be used.

    Classification and brief description of various types of heavy sweating

    Depending on the presence or absence of predisposing factors, excessive sweating is divided into two types:
    1. Primary hyperhidrosis (idiopathic).
    2. Secondary hyperhidrosis (associated with diseases, medications and emotional hyperreactivity).

    Primary or idiopathic hyperhidrosis

    Primary or idiopathic hyperhidrosis is a physiological feature of the human body and develops for unknown reasons. That is, primary excessive sweating develops against the background of complete health without any apparent reason and is not a sign of any disorder or disease. As a rule, idiopathic hyperhidrosis is hereditary, that is, it is transmitted from parents to children. According to international data, from 0.6% to 1.5% of people suffer from this form of excessive sweating. In primary idiopathic hyperhidrosis, a person usually only sweats heavily in certain parts of the body, such as feet, hands, armpits, neck, etc. Excessive sweating all over the body in primary hyperhidrosis is extremely rare.

    Secondary hyperhidrosis

    Secondary hyperhidrosis develops against the background of any existing diseases, when taking certain medications and with a sharp severity emotional reactions. That is, with secondary hyperhidrosis there is always a visible cause that can be identified. Secondary excessive sweating is characterized by the fact that a person sweats heavily all over the body, and not any individual parts. If a person suspects that he has secondary sweating, then he should consult a doctor for a detailed examination, which will identify the disease that has become a causative factor in heavy sweating.

    In addition to dividing hyperhidrosis into primary and secondary, excessive sweating is also classified into the following three varieties, depending on the amount of skin involved in the pathological process:
    1. Generalized hyperhidrosis;
    2. Localized (local, local) hyperhidrosis;
    3. Gustatory hyperhidrosis.

    Generalized hyperhidrosis

    Generalized hyperhidrosis is a variant of excessive sweating all over the body, when a person sweats all over the skin, including the back and chest. Such generalized hyperhidrosis is almost always secondary and provoked by various diseases or medications. Besides, given type sweating develops in pregnant women, in the early postpartum period, in the second half of the menstrual cycle, and also during menopause. In women, sweating under these conditions is due to the peculiarities of the hormonal background with the predominant effect of progesterone, which stimulates the sympathetic nervous system.

    Localized hyperhidrosis

    Localized hyperhidrosis is a variant in which a person sweats only certain parts of the body, for example:
    • Palms;
    • Feet;
    • armpits;
    • The area around the lips;
    • Face;
    • Back;
    • The skin of the external genital organs;
    • Anus area;
    • nose tip;
    • The chin;
    • Hairy part of the head.
    With local hyperhidrosis, only certain parts of the body sweat, while others produce sweat in normal amount. This form of sweating is usually idiopathic and is most often caused by vegetative-vascular dystonia. Excessive sweating of every single part of the body is commonly referred to as special term, in which the first word is derived from the Latin or Greek name for the part of the body with excessive sweating, and the second is "hyperhidrosis". For example, excessive sweating of the palms would be referred to as "palmar hyperhidrosis", feet - "plantar hyperhidrosis", armpits - "axillary hyperhidrosis", head and neck - "craniofacial hyperhidrosis", etc.

    Usually, sweat does not have any odor, but with local hyperhidrosis, bromidrosis (osmidrosis) or chromidrosis may develop. Bromidrosis is a foul-smelling sweat, which is usually formed when hygiene rules are not followed or when eating products with pungent odor, such as garlic, onion, tobacco, etc. If a person consumes products with a pungent odor, then the aromatic substances contained in them, being released from the human body with sweat, give him unpleasant odor. Bromidrosis, if hygiene is not observed, develops due to the fact that bacteria living on the surface of the skin begin to actively decompose proteins, released with sweat, resulting in the formation of malodorous compounds of sulfur, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, etc. In addition, foul-smelling sweat with hyperhidrosis can occur in people with diabetes mellitus, skin syphilides (syphilitic rashes) and pemphigus, as well as in women suffering from menstrual irregularities.

    Chromhidrosis is the staining of sweat in various colors (orange, black, etc.). A similar phenomenon occurs when any toxic substances and chemical compounds (mainly cobalt, copper and iron compounds) enter the human body, as well as in the presence of hysterical seizures and systemic diseases.

    Taste hyperhidrosis

    Gustatory hyperhidrosis is excessive sweating upper lip, the skin around the mouth or the tip of the nose after eating hot, spicy or spicy foods or drinks. In addition, gustatory hyperhidrosis can develop with Frey's syndrome (pain in the temple and temporomandibular joint, combined with profuse sweating in the temples and ears).

    Many doctors and scientists do not distinguish gustatory hyperhidrosis as a separate type of excessive sweating, but include it in the local (localized) form of excessive sweating.

    Features of local hyperhidrosis of some localizations

    Consider the features increased sweating some of the most common localizations.

    Heavy sweating under the armpits (axillary hyperhidrosis)

    Severe sweating under the armpits is quite common and is usually due to strong emotions, fear, anger or excitement. Any diseases rarely cause armpit sweating, so local hyperhidrosis of this localization is almost always idiopathic, that is, primary.

    However, isolated secondary excessive sweating of the armpits can be provoked by the following diseases:

    • Follicular mucinosis;
    • Blue nevus;
    • Tumors of cavernous structure.
    Axillary hyperhidrosis is treated in exactly the same way as any other form of excessive sweating.

    Heavy sweating of the head

    Heavy sweating of the head is called cranial hyperhidrosis and is quite common, but less common is excessive sweating of the hands, feet, and armpits. Such localized excessive sweating is usually idiopathic, but in some cases it is secondary and is caused by the following diseases and conditions:
    • Neuropathy in diabetes mellitus;
    • Shingles of the face and head;
    • CNS diseases;
    • Damage to the parotid salivary gland;
    • Frey's syndrome;
    • skin mucinosis;
    • Hypertrophic osteoarthropathy;
    • Blue nevus;
    • Cavernous tumor;
    • Sympathectomy.
    In addition, the scalp may sweat profusely after drinking hot, spicy and spicy drinks or foods. The treatment and course of excessive sweating of the head does not differ from that of other localizations.

    Excessive sweating of the feet (sweaty feet, plantar hyperhidrosis)

    Heavy sweating of the feet can be both idiopathic and provoked by various diseases or wearing improperly selected shoes and socks. So, in many people, hyperhidrosis of the feet develops due to wearing tight shoes or shoes with rubber soles, as well as the constant use of nylon, elastic tights or socks.

    The problem of excessive sweating of the legs is very relevant, because it causes severe discomfort to a person. Indeed, with sweating of the feet, an unpleasant odor almost always appears, socks are constantly wet, as a result of which the feet freeze. In addition, the skin on the legs under the influence of sweat becomes wet, cold, cyanotic and easily damaged, as a result of which a person is constantly faced with infectious and inflammatory diseases.

    Excessive sweating of the palms (palmar hyperhidrosis)

    Heavy sweating of the palms is usually idiopathic. However, sweating of the palms can also be secondary, and in this case, it usually develops due to emotional experiences, such as excitement, anxiety, fear, anger, etc. Sweating palms caused by any disease is very rare.

    Strong sweating of the face

    Severe facial sweating can be either idiopathic or secondary. Moreover, in the case of secondary hyperhidrosis of the face this problem, as a rule, is caused by diseases of the nervous and endocrine systems, as well as emotional experiences. Also, quite often, excessive sweating of the face is observed when eating hot foods and drinks.

    Features of excessive sweating in various situations

    Consider the features of hyperhidrosis in different situations and in certain conditions.

    Heavy sweating at night (during sleep)

    Increased sweating during nighttime hours can disturb both men and women, and the causative factors of this condition are exactly the same for all people, regardless of gender and age.

    Night sweats can be idiopathic or secondary. Moreover, if such sweating is secondary, then this indicates a severe systemic infectious or oncological disease. The causes of secondary night sweats can be the following diseases:

    • Systemic fungal infection (eg, aspergillosis, systemic candidiasis, etc.);
    • Long-term chronic infections any organs (for example, chronic tonsillitis, etc.);
    If, in addition to night sweats, a person has fatigue, weight loss, or a frequent increase in body temperature above 37.5 o C, then hyperhidrosis is undoubtedly secondary and is a sign of a serious illness. In the event that none of the above, in addition to sweating at night, bothers a person, hyperhidrosis is idiopathic and does not pose any danger.

    It should be said that although night sweats may be symptom severe disease, in most cases, people suffering from this problem do not have any health problems. Typically, idiopathic night sweats are caused by stress and anxiety.

    If a person has idiopathic night sweats, then to reduce its severity, it is recommended to follow the following rules:

    • Make the bed as comfortable as possible and sleep on a hard mattress and pillow;
    • Ensure the air temperature in the room where you plan to sleep, no more than 20 - 22 o С;
    • If possible, it is recommended to open the bedroom window at night;
    • Lose weight if you are overweight.

    Heavy sweating during exercise

    During physical exertion, increased sweating is considered the norm, since a large amount of heat generated by the muscles during intense work is removed from the human body by evaporation of sweat from the surface of the skin. A similar mechanism of increased sweating during physical exertion and in the heat prevents overheating of the human body. This means that it is impossible to completely eliminate sweating during physical exertion. However, if this problem greatly worries a person, then sweating can be tried to reduce.

    To reduce sweating exercise Loose, open and light clothing should be worn that does not cause additional skin heating. In addition, the places of the most pronounced sweating can be treated with a special deodorant-antiperspirant containing aluminum 1-2 days before the planned physical activity. Large areas of the body should not be treated with deodorant, as this blocks the production of sweat and can cause overheating of the body, manifested by weakness and dizziness.

    Severe sweating when sick

    Excessive sweating can provoke a fairly wide range of different diseases. Moreover, sweating itself, as such, does not play a significant role in the mechanisms of the development of diseases, but is simply a painful and unpleasant symptom that causes serious discomfort to a person. Since sweating in diseases is treated in exactly the same way as idiopathic hyperhidrosis, it makes sense to pay attention to it only in cases where it may indicate an unfavorable course of the pathology and the need for urgent medical attention.

    So, you should definitely consult a doctor if sweating is combined with any of the following symptoms:

    • Strong weight loss without diet, exercise, etc.;
    • Decreased or increased appetite;
    • Persistent cough lasting more than 21 days in a row;
    • Periodic frequent increases in body temperature above 37.5 o C, occurring for several weeks in a row;
    • Pain in the chest, aggravated by coughing, breathing and sneezing;
    • Spots on the skin;
    • Enlargement of one or more lymph nodes;
    • Feeling of discomfort and pain in the abdomen, fixed quite often;
    • An attack of sweating is accompanied by palpitations and an increase in blood pressure.
    Sweating at various diseases can be generalized or localized, fixed at night, in the morning, during the day, or against the background of emotional or physical stress. In other words, the characteristics of sweating in any disease can be quite variable.

    In diseases of the thyroid gland and other organs internal secretion (endocrine glands) sweating develops quite often. So, attacks of generalized excessive sweating can occur with hyperthyroidism (Basedow's disease, thyroid adenoma, etc.), pheochromocytoma (adrenal gland tumor) and disruption of the pituitary gland. However, with these diseases, sweating is not the main symptom, since a person has other, much more serious disorders in the functioning of the body.

    At hypertension quite often, generalized sweating develops, since during an attack of increased pressure, the activity of the sympathetic nervous system increases.

    Strong sweating during menopause

    About half of all women experience hot flashes and sweating during menopause, but these symptoms are considered normal because they develop due to hormonal adjustment occurring in the body. When menstruation finally stops and the woman goes through menopause, hot flashes, sweating, and other painful symptoms that are characteristic of the period of menstrual fading will pass. However, the belonging of sweating and hot flashes during menopause to the norm does not mean that women should endure these painful manifestations of the transition of the body to another stage of functioning.

    So, at present, to improve the quality of life and alleviate the condition of a woman, there is a wide range of drugs that stop such manifestations of the extinction of menstrual function as sweating and hot flashes. To choose the best remedy for yourself, it is recommended to consult a gynecologist who can advise hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or homeopathic medicines(for example, Klimaksan, Remens, Klimadinon, Qi-Klim, etc.).

    Severe sweating after childbirth and during pregnancy

    During pregnancy and within 1 - 2 months after childbirth, progesterone is produced in large quantities in a woman's body. Progesterone and estrogen are the main sex hormones female body, which are produced with a certain cyclicity so that in some periods one hormone has a predominant effect, and in others - the second.

    So, during pregnancy, some time after childbirth, and also in the second half of the menstrual cycle, the effects of progesterone prevail, since it is produced much more than estrogen. And progesterone enhances the sweat glands and their sensitivity to ambient temperature, which, accordingly, leads to increased sweating in women. Accordingly, increased sweating during pregnancy and some time after childbirth is a completely normal phenomenon that should not be feared.

    If sweating gives a woman discomfort, then to reduce it during the entire period of pregnancy, antiperspirant deodorants can be used, which are safe for the child and do not affect his growth and development.

    Night sweats - why we sweat at night: menopause (symptom relief), tuberculosis (treatment, prevention), lymphoma (diagnosis) - video

    Heavy sweating in women and men

    The causes, frequency of occurrence, types and principles of treatment of heavy sweating in men and women are exactly the same, so it is not advisable to consider them in separate sections. the only hallmark female excessive sweating is that the fair sex, in addition to all other causes of hyperhidrosis, has another one - a regular increase in progesterone levels in the second half of each menstrual cycle, during pregnancy, after childbirth and during menopause. Therefore, women can suffer from sweating for the same reasons as men and additionally at certain periods of their lives, in which the influence of progesterone prevails in the hormonal background.

    Strong sweating - causes

    Obviously, idiopathic heavy sweating does not have any obvious and visible causes, and ordinary situations, such as eating, a little excitement, etc., can provoke it. And sometimes bouts of sweating can occur without any visible provoking factor.

    The situation is completely different with secondary strong sweating, always caused by some reason, which is a somatic, endocrine or other disease.

    So, the following diseases and conditions can be the causes of secondary strong sweating:
    1. Endocrine diseases:

    • Thyrotoxicosis (high levels of thyroid hormones in the blood) against the background of Graves' disease, adenoma, or other thyroid diseases;
    • Diabetes;
    • Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar);
    • Pheochromocytoma;
    • carcinoid syndrome;
    • Acromegaly;
    • Pancreatic dysfunction (decreased production of enzymes by the pancreas).
    2. Infectious diseases:
    • Tuberculosis;
    • HIV infection;
    • Neurosyphilis;
    • Systemic fungal infections(eg aspergillosis, systemic candidiasis, etc.);
    • Herpes zoster.
    3. Infectious and inflammatory diseases of various organs:
    • Endocarditis;
    • Chronic tonsillitis, etc.
    4. Neurological diseases:
    • Diencephalic syndrome of newborns;
    • Diabetic, alcoholic or other neuropathy;
    • Vegetative-vascular dystonia;
    • Syringomyelia.
    5. Oncological diseases:
    • Hodgkin's disease;
    • non-Hodgkin's lymphomas;
    • Compression of the spinal cord by a tumor or metastases.
    6. Genetic diseases:
    • Riley-Day syndrome;
    7. Psychological reasons:
    • Fear;
    • Pain;
    • Anger;
    • Anxiety;
    • Stress.
    8. Other:
    • Hypertonic disease;
    • Hyperplasia of sweat glands;
    • Keratoderma;
    • Withdrawal syndrome in alcoholism;
    • Opium withdrawal syndrome;
    • Damage to the parotid salivary glands;
    • Follicular skin mucinosis;
    • Hypertrophic osteoarthropathy;
    • Blue nevus;
    • Cavernous tumor;
    • Mushroom poisoning;
    • Poisoning by organophosphorus substances (OPS).
    In addition, heavy sweating can develop while taking the following drugs as a side effect:
    • Aspirin and products containing acetylsalicylic acid;
    • Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists (Gonadorelin, Nafarelin, Buserelin, Leuprolide);
    • Antidepressants (most often Bupropion, Fluoxetine, Sertraline, Venlafaxine);
    • Insulin;
    • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (most often Paracetamol, Diclofenac, Ibuprofen);
    • Opioid analgesics;
    • Pilocarpine;
    • Sulfonylureas (Tolbutamide, Gliquidone, Gliclazide, Glibenclamide, Glipizide, etc.);
    • Promedol;
    • Emetics (ipecac, etc.);
    • Means for the treatment of migraine (Sumatriptam, Naratriptan, Rizatriptan, Zolmitriptan);
    • Theophylline;
    • Physostigmine.

    Excessive sweating in a child - causes

    Strong sweating can occur in children of different ages, even in infants of the first year of life. It should be remembered that excessive sweating in a child older than 6 years of age is completely equivalent to that of an adult in terms of causative factors, types and methods of treatment, but in children under 6 years of age, hyperhidrosis is provoked by completely different reasons.

    So, many newborn babies sweat intensely during feeding, when they suckle breast or milk from a bottle. Children of the first 3 years of life sweat very much in their sleep, and regardless of when they sleep - during the day or at night. Increased sweating accompanies them during both night and daytime sleep. Scientists and doctors consider children to sweat during meals and sleep as a normal phenomenon, which reflects the ability of the baby's body to remove excess heat to the outside and prevent overheating.

    Remember that the child is adapted by nature to be well tolerated relatively low temperatures, and the optimum ambient temperature for him is 18 - 22 o C. At this temperature, a child can safely walk in a T-shirt and not freeze, although almost any adult in the same clothes will be uncomfortable. Considering the fact that parents try to dress their children warmly, focusing on own feelings, they constantly expose them to the danger of overheating. The child compensates for too warm clothes by sweating. And when the production of heat in the body increases even more (sleep and food), the child begins to sweat intensely in order to "dump" the excess.

    It is widely believed among parents that excessive sweating of a child in the first 3 years of life is a sign of rickets. However, this opinion is completely untrue, since there is no connection between rickets and sweating.

    In addition to these physiological causes of excessive sweating in children, there are a number of factors that can cause hyperhidrosis in babies. These factors are diseases of the internal organs, which are always manifested by other, more noticeable and important symptoms, by the presence of which parents can understand that the child is sick.

    Excessive sweating in children: causes, symptoms, treatment. Hyperhidrosis during pregnancy - video

    Strong sweating - what to do (treatment)

    For any type of heavy sweating, the same treatment methods are used to reduce sweat production and suppress the activity of the glands. All these methods are symptomatic, that is, they do not affect the cause of the problem, but only eliminate the painful symptom - sweating, thereby improving the quality of human life. If sweating is secondary, that is, provoked by some disease, then in addition to using specific methods to reduce sweating, it is imperative to treat the direct pathology that caused the problem.

    So, at present, the following methods are used to treat severe sweating:
    1. External application to the skin of antiperspirants (deodorants, gels, ointments, wipes), which reduce the production of sweat;
    2. Ingestion of pills that reduce the production of sweat;
    3. Iontophoresis;
    4. Injections of botulinum toxin (Botox) in areas with excessive sweating;
    5. Surgical treatments for sweating:

    • Curettage of sweat glands in the area of ​​increased sweating (destruction and removal of sweat glands through an incision in the skin);
    • Sympathectomy (cutting or squeezing of the nerve leading to the glands in the area of ​​excessive sweating);
    • Laser lipolysis (destruction of sweat glands by laser).
    The listed methods represent the whole arsenal of ways to reduce excessive sweating. Currently, they are used according to a certain algorithm, which involves the use of the simplest and safest methods first, and then, in the absence of the necessary and desired effect, the transition to other, more complex methods of treating hyperhidrosis. Naturally, more complex methods of therapy are also more effective, but they have side effects.

    So, the modern algorithm for applying the methods of treating hyperhidrosis is as follows:
    1. External use of any antiperspirant on areas of skin with excessive sweating;
    2. Iontophoresis;
    3. Botulinum toxin injections;
    4. Taking pills that reduce hyperhidrosis;
    5. Surgical methods of removal of sweat glands.

    Antiperspirants are various means applied to the skin, such as deodorants, sprays, gels, wipes, etc. These products contain aluminum salts, which literally clog the sweat glands, blocking the production of sweat and thereby reducing sweating. Antiperspirants containing aluminum can be used for a long time, achieving an optimal level of perspiration. Previously, preparations containing formaldehyde (Formidron) or urotropin were used as antiperspirants. However, their use is currently limited due to toxicity and relatively low efficiency compared to products with aluminum salts.

    When choosing an antiperspirant, it is necessary to pay attention to the concentration of aluminum, since the higher it is, the stronger the activity of the agent. Do not choose products with a maximum concentration, as this can cause severe skin irritation. It is recommended to start using antiperspirants with a minimum concentration (6.5%, 10%, 12%) and only if they are ineffective, take an agent with a higher aluminum content. The final choice should be stopped on a product with the lowest possible concentration, which effectively stops sweating.

    Antiperspirants are applied to the skin for 6-10 hours, preferably at night, and then washed off. The next application is made after 1 to 3 days, depending on how much the effect of the remedy is enough for this particular person.

    With the ineffectiveness of antiperspirants to reduce sweating, an iontophoresis procedure is performed, which is a type of electrophoresis. In iontophoresis with electric field there is a penetration of drugs and salts deep into the skin, which reduce the activity of the sweat glands. To reduce sweating, iontophoresis sessions are performed with plain water, botulinum toxin, or glycopyrrolate. Iontophoresis allows to stop sweating in 80% of cases.

    If iontophoresis turned out to be ineffective, then botulinum toxin is injected into the problem parts of the skin to stop sweating. These injections eliminate the problem of sweating in 80% of cases, and their effect lasts from six months to one and a half years.

    Sweat-reducing pills are only taken when antiperspirants, iontophoresis, and botulinum toxin injections have failed. These tablets include agents containing glycopyrrolate, oxybutynin and clonidine. Taking these tablets is associated with numerous side effects (for example, difficulty urinating, sensitivity to light, palpitations, dry mouth, etc.), so they are resorted to very rarely. Typically, people take sweat-reducing pills before important meetings or activities when it is necessary to eliminate the problem reliably, efficiently and in a relatively short time.

    Finally, if conservative methods of stopping sweating do not help, you can use surgical methods of treatment, which involve the destruction and removal of sweat glands or the cutting of nerves leading to the problem area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe skin.

    Curettage is a scraping with a small spoon of sweat glands directly from the problem area of ​​​​the skin. The operation is carried out under local or general anesthesia and provides elimination of sweating in 70% of cases. In other cases, repeated curettage is required to remove some more glands.

    Laser lipolysis is the destruction of the sweat glands with a laser. In fact, this manipulation is similar to curettage, but it is more gentle and safe, since it minimizes skin trauma. Unfortunately, currently laser lipolysis to reduce sweating is performed only in selected clinics.

    A sympathectomy is a cutting or clamping of a nerve leading to the sweat glands located on a problem area of ​​the skin with heavy sweating. The operation is simple and highly effective. However, unfortunately, sometimes, as a complication of the operation, a person develops excessive sweating in the adjacent area of ​​the skin.

    What is increased sweating, forms (primary, secondary) and degrees of hyperhidrosis, treatment methods, doctor's recommendations - video

    Deodorant (remedy) for heavy sweating

    The following antiperspirant deodorants with aluminum are currently available to reduce sweating:
    • Dry Dry (Dry Dry) - 20 and 30% aluminum concentration;
    • Anhydrol Forte - 20% (can only be bought in Europe);
    • AHC30 -30% (can be bought through online stores);

    Sweating is a natural physiological process that allows the body to maintain normal temperature body and relieves overheating. In some cases, it may be the first symptom of the disease. Sweating during illness often increases, indicating changes in the body.

    In general, on different areas body is located up to 2 million sweat glands. They are divided into two types: apocrine and eccrine. Their greatest density is observed on the feet, palms and in armpits.

    Apocrine glands play a major role in the process of sweating. The sweat that is released contains an admixture of organic substances, which affects its smell. The development of these glands occurs from the age of 3, so babies do not have an individual aroma.

    Sweating is general and local, manifested in a limited area. Most often - in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe feet, palms, anus, upper lip and armpits.

    Neurotic disorders

    This group of diseases includes phobic and hysterical neurosis as well as neurasthenia. The work of the apocrine glands directly depends on the hormone adrenaline secreted by the adrenal glands in stressful situations. Nerve fibers give a signal to the sweat glands, stimulating their work. In some cases, a person should think that the palms will be wet in order to start the process. On the neurotic disorders In addition to excessive sweating, the following symptoms may indicate:

    • decrease in vitality;
    • prostration;
    • frequent mood swings;
    • headaches and tension;
    • pain and discomfort in the chest;
    • panic attacks.


    Important! Not all neurotic disorders are accompanied by excessive sweating. For its appearance, a change in the structure of the sweat glands is necessary. The number and location of apocrine glands is often inherited.

    Endocrine diseases

    Excessive sweating is often observed in people with diseases endocrine system. Hyperhidrosis becomes a sign of hormonal changes and may indicate the presence of serious pathologies.

    Diabetes

    If the patient's blood sugar level is significantly elevated for a long time, then peripheral nerve damage occurs. This affects the parasympathetic and sympathetic fibers responsible for the active work of the sweat glands.

    In diabetes, sweating on the palms and feet may decrease, resulting in increased sweating of the head and trunk. To additional symptoms diseases include:

    • dry mouth;
    • itching in the genital area;
    • increased appetite;
    • rapid weight loss.


    Important! If a person over fifty years of age has increased sweating, then he needs to donate blood for sugar

    Thyrotoxicosis

    Thyrotoxicosis occurs against the background of an enlarged thyroid gland. The reason for this can be diseases such as:

    • diffuse toxic goiter;
    • subacute or artificial thyroiditis;
    • excess iodine in the body;
    • ovarian tumors;
    • neoplasms in the pituitary gland.

    The result of these pathologies is that the thyroid gland produces too many hormones. They regulate heat transfer and cause heavy sweating, especially at night. During the day, a person also sweats heavily on the palms and feet. In addition, a patient with thyrotoxicosis has:


    Due to excessive sweating, the skin becomes warm and moist, and small vessels on the surface of the skin expand.

    hypoglycemia

    If blood sugar drops sharply, the adrenal glands release adrenaline, which affects the sweat glands. They, in turn, begin to function actively, producing sweat. Hyperhidrosis can occur during sleep.

    Most often, hypoglycemia develops in diabetes mellitus if a person has taken an incorrect dose of a drug that lowers blood glucose levels.

    In addition to sweating, hypoglycemia is accompanied by the following symptoms:

    • hand trembling;
    • strong feeling of hunger;
    • dizziness;
    • nausea.

    Important! In the severe stage of hypoglycemia, convulsions, loss of consciousness and coma may occur. The person needs urgent medical attention.


    Acromegaly

    Acromegaly is a disease in which the human body produces large amounts of the hormone somatotropin. In 95% of cases, it is caused by a pituitary adenoma. The hormones of this gland affect almost the entire body, including the kidneys and the adrenal glands, which produce adrenaline and norepinephrine. This results in increased sweating. Additional symptoms of acromegaly include:

    • enlargement of the limbs;
    • coarse facial features;
    • headaches;
    • hearing and vision loss;
    • increased hairiness;
    • menstrual disorders in women.

    Menopause does not apply to diseases - it is a natural physiological phenomenon that occurs due to a decrease in the production of estrogen in a woman's body. As a result of hormonal changes, there is a violation of thermoregulation. Cold sweat at night becomes frequent companion women experiencing menopause.


    In addition to excessive sweating, women also have other symptoms:

    • flushes of heat;
    • dryness of the mucous membrane of the genital organs;
    • chills;
    • sensations of rapid heartbeat.

    Oncological diseases

    Excessive sweating is often caused by benign or malignant neoplasms. Oncological pathologies can cause endocrine disorders and intoxication.

    Important! Often sweating is accompanied by a deterioration in well-being, general weakness. With cancer, increased sweating at night can be observed - so strong that you have to change clothes.

    Most often, this symptom appears with the following pathologies:

    • Hodgkin's lymphoma;
    • leukemia;
    • lymphogranulomatosis;
    • pheochromocytoma;
    • carcinoid tumors.


    Infectious diseases and intoxications

    Increased sweating is often observed in infectious diseases, the causative agent of which can be viruses or bacteria. Often increased amount sweat is released during chemical or food poisoning. The reason for this may be the stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system by harmful substances, as well as the body's attempts to eliminate toxins.

    Tuberculosis

    The causative agent of the disease is Koch's bacillus, which is transmitted by airborne or alimentary means. Sweating, as a symptom of tuberculosis, is observed in most patients. In the mild stage of the disease, it may be insignificant and appear when walking or hiding.

    Important! With a severe process in the lungs, a person has "hot flashes". This is a strong perspiration in the pre-morning time. The patient is thrown into cold sweat.

    The reason is a strong release of adrenaline into the blood, which provokes a narrowing blood vessels and increased sweating. If Koch's stick affects the digestive, genitourinary system, bone tissue or skin, then there is no such symptom as sweating.


    With the disease, the following symptoms are also observed:

    The cause of influenza or SARS are viruses that enter the body through respiratory system or mucous membrane of the eyes. In this case, sweating becomes a consequence of increased body temperature. Thus, the body tries to lower it in order to prevent a change in the structure of the protein.

    Sweating with a cold is normal phenomenon. With its help, harmful substances and residues of certain drugs are removed from the body.

    Important! If a person with acute respiratory infections or the flu has "cold" sweat, this may indicate the development of complications.


    Pneumonia and bronchitis

    Pneumonia or bronchitis can be caused by both a bacterial and a viral infection. The disease is not always accompanied by fever. In some cases, excessive sweating becomes its main symptom. Abundant sweat signals severe intoxication. Other signs of the disease include:

    • dry hacking cough;
    • weakness and dizziness;
    • chest pain and shortness of breath.

    For bronchitis, in addition to excessive sweating, the appearance of a painful cough and shortness of breath is characteristic.

    Sexually transmitted diseases

    Sometimes the cause of night sweats is a sexually transmitted disease, such as syphilis. This symptom may appear as initial stage disease, as well as after the detection of other signs. The reason for this is the defeat of the nerve fibers responsible for the work of the sebaceous and sweat glands.

    Neurological diseases

    Excessive sweating can be caused by neurological diseases such as Parkinson's disease. It most often develops in older people. They lose the ability to control their movements. Other symptoms include oily skin, urinary retention, and constipation.


    Also, increased sweating is observed during attacks of vegetative-vascular dystonia. VVD is not on the list of diseases, but after stress, lack of sleep, against the background of changes in hormonal levels, a person may have an increased heart rate, a drop in blood pressure, and shortness of breath.

    Systemic diseases

    Hyperhidrosis can be a symptom of systemic (autoimmune) diseases associated with impaired functioning immune system. The immune system begins to perceive own fabrics as alien and destroy them. Such diseases include:

    • psoriasis, in which excessive sweating is observed on healthy areas of the skin located around the plaques;
    • ankylosing spondylitis, a symptom of it, in addition to pain in the joints, is increased sweating.

    Diseases of the musculoskeletal system

    Often, excessive sweating signals a disease such as osteochondrosis. The disease can affect the lumbar, cervical or thoracic spine, causing pain in the back. The narrowing of the channels of the spinal cord and impaired blood flow not only affects the functioning of the nervous system, but can also cause an increase in body temperature, resulting in increased sweating.

    Diseases of the cardiovascular and respiratory system

    In some cases, hyperhidrosis is caused by problems of cardio-vascular system. Most often, sweating becomes a symptom of the following diseases:

    • hypertension;
    • ischemia;
    • thrombophlebitis;
    • myocardial infarction.


    A person may experience pain in the heart, shortness of breath, migraine, palpitations, sweating. Sweating is often observed when the level of hemoglobin in the blood decreases, which leads to anemia.

    Strong sweating appears with asthma. It's a chronic disease respiratory tract, which is characterized by attacks of suffocation. The disease develops as a result of an excessive reaction of the respiratory tract to irritants.

    Idiopathic hyperhidrosis

    If it is not possible to establish the causes of excessive sweating, idiopathic hyperhidrosis (of an unknown nature) is diagnosed. Sometimes it is considered as an independent disease. It is most often seen in women. Its first signs can be observed in adolescence.

    Important! Sometimes hyperhidrosis resolves on its own with age without specific treatment. But often it becomes chronic.

    In some cases, increased sweating after an illness persists for a long period, after the person has recovered. The reason for this is the change in metabolism in the body during illness. In this case, a disorder of the autonomic nervous system occurs, which is responsible for the normal activity of all organs.


    Astheno-vegetative syndrome is a fairly common pathology. The duration of its manifestation depends on the reasons why the body failed:

    • after suffering acute respiratory diseases, excessive sweating can persist for 21 days;
    • after pneumonia, unpleasant symptoms can appear for a month;
    • after severe infectious diseases, increased sweating persists for more than a month and in some cases may require additional examination and treatment.

    Folk remedies for the treatment of sweating

    In order to get rid of sweating, you can use folk remedies- decoctions, infusions or tinctures of medicinal herbs. Depending on the disease, they can be taken orally or used as baths and lotions. When will folk remedies help?

    With thyrotoxicosis

    Mix in the same proportion the leaves of sage, strawberries and prickly cocklebur grass. 2 g of the mixture is poured into 200 ml of water and boiled for 10 minutes. After half an hour, the broth is filtered, divided into 2 parts and taken in the morning and evening after meals. Treatment continues for at least a month.

    With menopause

    3 g of sage leaves pour 300 ml of boiling water and leave for half an hour. Filter and take 100 ml three times a day after meals. Treatment continues for 2 months.

    For diabetes

    Two parts of sage and blueberry leaves are mixed, as well as one each of clover and marsh cudweed. 3 g of raw materials are poured into 300 ml of boiling water and allowed to brew for 2 hours. Divide the remedy into 3 parts and take three times a day.

    With neurotic disorders

    20 g of motherwort herb is poured into 100 ml of 70% ethyl alcohol and insist 2 weeks. Periodically, the product must be shaken. Then the tincture is filtered and taken 3 times a day for 30 drops.

    With sweaty hands

    To get rid of sweating, 5 g sea ​​salt dissolved in 200 ml of boiling water. When the solution has cooled to a comfortable temperature, hands are immersed in it for 10 minutes.


    A good effect is observed when using an infusion prepared on the basis of straw from sowing oats. 10 g of raw materials are poured with a liter of boiling water and insisted under the lid for an hour. Then the non-strained product is used as a hand bath.

    With hyperhidrosis of the legs

    With increased sweating of the legs, oak bark is used. 50 g of raw materials are poured into 5 liters of water and boiled over low heat for 10 minutes. After cooling the broth, foot baths are made. The tool can also be used for lotions on the groin and armpits.

    Also, young oak bark can be crushed, sifted and fine powder poured into socks before leaving the house. In addition, socks should be chosen from natural fabrics, and changed daily.

    If excessive sweating is accompanied by damage skin, then it is necessary to mix oak bark, sage leaf and chamomile flowers in the same proportion. 50 g of the collection is poured with 5 liters of boiling water and infused for an hour. Without filtering, use for foot baths. The procedure is carried out twice a day until the symptoms of the disease are eliminated.

    Examination methods

    In order to get rid of sweating, it is necessary to establish its cause. Examination methods are prescribed depending on the symptoms of the disease. Instrumental include:

    • chest x-ray;
    • fluorography;
    • computed tomography;
    • ultrasound examination of the heart, organs digestive system or thyroid;
    • electrocardiogram.


    Also, a person with hyperhidrosis may be assigned the following tests:

    • biochemical and general analysis blood;
    • general urine analysis;
    • blood test for hepatitis and HIV;
    • blood for thyroid hormones;
    • blood for sugar;
    • blood for tumor markers.

    Which doctor to contact

    Depending on the disease that caused the increased sweating, treatment may include:

    • endocrinologist (thyrotoxicosis, diabetes mellitus, menopausal syndrome);
    • oncologist (malignant and benign neoplasms, leukemia, sarcomas);
    • neurologist (Parkinson's disease);
    • infectious disease specialist (infectious diseases);
    • phthisiatrician (tuberculosis);
    • cardiologist (diseases of the heart and blood vessels);
    • toxicologist (poisoning);
    • psychiatrist and psychotherapist (neurotic disorders).

    Important! If you cannot independently determine the cause of excessive sweating and find out which doctor is best to contact, then you need to go for a consultation with a therapist. He will tell you what to do and give a referral to a specialist who will treat the problem.

    In conclusion, it is worth deciding: is it useful or harmful to sweat? In hot weather, this is beneficial, as it protects the body from overheating, controls body temperature, activates metabolism and removes toxins. Moreover, blocking sweating is dangerous. Sweat is 90% water, so it doesn't smell. It acquires a specific aroma under the influence of microorganisms that live in the ducts. sebaceous glands. As long as the rules of hygiene are observed, this is not critical.

    But excessive sweating can also indicate serious diseases, so if you identify such a problem, you should seek the advice of a doctor.