Have you been wondering: what are night sweats? We’ve got you covered! Keep reading to find out more about night sweats and what you can do to stop them.

Night sweating refers to excessive sweating that occurs at night while a person sleeps. This kind of sweating happens in the absence of any environmental stimuli that would normally trigger sweating (like hot temperature). Usually, it causes all-over body sweating. It can get so bad that it causes some people to soak through clothes and bedsheets![1]

Night sweats are usually a symptom associated with secondary hyperhidrosis, or diaphoresis - unexplained excessive sweating. This is a type of hyperhidrosis that causes excessive sweating due to specific biological factors like illness, drugs, or hormonal states.[2]

Many times, night sweats are a common symptom and pose no reason for concern, but in some cases they may be a signal of a larger problem. It is important to know when to be concerned about night sweats. If you suddenly begin experiencing night sweats or are having other health issues in conjunction with them, then you shouldmanage your hyperhidrosis with a dermatologist or other qualified doctor. Otherwise, there are many effective tools you can use to learn how to stop your night sweats and find relief.

Causes of Night Sweats

There are many possible diseases and conditions that cause secondary hyperhidrosis, and subsequently night sweating. Often, one of the most common causes of night sweats are side effects of medication or drugs.[2] Below is an in-depth look at the possible causes of night sweats.

Medications and Drugs that Cause Night Sweating

There is a long list of common medicine that cause hyperhidrosis and any of these medications have the potential to also induce night sweats.[2]

Of the drugs that can cause secondary hyperhidrosis antidepressants seems to be the most common cause of night sweating. One meta analysis found that between 10% and 14% of those on SSRIs, a very common antidepressant, suffer from night sweating.[3]

Here is a brief break-down of the types of medications that can cause secondary hyperhidrosis as well as night sweating:

• Pain medications: many types of opiates, NSAIDs (which are over the counter anti-inflammatories) and marinol (cannabinoid medication)
• Psychiatric medications: antidepressants, antipsychotics, anxiolytics and ADHD medications
• Hormonal medications: birth control and other medications containing estrogen or testosterone
• Diabetes medication[2]

There are many other medications that can cause secondary hyperhidrosis, which in turn leads to night sweating. Those listed above are just the most common types. So, if you believe a medication may be the reason you are sweating at night then it would be prudent to look at a comprehensive list and determine if your medication may be to blame.[2]

It should also be known that drug intoxication or withdrawal has the potential to cause night sweating, especially withdrawal from alcohol.[4] If the onset of night sweats is concurrent with the cessation of drug use this cause should be considered.

Menopause

Menopause is a notorious cause of night sweats and hot flashes. It usually begins in a woman’s 40’s. It is a hormonal change that indicates a woman is at the end of her childbearing years. Up to 80% of women going through menopause will suffer from night sweats and hot flashes at some point, so it is extremely common.

There are blood tests that can be done to determine whether a woman is going through menopause and it is advisable to have one done to determine whether it is the cause of night sweats.[5] One study published in the journal Climacteric studied menopausal women from various cultures and it showed that night sweats and hot flashes are a shared physiological phenomenon experienced by women all over the world.[6]

Illness

Several illnesses are known to cause night sweating. In some cases, these are short-term illnesses that produce a fever and will go away without intervention in a short period of time. Many times a short-lived fever can be responsible for temporary night sweats.[7]

Other times, night sweating can indicate a more serious condition, especially if night sweats are ongoing. This is when to be concerned about night sweats. Some cancers, especially lymphoma, can have night sweating as an initial symptom. This is more likely if there has also been unintended weight loss occurring at the same time as the onset of night sweats. Another potentially serious cause of night sweating is Tuberculosis, a serious lung infection. If night sweats have been occurring for a long period of time and are accompanied by weight loss, long-term fevers, enlarged spleen and lymph nodes, then immediate action needs to be taken to ensure that the sweating is not being caused by a serious medical condition.[4]

There are several other diseases and conditions that can cause secondary hyperhidrosis and night sweats including certain neurological disorders, hormonal conditions, hypoglycemia, and other serious infections.[1] It is important to explore all of the possible causes and discuss your night sweats with a doctor if they are ongoing and disruptive.

It is also important to point out that in some cases, anxiety can cause night sweats to occur. If this is the case, then addressing the cause of the anxiety or treating the anxiety should help to improve symptoms.[8] Other physiological conditions should be ruled out before anxiety can be deemed as a causative factor. Anxiety which causes night sweats can lead to chronic insomnia so it is important to get address the issues as quickly as possible.

Night Sweats in Children

Night sweating can occur in children. One study published in the Archives for Disease in Childhood found that night sweats were most commonly seen in children suffering from eye, respiratory, or atopic diseases. It was also found that these children were more likely to suffer from other sleep related disruptions. Boys tended to have a higher occurrence of sweating than girls.[9]

If a child is suffering from night sweats there are ways to help kids with hyperhidrosis. It is important to have them checked by a doctor to make sure that there is no serious underlying condition and there are medical treatments available to kids with hyperhidrosis if night sweats are severe.

How to Stop Night Sweats

There are several ways doctors know how to stop night sweats. However, the most effective treatment for night sweating is to determine the underlying cause and correct it. This is because night sweats are a symptom of secondary hyperhidrosis, and as such, are most frequently a symptom of another condition.[2]

If night sweats are something a person will be dealing with for a prolonged time, taking measures to manage hyperhidrosis at home are a good next step. Try some of these natural remedies to stop night sweats:

• Take a cool shower before bed
• Keep the bedroom temperature low
• Change bedding often
• Turn your pillow over after sweating
• Dress in layers so you can take clothes off easily
• Use a bedside fan
• Avoid triggers like caffeine, alcohol, and spicy foods before bed
• Use new pajamas every night, and have a clean set by your bedside in case they are needed in the middle of the night.[10]

How to Stop Night Sweats with Medical Treatments

If natural treatments are not enough, patients can learn how to stop night sweats by using antiperspirant and topical creams to reduce sweating. These typically use a combination of aluminum and other ingredients to prevent excessive sweating at the sweat gland. They are most effective when used on dry skin and applied at night to allow the formulation to sink in.[2]

Finally, if a patient cannot fix the root cause of their night sweats, there are oral medications that can prevent systemic sweating. The most common class of medications used to do this are called anticholinergics. They are not without side effects but can be of great help to patients who may otherwise be unable to get proper rest. There are other medications available, but anticholinergics are typically the most effective in this case.[2]

If you are experiencing night sweats due to menopause then there are several things you can try to reduce your symptoms. Eating a proper diet can improve symptoms as well as reducing substances like caffeine, spicy foods, and alcohol.[11] Women can also try hormonal medications to reduce the side effects of menopause and ease the stress of excessive sweating.

Now, when you wonder “what are night sweats?” you know the answer - they are a symptom of something else. Overall, stress reduction, a healthy lifestyle and figuring out the cause of your excessive sweating can greatly improve, and even stop night sweats. So, don’t give up and speak to your doctor!

Sources

1. 8 Causes of Night Sweats. (n.d.). Retrieved August, 2018, from https://www.webmd.com/menopause/guide/8-causes-of-night-sweats
2. Pariser, D. M. (2014). Hyperhidrosis (4th ed., Vol. 32). Amsterdam: Elsevier Pub. Co., 2014. Retrieved from https://www.elsevier.com/books/hyperhidrosis-an-issue-of-dermatologic-clinics/pariser/978-0-323-32607-0
3. Giudice, M. (2006). Tracing night sweats to drug can be challenging. . Canadian Pharmacists Journal, 139(1), 59-60. Retrieved August 27, 2018, from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/292841542_Tracing_night_sweats_to_drug_can_be_challenging
4. Greenham, A. (2011). Night sweats. GP, 34-35. Retrieved August 27, 2018, from http://ezproxy.co.wake.nc.us/login?url=https://search.proquest.com/docview/883399774?accountid=14867
5. Paisly, A. N., & Buckler, H. M. (2010). Investigating secondary hyperhidrosis. BMJ : British Medical Journal (Online), 341. doi:10.1136/bmj.c4475 Retrieved from https://www.bmj.com/content/341/bmj.c4475.full
6. Freeman, E. W., & K. S. (2007). Prevalence of hot flushes and night sweats around the world: A systematic review. Climacteric, 10(3), 197-214. Retrieved August 27, 2018, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17487647/
7. Bishop, S. (2010). For Vast Majority, Night Sweats Don’t Represent Medical Concern. Retrieved August, 2018, from https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/for-vast-majority-night-sweats-dont-represent-medical-concern/
8. What Causes Night Sweats? (2018). Retrieved August, 2018, from https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/ss/slideshow-night-sweats
9. So, H. K., Li, A. M., Au, C. T., Zhang, J., & Lau, J. (2012). Night sweats in children: Prevalence and associated factors. Archives of Disease in Childhood, 97(5). doi:10.1136/adc.2010.199638 Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21427123/
10. Dealing with Menopausal Hot Flashes and Night Sweats. (n.d.). Retrieved August, 2018, from https://www.healthline.com/health/menopause/hot-flashes-at-night
11. AntiAging Institute of California; How to Overcome Menopause Hot Flashes, Night Sweats and Other Symptoms. (2014). Pain & Central Nervous System Week. Retrieved August 27, 2018, from https://search-proquest-com.proxy187.nclive.org/docview/1476527644?pq-origsite=summon

Everyone experiences increased sweating when exposed to a stressful trigger at some point or another, so this is an important topic to understand. The definition of stress sweat is: increased sweating caused by a stressful psychological stimuli. This is different than a person experiencing increased sweating due to heat or intense exercise, as it involves only a psychological component as the sweat inducing trigger. Normally, sweat works with body temperature in a way that helps the body keep its internal temperature stable even in hot conditions, but stress can trigger the same type of physical reaction as heat. For people with hyperhidrosis, stress can be one of the primary culprits that cause their excessive sweating. There are specific reasons that cause the body to produce sweat during certain psychologically stressful situations and it is one of the reasons why humans sweat. However, for a person with hyperhidrosis this process can be extremely excessive and embarrassing on top of an already psychologically tough situation.[3]

Symptoms of Sweat Stress

Hyperhidrosis is not bad for someone's health, but the symptoms that arise from the stress it causes can be. Stress sweat can occur on specific areas of the body and, at times, it can be distressing. Precipitating an episode of stress induced sweat a person will typically feel nervousness, excitement, or anxiety. The following symptoms may then occur:

• Craniofacial sweating (beads of sweat on the forehead)
• Palmar sweating
• Plantar sweating
• Axillary sweating
• Groin sweating
• All over body sweating (may occur but it is usually localized)
• Offensive body odor

Not everyone will experience all of these symptoms of stress sweat, and many may only experience one or two. Stress sweating usually effects localized parts of the body but can occur all over, this varies between individuals. Some people experience clammy hands and feet when dealing with stress sweating, while others soak through there clothes. It does often involve apocrine sweat glands, which are most densely located in the axillary and groin regions. Unfortunately, apocrine sweat glands are responsible for the odor that is sometimes a particular symptoms of stress sweat.[1] This is because of what the sweat is made of, bacteria readily break down the type of sweat produced by apocrine glands and this creates a foul odor. There are two types of sweat glands stress can activate, eccrine, which are located all over the body, and apocrine, which are described above.[4]

The Physiological Reasons Stress Sweat Happens

Stress sweat occurs in both healthy individuals and those with hyperhidrosis. It is most likely to occur on the palms, soles, face and armpits.[1] In a typical individual, sweat happens as a result of a psychological stressor because it activates a part of the autonomic nervous system called the sympathetic nervous system, which in turn activates eccrine (sweat) glands through specific neurotransmitters. The autonomic nervous system is responsible for maintaining homeostasis and is made of up two parts, the sympathetic nervous system which excites the body, and the parasympathetic nervous system which calms it down. In people with hyperhidrosis, the sympathetic nervous system is thought to be overactive, which leads to overactive sweat glands and an overabundance of sweat. During a situation that would induce sweat stress in anyone, a person with hyperhidrosis will experience a much greater volume of sweat than a typical individual.[2]

While the exact cause of hyperhidrosis is currently unknown, there are some ideas about what may lead to stress sweating. Interestingly, it can be demonstrated that the sympathetic nervous system is related to the excessive sweat created in people with hyperhidrosis. Sometimes patients with hyperhidrosis will have a surgery called endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS) done as a treatment for sweaty hands. ETS is a surgery which destroys the nerves that activate the sweat glands in the palms. Once this is done, people with hyperhidrosis will no longer experience the effects of stress sweat in that area. However, they still experience the change in blood flow that occurs from temperature changes. This means that there is a specific nervous system response that activates sweat glands that does not affect surrounding blood vessels or skin tissues.[2] All of this indicates that a psychological response can cause a host of physiological processes to occur which increases sweat in normal individuals, and which may be a causative factor in the overproduction of sweat in those with hyperhidrosis. This is also the reason that hyperhidrosis and anxiety are so closely related.

Situations that Cause Stress Sweat

Any situation that can trigger a nervous or excited feeling has the ability to elicit stress sweat. However, there are common situations that are highly associated with potential increased sweating, including:

• Public speaking and its effect on hyperhidrosis
• Intimate relationships (especially in the beginning)
• Performing (playing sports with hyperhidrosis, debating, acting etc..)
• Sudden panic moments (forgetting an assignment, realizing you missed an important deadline etc…)
• Intense social engagement

These are all things that everyone will face at some point, and struggling with the fear of sweat stress can make that even harder for those with hyperhidrosis.[4] It is also important to note that hyperhidrosis can cause anxiety and that this can cause a host of other related issues.

Treatments for Stress Sweat

There are many potential treatments for stress sweat depending on the severity of the case. For example, if stress sweat is severe and usually caused by social or performance anxiety the use of the oral medication for hyperhidrosis called propranolol, a type of beta blocker, might be appropriate to use.[4] If sweat stress is less severe it may make more sense to take a more conservative approach to managing your sweat. These techniques can include the use of stronger antiperspirant, choosing clothes wisely, deep breathing techniques and finding methods to generally reduce your stress. There are anxiety reduction methods that can lessen excessive sweating, especially in those who are dealing with stress sweating. If symptoms are pervasive and persistent there are ways to manage your hyperhidrosis sweat with a doctor through the use of iontophoresis, botox injections, local permanent procedures, surgeries and other resources that are available.[4]

Due to the fact that stress sweat often involves the apocrine glands of the armpit and groin it can be particularly prevalent for it to produce a bad odor. If this is the case, there are ways to stop body odor. It would prudent to use strong antiperspirant, shower often, change clothes after sweaty situations and see a doctor if the problem is especially troubling. There are antiperspirants for the face and groin that are made for areas with sensitive skin.

Sweat stress can stink, but it’s important that people don’t let it’s effects stop them from doing the things they want, even if they are stressful.

Sources

1. Harker, M. (2013). Psychological Sweating: A Systematic Review Focused on Aetiology and Cutaneous Response. . Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 26(2), 92-100. doi:10.1159/000346930
2. Huddle, J. R. (2014). Hyperhidrosis: Causes, Treatment Options and Outcomes. New York, NY: Nova Science.
3. Macefield, V. G. (2009). Developments in autonomic research: A review of the latest literature. Clinical Autonomic Research, 19(3), 133-136. doi:10.1007/s10286-009-0016-3
4. Pariser, D. M. (2014). Hyperhidrosis (4th ed., Vol. 32). Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier.

Hyperhidrosis and anxiety go hand in hand, one is often both the cause and result of the other. However, it needs to be understood that a mental disorder does not cause hyperhidrosis, rather anxiety produces worsened symptoms of the disease in people that already have it. Historically, hyperhidrosis was actually thought to be a psychiatric condition, but that has been proven to be untrue.[1] Anxiety is often a cause of excessive sweating in those with hyperhidrosis but it is not the only reason it occurs. It is important to understand that anxiety is a symptom of hyperhidrosis because of the uncomfortable experiences the disease produces. Hyperhidrosis is not dangerous, but the anxiety and stress that can result from it are detrimental if they are not treated.

Ways Hyperhidrosis Causes Anxiety

Hyperhidrosis has a profound impact on a patient’s quality of life. In some cases, it is a specific situation like public speaking, that will worsen hyperhidrosis symptoms, but often, daily situations produce the most anxiety for those suffering. Here are some ways in which hyperhidrosis impacts quality of life and creates anxiety for those affected:

• It creates a feeling of social stigmatization that causes sufferers to feel isolated and, therefore, anxious about social interactions. For example, a person suffering from palmar hyperhidrosis may find it anxiety-producing to shake hands because of sweaty palms.
• It can cause anxiety about intimate relationships as patients may worry that their significant other may find them unattractive or unclean.
• Worries surface in relation to personal hygiene. It creates anxiety when a person feels that they cannot stay clean or must perform daily hygiene routines constantly throughout the day.
• Self-esteem is often low in hyperhidrosis patients, which creates feelings of anxiety and inadequacy.
• Professional success and performance are often hindered by either the condition, or often, the anxiety perpetuated by the condition.

These are just some of the ways that hyperhidrosis can cause anxiety and lower the quality of life for those suffering.[2] Fortunately, there are various ways of managing sweat and certain specific treatments that have been shown to greatly reduce the anxiety produced by hyperhidrosis.

How to Deal with Anxiety Caused by Hyperhidrosis

There are several non-medical ways to manage the symptoms of both hyperhidrosis and anxiety. Often, by decreasing the stress caused by hyperhidrosis on a daily basis patients can greatly reduce psychological symptoms. In some cases, the use of relaxation techniques, like deep breathing exercises, meditation and yoga can be greatly beneficial. Anxiety reduction methods can lessen excessive sweating if practiced on a regular basis. This is because hyperhidrosis is thought to be caused by an overactive sympathetic nervous system, so calming the nervous system down also reduces sweat production. These practices do not entirely eliminate symptoms of hyperhidrosis but can help to manage the distress caused by its symptoms, which can range from uncomfortably clammy hands and feet to a person not wanting to go to social events due to fear of social embarassment. In many cases, the most effective way to decrease significant anxiety caused by hyperhidrosis is to treat the actual condition. This often means managing hyperhidrosis with a doctor. There are some at-home management options like iontophoresis and OTC topical treatments that patients can try prior to visiting a doctor if they prefer. However, these treatments may not provide enough relief for a patient suffering from both severe hyperhidrosis and anxiety.

Medical Treatment Options for Hyperhidrosis to Decrease Anxiety

Increased anxiety is especially prevalent among those who have primary focal hyperhidrosis.[2] These are people who typically begin noticing symptoms during adolescence and who often have sweating on specific areas of the body. It is especially common to find anxiety in patients who have palmar and plantar hyperhidrosis[3]. Therefore, treatment for sweaty hands and treatment for sweaty feet are particularly effective in reducing anxiety symptoms. The most effective and well-studied methods which have been shown to reduce anxiety are surgical treatments for primary focal hyperhidrosis. These procedures include botox treatments for palmar, plantar and axillary hyperhidrosis as well as a surgical procedure called endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS). Both treatments reduce sweating to specific areas of the body and thus greatly reduce the amount of anxiety for those suffering. Patients should be weary of a surgical procedure called endoscopic lumbar sympathectomy as it has been shown to have potentiall serious and detrimental side effects. Patients should also be aware that endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy surgery also carries a high risk of ceratin side effects, like compensatory sweating, that can be difficult to handle. Most doctors maintain the idea that endocopic thoracic sympathectomy is still a safe treatment, despite some of the risks.[1][1]

There is also the option to treat hyperhidrosis with oral medications, specifically anticholinergic drugs like glycopyrrolate or oxybutynin, which can reduce sweating and thus anxiety. This has more recently been shown as a treatment which can potentially reduce anxiety, although surgical treatments are more commonly associated with improvements.[2] Of course, psychiatric medications can always be used to treat anxiety if needed, but if anxiety is specifically caused by the symptoms of hyperhidrosis then it makes sense to first treat the hyperhidrosis. If a patient decides to use psychiatric medications to manage their anxiety, they should be aware that benzodiazepines, which are used to treat acute anxiety, can be habit forming and have a sedating effect.

If a patients is suffering anxiety due to hyperhidrosis, and more conservative measures have not improved symptoms, then managing hyperhidrosis with a doctor is an important, and often life-changing, next step.

How Hyperhidrosis and Anxiety Have Been Studied

There have been several studies examining the relationship between anxiety, stress and hyperhidrosis. Although there have been some mixed results concerning which areas of sweating are most stress-producing (palmar, plantar or axillary) most studies show a correlation between anxiety and hyperhidrosis. One study, used both psychological evaluations (Beck Depression Inventory and Trier Inventory of Chronic Stress) and measured stress hormone levels to see if there was a cause between stress and hyperhidrosis. The cortisol levels remained similar to the control group but the hyperhidrosis patients reported higher levels of stress and depression.[4] There are many other assessments used to determine the quality of life for those suffering from hyperhidrosis including the Dermatology Quality of Life Index, Hyperhidrosis Impact Questionnaire, Skindex and more.[2] These tools are can be used by either researchers or doctors to determine how and to what extent patients are suffering psychologically from hyperhidrosis. Due to the fact that there is a strong correlation between excessive sweating and stress, some people suffer from stress sweating, or sweating that is greatly worsened when a person is in an acutely stressful situation.

It makes sense that hyperhidrosis, stress and anxiety are so closely related as the symptoms of hyperhidrosis cause both physical, social and emotional discomfort.[2] However, there are many available solutions and ways to manage the condition so that patients feel better and experience an improved quality of life.

Sources

1. Ruchinskas, R. (2007). Hyperhidrosis and Anxiety: Chicken or Egg? Dermatology, 195-196. doi:10.1159/000099581
2. Pariser, D. M. (2014). Hyperhidrosis (4th ed., Vol. 32). Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier.
3. Ghorpade, V. (2009). Idiopathic unilateral focal hyperhidrosis with social anxiety disorder. Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 51(3), 214-215. doi:10.4103/0019-5545.55094
4. Gross, K. M., Andrea, B., Schneider, K. K., Schulz, A., & Meyer, J. (2014). Elevated Social Stress Levels and Depressive Symptoms in Primary Hyperhidrosis. PLoS One, 9(3). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0092412

Around the world, millions of people enjoy playing sports. Whether you play a sport occasionally with friends and families, or are a dedicated athlete, sports offer the perfect opportunity to join people together and build character in the player. However, it’s no secret that sweat can pose a serious problem to athletes in nearly all sports. Unfortunately, hyperhidrosis (the medical term for the excessive sweating) and physical activity do not mesh well. From ruining workout clothing and equipment, to actually decreasing a player’s performance, unchecked sweat poses a problem for nearly all athletes. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to help decrease your sweat and increase your performance. Specifically, there are treatments for sweaty hands and treatments for sweaty feet that can particularly help certain sports.

Golf:

Between ruining your grip on the club and staining your attire, sweat can pose quite the problem to a golfer. To help minimize the effect sweat plays on your grip, always consider using one of the following three options to keep performing at your highest level and manage your sweat.

• Keep a clean hand towel with you at all times that can be used repeatedly to dry the sweat from your hands and other sweat-prone areas like the forehead.
• Bring a pair of golfer gloves that add a heightened grip to you while swinging your club. Be sure to keep your gloves clean and dry, as well as alternate pairs of gloves on a consistent basis to ensure one pair of gloves is not continually exposed to sweat.
• Consider applying an antiperspirant specifically designed for stopping sweaty hands. You can find antiperspirant in most grocery stores, as antiperspirants are a type of over-the-counter topical treatment. Antiperspirants, like Carpe Lotion, are specifically designed to stop the sweat at the source, and can eliminate the need for multiple towels and gloves.

Tennis:

Considering a strong and comfortable grip on the racquet is a foundational aspect of tennis, sweat can wreak havoc on an person’s gameplay. To help control your grip and overall performance, consider implementing the following techniques into your game plan to manage your sweat.

• Wear one or more sweatbands that allow you to absorb the sweat you produce. These sweatbands are often worn on the wrist, elbows, biceps, and head. Be sure to wash these sweatbands after each use to ensure longevity and hygiene.
• Apply a racquet grip that doesn’t allow sweat to accumulate on the handle. When choosing a grip, be sure to select one that soaks your sweat into the grip rather than letting the sweat accumulate on the racquet.
• Since the sweat will soak into your grips, be sure to change your grips on a regular pattern to keep your grips effective.
• Wipe down your hands and the racquet after each break in the game.
• Similar to golf, applying a topical over-the-counter treatment, like Carpe, can help you avoid sweaty hands as a problem in the first place.

Cheer, Dance, and Gymnastics:

In precision sports like cheer, dance, and gymnastics, maintaining complete control of the grip your hands and feet provide you is essential to success and safety.

• Use ample amounts of chalk to make sure sweat does not impact your routine.
• If the chalk is leaving too much residue or is simply uncomfortable, consider using a hand or foot antiperspirant, like Carpe Antiperspirant Hand Lotion, or Carpe Antiperspirant Foot Lotion, to reduce your sweating.
• If the sweating continues, evaluate whether or not iontophoresis treatments for palmar and plantar hyperhidrosis may be an effective way to reduce the amount of impact hyperhidrosis has on your routine.

Whether sweat burns your face while you work out or prevents you from holding sports equipment, there are things you can do to improve your situation. There are many things you can do to improve your performance in sports despite having hyperhidrosis but it doesn’t help that the humidity of being outside can make the sweating worse!

Sources

1. Pariser, D. M. (2014). Hyperhidrosis (4th ed., Vol. 32). Amsterdam: Elsevier Pub. Co., 2014. Retrieved
2. Scifers, James R, DScPT, PT, SCS,L.A.T., A.T.C., Lewandowski, Jeff, DPT, PT, SCS,A.T.C., M.T.C., O'Brien, Matthew, PhD, LAT, ATC, & Watts, Jay, RPh,F.A.C.A., F.A.C.V.P. (2013). Iontophoresis. Athletic Training & Sports Health Care, 5(3), 103-105. doi:http://dx.doi.org.proxy.lib.duke.edu/10.3928/19425864-20130509-03
3. Nordqvist, C. (2017, December 21). Hyperhidrosis: Symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment. Retrieved May 14, 2018,

Why do people get nervous while speaking in public?

For millions of people around the world, public speaking is considered to be a very nerve-racking experience. In fact, many individuals have indicated that public speaking is among the biggest fears they experience in their lives. Since public speaking requires a person to go under heightened scrutiny in their choice of words, mannerisms, logical thought process, and general behavior, the body’s response is often to induce anxiety when someone has to speak publicly. As a natural response to the anxiety, your body produces sweat in order to cool the body, which can begin to overheat for a myriad of anxiety-related reasons. Anxiety is one of the reasons why humans sweat. Anxiety is known to trigger hyperhidrosis symptoms to worsen, so the perceived stress from public speaking can cause people with hyperhidrosis to experience even more anxiety and sweating and perpetuate an unfortunate cycle.

I Sweat while Speaking in Public. Is that Hyperhidrosis?

Only a doctor can officially diagnose and manage your hyperhidrosis, and he needs to have your personal information in order to do this. However, you can evaluate your sweat in connection with these three key factors to tell if you have hyperhidrosis:

1. Do regular strength antiperspirants significantly reduce your sweat on a consistent basis?

One strong sign that an individual may have hyperhidrosis is if regular strength antiperspirants are unable to control your sweat. Since the regular strength antiperspirants only contain moderate levels of an active ingredient in the form of an aluminum compound, switching to a stronger over-the-counter topical treatment for hyperhidrosis may be a good first step in addressing your sweat. Many people struggle to find the right over-the-counter antiperspirant when they have hyperhidrosis, but examining the type of active ingredient and how much of it a product has can help.

2. Does the excessive sweat occur on a regular/predictable basis?

If you're experiencing excessive sweat on a consistent basis and don’t know the cause, the odds are significant that you may have hyperhidrosis. Additionally, if certain events like public speaking, test-taking, or interviews cause you to sweat excessively, you mave have hyperhidrosis that is triggered by feelings of anxiety in stressful moments. This type of sweating is often reffered to as stress sweating.

3. Does the sweat occur is one or a couple of distinct areas (such as the hands, the feet, the underarms, or the face and head)?

If your sweat is isolated to one or more of the aforementioned areas, you may have primary focal hyperhidrosis. This form of hyperhidrosis affects specific locations on an individual and can be quite irritating. There are several available treatments for sweaty hands and treatments for sweaty feet. If you suspect that you have hyperhidrosis, then you should try to learn everything you can about it.

Behavioral tricks to help stop hyperhidrosis while speaking in public.

Fortunately, there are a few behavioral tricks that will help you manage your hyperhidrosis. First, be sure to apply your antiperspirant the night before a big public speaking event instead of applying it the morning of the event. When you apply your antiperspirant at night, the active ingredients are left in an undisturbed and dry environment to achieve their maximum effectiveness. Second, wear breathable clothes and fabrics like cotton. There are certain types of clothes that are best for people who sweat excessively, like breathable cotton and lightweight weaves. People with hyperhdirosis should also use sock materials that are best for sweaty feet to keep them comfortable and dry while performing a task that is anxiety producing for them. Finally, please come prepared to your presentation to ensure no last minute anxiety builds. Another strategy that might help is to use anxiety reduction methods that can lessen excessive sweating, like yoga. Even though these methods will not solve the problem in the moment, they may help people with hyperhidrosis regulate their feelings, and therefore their sweat. Many of these methods can also be used to manage your sweating in general as well.

Medical solutions to stop hyperhidrosis while speaking in public.

If behavioral solutions are not enough to stop your sweat, consider trying an over-the-counter topical treatment as a first step. Underarm antiperspirants like Certain Dri, and hand and foot antiperspirant lotions like Carpe, are two products specifically designed to stop hyperhidrosis.

If further treatments are needed, both oral medication for hyperhidrosis and surgical treatments like botox injections or ETS can be utilized. There are also a myriad of other local treatments like iontophoresis, MiraDry, Qbrexza and prescription antiperspirants that can be helpful.

Sources

1. Pariser, D. M. (2014). Hyperhidrosis (4th ed., Vol. 32). Amsterdam: Elsevier Pub. Co., 2014. Retrieved
2. Walling, H. W., & Swick, B. L. (2011). Treatment Options for Hyperhidrosis. American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 12(5), 285-295. Retrieved July 25, 2018, from http://ke2nk8za8p.search.serialssolutions.com
3. Rai, R., & Srinivas, C. (2005). Iontophoresis in dermatology. Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, 71(4), 236-241. Retrieved July 25, 2018, from https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy.wakegov.com/docview/195074488?pq-origsite=summon.

Many people are worried about whether antiperspirant is safe, especially because it is so widely used. So, what does antiperspirant do to your body and is it bad for you? In the late 2000’s, a viral email was sent out in a mass blast discussing a correlation between antiperspirants with aluminum as an ingredient, which is a typical ingredient in over-the-counter topical treatments for hyperhidrosis, and the emergence of breast cancer. This email was forwarded to millions of individuals around the world, and the email made three primary claims:

1. The aluminum in the antiperspirants that was applied to the underarms and under the breast was likely to enter the breast tissue through the skin, remain present in the breast tissue, and create a toxic imbalance of aluminum that led to cancerous cell division.
2. The aluminum would also enter the skin through micro-abrasions caused by a razor when shaving, travel into the lymph nodes, and block the lymph nodes from releasing any toxic substances the body would typically release via sweat.
3. Since women were more likely to shave their armpits and create the microabrasions, the aluminum build-up would be higher in women and be a contributing factor in what made women develop breast cancer at a higher rate than men. [1] [2]

In order to provide an unbiased review of the 3 claims regarding aluminum and cancer, each claim will be evaluated solely the scientific evidence on the topic provided by three non-profit organizations: the American Cancer Society, the National Cancer Institute, and WebMD.

Claim 1: Aluminum Enters the Tissue via the Skin and Causes Cancer

The email’s first claim is that active ingredients in antiperspirants, such as aluminum compounds like aluminum chlorohydrate, enter the breast tissue and lead to cancer. To stop sweat, these aluminum compounds block the sweat glands to prevent sweat from getting to the surface of the skin. Some hypotheses in cancer research have suggested these aluminum compounds might be absorbed by the skin and then create changes in the breast’s estrogen receptor cells. Since estrogen may promote the growth of both cancer and non-cancer breast cells, a few scientists have suggested that the aluminum-based ingredients in antiperspirants are a risk for catalyzing the growth of cancerous breast cells. However, no concrete evidence exists that the aluminum that enters the sweat gland is absorbed into the skin. One research trial that studied aluminum absorption from antiperspirants containing aluminum chlorohydrate applied to the underarms discovered that only a miniscule amount (0.012%) of aluminum chlorohydrate was absorbed. The actual aluminum absorbed according to this study and other studies is actually much less than the amount of aluminum a person absorbs just from eating typical foods with aluminum. Furthermore, no evidence indicates that breast cancer tissue contains more aluminum than healthy breast tissue. A study that observed women with breast cancer found no real difference in the concentration of aluminum between the cancer and the surrounding healthy tissue. [1][2][3]

The Verdict:

Evidence shows that aluminum does not enter the skin to a tissue-deep level or collect in the tissue. Additionally, even if the aluminum were to build up in the tissue (evidence indicates it does not), no ties between aluminum and breast cancer are shown.

Claim 2: Aluminum Particles Known as Parabens Enter the Tissue via Microabrasions and Sweat Glands, then Block Lymph Nodes from Removing Toxins

In addition to the claim surrounding aluminum, the email also claims the aluminum-based antiperspirant contains parabens that prevent lymph nodes from disposing of toxic waste. Since lymph nodes assist the body in removing possible threats to the body like viruses and bacteria, making sure all lymph nodes are functioning properly is a critical part of maintaining a healthy immune system. However, these lymph nodes are unrelated to sweating. First, lymph nodes do not release waste or toxins through sweating, and prohibiting sweating via aluminum would not affect their function. Most cancer-causing substances that enter the body are removed from the blood by either the lymph nodes or the kidneys, then flushed through the urinary tract. Second, and more importantly, lymph nodes are not even connected to sweat glands. Sweat glands are located in the skin, whereas the lymph nodes are distributed throughout key points throughout the body in a tissue level below the skin-deep positioning of the sweat glands. [1][3]

Some individuals would argue that since the majority of breast cancer cases emerge in the portion of the breast closest to the underarm (axillary) region, the parabens are driving these cases of breast cancer. However, the fact that this portion of the breast tissue has the largest mass by far means that this portion of the breast will naturally have more developments of cancer. Since the lymph nodes found throughout the breasts play a key role in the process of cleaning the blood, this area is naturally larger in mass. The underarm (axillary) nodes filter most of the liquid lymph flowing out of the breast before it goes back into the body's bloodstream. These nodes are under the arm, in the upper outer portion of the breast, and near the collarbone. The percentage of cancers in the higher outer part of the breast is proportionate to the breast tissue in that portion. There is no evidence to suggest that the location of cancers within the breast is related to using antiperspirants or underarm shaving. [1][2][3]

The Verdict:

Parabens do not enter the lymph nodes through the skin, and the lymph nodes do not even utilize sweating as a means to eliminate toxins.

Claim 3: Aluminum Percentages are Higher in Women and Correlates to Higher Breast Cancer Rates in Women

Breast cancer development rates are directly correlated to the mass of breast tissue. Research has shown that aluminum rates do not hold a statistically significant impact on breast cancer development. When compared to males, females have approximately 100 times the mass of breast tissue as males, and uncoincidentally, develop approximately 100 times the amount of breast cancer cases as males. Additionally, males are 100 times less likely than females to develop breast cancer since males have one one-hundredth the mass of breast tissue that women have. Furthermore, hormones also affect breast cancer development. Males with genetic and metabolic conditions that lead to increased estrogen levels possess a greater risk of developing breast cancer. This correlation and the research surrounding the relationship between estrogen and breast cancer highlights a natural connection between estrogen and breast cancer rates. [1][2][3]

The Verdict:

Females have the nearly identical amount of aluminum in their tissue as males, and the frequency of breast cancer diagnoses are correlated to the mass of breast tissue.

Conclusion:

Since the idea that there is no link between aluminum antiperspirants and cancer is also supported by the American Cancer Society, the National Cancer Institute, WebMD, and dozens of other non-profit organizations, the factual links to aluminum and cancer are nonexistent. Considering that these non-profit organizations operate with a primary goal of researching cancer to discover prevention and treatment methods for the disease, these organizations value discovering and spreading scientific truth over any potential profits made from scams surrounding antiperspirants. After considering that both private sector and public sector non-profit groups that have spent hundreds of millions of dollars researching a potential link between aluminum and cancer have also agreed the link is simply nonexistent, nearly no credible evidence or organization stands behind the faulty belief that aluminum antiperspirants cause cancer. [2][3] Don't be afraid to use over-the-counter topical treatments to treat your hyperhidrosis or to manage it with a doctor. Many people don't even know what antiperspirant does and how it is different from deodorant, so claims about antiperspirant causing cancer may lead many unimformed people to fear a safe and effective treatment. You need to advocate for your own health and learn everything there is to know about hyperhidrosis and its potential treatments in order to make informed decisions about your medical care.

Sources

1. Antiperspirants and Breast Cancer Risk. (n.d.). Retrieved June 28, 2018, from https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-causes/antiperspirants-and-breast-cancer-risk
2. Antiperspirants/Deodorants and Breast Cancer. (n.d.). Retrieved June 27, 2018, from https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/myths/antiperspirant-fact-sheet
3. Watson, S. (n.d.). Antiperspirant Safety: Should You Sweat It? Retrieved July 28, 2018, from https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and- treatments/features/antiperspirant-facts-safety#1