What is hyperhidrosis?
Excessive sweating, otherwise known as hyperhidrosis, is when the body’s sweat glands overreact. Sweating is normal when you’re hot or have been exercising as it is the body’s natural way to control its temperature. You may be sweating excessively if you frequently find yourself perspiring at other times.
Sweating can be the result of stress or anxiety when the body’s fight or flight response has been triggered. It can appear anywhere and is accompanied by an increased heart rate and shortness of breath.
Primary hyperhidrosis has no known cause and first appears in childhood or adolescence, while secondary hyperhidrosis can begin any time later. Secondary hyperhidrosis can be linked to many things, such as thyroid disorders, the menopause or medications, but sometimes there is still no obvious cause.
Excessive sweating can appear at any time and it impacts men and women equally, affecting about 3 in 100. Fortunately, several treatments address this issue.
Primary hyperhidrosis affects at least 1% of the population
Hyperhidrosis is more common than psoriasis and peanut allergies
Half of people with hyperhidrosis have a family member with the condition
People with hyperhidrosis are more than twice as likely to suffer from depression and anxiety
What causes it?
There are various conditions that can cause excessive sweating, including anxiety, heart problems or genetic factors. It can also be a side effect of some medications.
Hormone changes associated with the menopause can cause excessive sweating, with night sweats being especially common. Sweating related to the menopause is also often accompanied by flushing.
There isn’t always a clear source for excessive sweating and the exact cause can remain unknown. It may be linked to an overactive autonomic nervous system or other illnesses. For some people, certain food or drink (like spicy food or alcohol) can make their sweating worse.
What are the symptoms & effects?
Excessive sweating is both a physical and emotional challenge for people.
It appears with wetness on your skin and fluid beads on your face. Hands, underarms and feet are the areas most commonly affected. As well as body odour, it can often cause itching, inflammation or cracked skin. The perspiration can result in damp clothing that may stain over time. Dealing with all of these effects over an extended period takes an emotional toll.
Hyperhidrosis can make interactions with other people difficult. You are likely to worry about people noticing symptoms like sweat patches, body odour or damp palms. Navigating professional or social situations with hyperhidrosis brings people severe embarrassment, stress and anxiety.
Even when alone, it takes a toll as excessive sweating can impact daily tasks. Holding a pen, cutlery or tools may prove a challenge.
How can it be managed?
If there is no clear cause for your excessive sweating, you have a family history of hyperhidrosis or you’re taking medication for another condition, you should consult your GP.
There are a number of ways to effectively manage excessive sweating.
Avoid anything that makes it worse
Steer clear of anything that worsens your sweating, like consuming alcohol or spicy foods.
Consult a pharmacist
A pharmacist can suggest solutions such as stronger antiperspirants, armpit shields, foot powders, and gentle soap substitutes. At home, you can use aluminium-based antiperspirants and shower more often.
Wear different clothing
Choose loose, breathable clothing, absorbent socks and leather shoes, while avoiding tight, synthetic fabrics.
Medications
A GP or dermatologist may recommend medications like anticholinergic agents, antidepressants, and beta blockers. You should discuss potential side effects before starting any treatment.
Therapy
The emotional impact of living with hyperhidrosis can be huge. Seeking support through the likes of hypnotherapy for sweating can help you cope with the mental health impact of excessive sweating.
How can hypnotherapy help?
Hypnotherapy isn’t a miracle cure for excessive sweating, but it induces deep relaxation and taps into the subconscious mind. Incorporating hypnotic suggestions and visualisation techniques strengthens the mind-body connection.
These sessions provide a safe and natural approach for addressing excessive sweating. We communicate directly with the subconscious mind to update and reprogram unhelpful patterns.
While not a substitute for medical treatment, hypnotherapy for sweating can be used alongside other treatments to help you take control and improve both physical and mental health.
Clients typically experience anxiety relief, increased confidence, better sleep, and enhanced overall wellbeing.
Our Hyperhidrosis: Excessive Sweating Specialists
Benn Baker-Pollard
Sittingbourne
Carmen Harrington
Market Harborough
Caroline Prout
Thrapston
Chris Johannes
Spalding
Claire Noyelle
Maidstone East
Dawn Ibbetson
Chelmsford
Gary Johannes
Peterborough
Jill Whitehouse
Newcastle upon Tyne
Keeley Smith
Southend-on-Sea
Kerry Seymour
Weston-super-Mare
Peter Ely
Islington
Victoria Anderson
Sunderland
Why Choose Inspired To Change
Our solution focused hypnotherapists empower you to better understand your brain, helping to guide you towards solutions and achieve the outcomes you want. We have a team of fully trained hypnotherapists, giving you the choice of who to work with and how you want to work with them. Solution focused hypnotherapy is just as effective in-person or online in the comfort of your own home, so you can find the ideal therapist to help you reach your goals.
Every one of our hypnotherapists is recognised by governing bodies like the National Council for Hypnotherapy, the UK’s leading not-for-profit hypnotherapy professional association. They have all trained with Clifton Practice Hypnotherapy Training, one of the leading hypnotherapy schools in the UK.
