Genetic News Weblog

Why Is It That We Perspire?

Sweating is a natural process that helps the body to cool down. We perspire to maintain our normal body temperature at 98.6° Fahrenheit (37° Celsius) so to tolerate the heat our bodies produce. The sweat glands beneath our skin produce the sweat that is released through our skin pores.

What Is Excessive Sweating?

Excessive sweating is when one perspires in excess of that necessary for regulating body’s temperature. Medically referred to as hyperhidrosis, excessive sweating occurs when the nerves that serve the sweat glands in certain parts of the body get into overdrive and produce excess sweat.

There are two main types of hyperhidrosis: primary and secondary hyperhidrosis. Secondary hyperhidrosis occurs when a medical problem or a prescription medication causes a person to perspire profusely. People with primary hyperhidrosis perspire in specific focal areas, usually whenever they are awake.

These focal areas include:

- Armpits (axillary hyperhidrosis)
- Hands (palmar hyperhidrosis)
- Feet (plantar hyperhidrosis)
- Face as well as other parts of the head (facial hyperhidrosis)

What Triggers Excessive Sweating?

For many individuals, there may be no detectable cause for their abnormal perspiration, and they may be considered to have a medical condition known as essential (idiopathic or primary) hyperhidrosis. This may be attributed to over active nerves that send signals to the sebaceous glands in the skin to produce excessive fluids.

Primary hyperhidrosis can be genetically transmitted and commonly runs in the family.

Other individuals may suffer with unnecessary sweating as a symptom of known medical problems, such as:

- An over active thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism)
- Gout
- Rheumatoid joint disease
- Tuberculosis
- Lymphoma
- Hypoglycemia
- Parasites
- Metabolic dysfunction
- Nerve problems due to diabetic issues (autonomic dysfunction) and also spinal cord injuries
- Liver disease
- Vitiligo
- Psychological disorders such as stress, panic attacks or anxiety disorders
- Menopausal flashes associated with menopause

Fractions of individuals who suffer from hyperhidrosis are generally under medication. A few medications by themselves may well trigger excessive perspiration, for example, medicinal drugs for cancer of the prostate, AIDS or pyridostigmine used for the condition myasthenia gravis.

Possible Treatments to Help Stop Excessive Sweating

Antiperspirants

Topical creams like antiperspirants can work wonders for excessive underarm, hand as well as foot sweating. Aluminum based antiperspirant helps block the overactive sweat glands, stopping sweat from coming out.

Drink Green Tea or Sage Tea

As tea contains an astringent property, it helps to dry out oils and prevent excessive moisture from escaping the skin. It essentially dries you from the inside out. In addition to aiding your complexion, green tea will neutralize many of the unhealthy toxins that cause the smelly odor in sweat.

Avoid Spicy Foods, Alcohol and Caffeine

These food types typically cause the body’s temperature to rise and this causes you to start perspiring.

Iontophoresis

Iontophoresis treatment is where you place your hands and foot into containers or trays. The trays are filled with mineral water. Connected to the trays is an Iontophoresis electromagnetic device. Mild electric pulses are distributed through the water. The electric pulses causes the minerals to bond and temporarily change the nature of your sweat pores to block out the sweat.

Botox ® Treatment

Botox is yet another effective method for preventing hyperhidrosis. This particular invasive treatment involves injecting neurotoxins around your armpits or palms which stops the nerves from stimulating the sweat glands from working. While effective, it’s actually a short-term fix, as you will need repetitive treatments every 6 or 7 months later to stop the sweating.

Surgery

The surgical removal of over active sweat glands can stop excessive sweating. For those who have a severe case of hyperhidrosis, you might choose to opt for ETS (Endoscopic Thorasic Surgery).

Tags: Genetics //