Causes of hyperhidrosis and how to control it

When it comes to sweat, it’s been a love-hate relationship for as long as Ruthy Venegas can remember.

“I have been active in either dance or sports since before elementary school,” she says. “When I was hitting puberty, I didn’t slow down. My perspiration was like a yellow monster that would eat at all my clothes, leaving yellow stains and smells.”

Venegas tends to work up a sweat from her job and exercising. “As a teacher, I am constantly on my feet,” says Venegas, a nutrition peer educator at the University of Illinois at Chicago. “On a good week, I work out about four times.”

Since she was 12 until age 20, she’s changed deodorant brands, smells and types — including roll-ons, liquids and solids. “I’ve even DIY-ed,” she says. “It wasn’t until recently that I have found what works best.”

Venegas can chalk up her sweatiness as typical perspiration. But that’s not the case for everyone. Summer is here, and it’s bringing the heat. If you’re sweating excessively and uncontrollably, it could indicate a more serious medical condition.

The perspiration problem

Hyperhidrosis is a medical condition in which the sweat glands produce more sweat than usual. It happens primarily in the armpits, the soles of the feet and the palms of the hand.

“Sweating in hyperhidrosis may be four or five times more than in the average non-hyperhidrotic person,” says registered nurse Angela Ballard, of the International Hyperhidrosis Society in Charleston, South Carolina.

Unfortunately, medical experts don’t know why about 5 percent of the global population (an estimated 367 million people) sweat excessively.

“Recently, it has been reported that there may be a genetic linkage,” Ballard says. “There is a positive family history in 35 percent to 56 percent of patients with hyperhidrosis.”

This genetic linkage is known as primary hyperhidrosis. Secondary hyperhidrosis happens because of another medical condition or a side effect of a medication.

Working up a sweat

Hyperhidrosis can be embarrassing, uncomfortable and anxiety inducing, Ballard says. But when it becomes “serious” is highly subjective. Once a person has to plan for or change their lifestyle around it, then it becomes disruptive and damaging.

“Are clothes and shoes being ruined?” she asks. “Does the person need to carry extra clothes and towels around? If so, then the condition deserves attention, so the person can be themselves and not be held back by their medical condition.”

Keep in mind that hyperhidrosis doesn’t lead to any other illness, and there are ways to keep the perspiration at bay.

“When you are in the sun and heat, it is best to wear light-colored clothing and clothing that isn’t too heavy — tank-tops, T-shirts and shorts,” says Cody Shearrow, a trainer and fitness attendant in suburban Cleveland. “These types of clothing allow the wind to provide more ventilation to the body, which can aid in cooling you.”

Ballard stresses that antiperspirants are a good first choice, and they can be used on other body parts, not just underarms.

“Antiperspirants come in many different strengths, so trying different strengths and niche hyperhidrosis antiperspirants, like Certain Dri, Stop Sweat and SweatBlock, is always a good idea,” she says.

As for Venegas, she keeps her cool during the summer with a lot of water and dense fruits and vegetables. And she has plenty of baby wipes handy. “I take them everywhere with me and, of course, a normal-size deodorant to apply once I freshen up,” she says.

Finding the right deodorant was just trial and error. “If it didn’t work I probably gave it away to a sweaty friend to try it,” she says.