Sweating is a natural way for out body to stay cool, and people sweat when temperatures are warm, when they exercise, or are in uncomfortable situations. This sweating is normal and natural, however, about 3% of people say that they sweat excessively. Sometimes it is genetic, sometimes it is caused by problems that are medical, such as an overactive thyroid gland, and sometimes it is a symptom of a change your body is going through, such as menopause. Of course, no matter why you do it, excessively sweating can be highly embarrassing. So, let's take a look at why you sweat excessively, and what you can do about it:

Excessive sweating:

If you sweat excessively, it is not because you have too many sweat glands or that they are abnormally large. It is probably because there is a lot of activity in the tiny nerves that control them. The problem of excessive sweating is referred to as hyperhidrosis. This is defined as a medical condition in which a person sweats excessively and unpredictably. People with hyperhidrosis may sweat even when the temperature is cool or when they are at rest. Normal sweating occurs when you are hot, exercise, are embarrassed, angry, or in an uncomfortable situation, however, excessive sweating occurs without such triggers. In many cases there is no explanation for the trigger of the sweating, making it even more embarrassing, and even harder to live with.

Doctors have determined that those with hyperhidrosis appear to have overactive sweat glands. And that when they produce sweat it is not to cool the body as normal sweating is for. Thus, it is considered uncontrollable sweating, which can lead to significant discomfort, both physical and emotional.

Where you sweat in excess can help doctors determine the best treatment option for you. In fact, most of the time, hyperhidrosis can be broken down into one of two categories: primary hyperhidrosis, or secondary hyperhidrosis.

Primary hyperhidrosis:
When excessive sweating affects the hands, feet, and armpits, it's called primary or focal hyperhidrosis. Research has shown that primary hyperhidrosis affects 2 - 3% of the population. Most people affected by it do not realize that it is a problem, and do not seek medical attention. With this form of hyperhydrosis there is not a cause linked to it, and it has been determined that it is typically a genetic factor, so if someone in your family has primary hyperhidrosis, there is a higher chance that  you will.

Secondary hyperhidrosis:
If you sweat all over your body, or have excessive sweat in other areas besides hands, feet, and armpits, it is usually the result of another medical condition, and is called secondary hyperhidrosis. The sweating may be all over the body, or it may be in one area, but is not confined to the areas in primary hyperhidrosis.

How to test for excessive sweating:

If you think you have an excessive sweating problem you may wish to visit a doctor for treatment. If you do, they will test you for excessive sweating. Visible signs of sweating may be noted during a doctor's visit, but do not always indicate a problem, thus a number of tests may also be used to diagnose excessive sweating. The most common of these tests include the following:

Starch-iodine test. In this test an iodine solution is applied to the sweaty area. It is then left to let dry. Once it is dry starch is sprinkled on it, and it is observed for a few minutes. The starch-iodine combination turns a dark blue color wherever there is excess sweat. So, if you have a lot of areas of dark blue, your doctor will likely conclude you do indeed have an excessive sweating problem.

Paper test. This test is just as simple, and even more so, than the starch-iodine test. In this test special paper is placed on the affected area to absorb the sweat. Once the sweat is absorbed the paper is weighed. The heavier it weight, the more sweat has accumulated. If you have an above average paper weight, it would indicate an excessive sweating problem.

In addition to these tests, you will likely be asked for some specific details on when, where, and how you sweat. Questions will usually follow the below questions:

Location: This is a line of questioning to help determine if it is primary or secondary hyperhidrosis. Where do you usually sweat? Is it on face, palms, or armpits? Is it all over the body?

Time pattern: This line of questioning addresses how long it has been occurring, and when it usually happens. Does it occur at night? Did it begin suddenly? How long have you had it?

Triggers: These questions help your physician figure out if something specific is causing the sweating. Does it occur in response to reminders of a traumatic event? What other symptoms are present (for example, weight loss, a pounding heartbeat, lack of appetite)? Are the hands cold and clammy? Is there a fever?

Once your physician determines whether or not you have a sweating problem, they can help you come up with the best treatment option for your specific case. The following are the most common treatment options for excessive sweating.

Treatment options for excessive sweating:

Antiperspirants.

Most people who have suffered from excessive sweating have tried antiperspirant. Sometimes it can be controlled with strong antiperspirants. Antiperspirants plug the sweat ducts and help reduce the sweating. If you are going to try this option look for products containing 10% to 15% aluminum chloride hexahydrate. Your doctor may even prescribe you a product that contains a higher dose of aluminum chloride. Usually with prescription antiperspirants you apply them nightly onto the affected areas. If you do this one thing to keep in mind is that you will want to wear clothes you do not care about because antiperspirants with that high of dose of aluminum chloride can damage clothing. It can also cause skin irritation, so you will want to be careful to watch for irritation and talk to your doctor if you have an adverse reaction.

Medication.

You can get medications prescribed to help prevent the stimulation of sweat glands. One of the most commonly used medications are anticholinergics drugs, such as glycopyrrolate, Robinul, Robinul-Forte. The idea behind them is to help to prevent the stimulation of sweat glands, but they are not effective for everyone, and in some cases the side effects make them hard to take. Side effects include dry mouth, dizziness, and problems with urination. Other medications that help depending on your reasons for sweat are beta-blockers or benzodiazepines, they mostly just help reduce stress-related sweating.

Iontophoresis.

This is a procedure where your physician uses electricity to temporarily turn off the sweat gland. This is a procedure that usually is used for people whose sweat problems are on their hands and feet. The way this works is that your hands and feet are placed in a tub of water. Then an electric current is passed through the water. It is a very gentle current, and it is gradually increased until the patient feels a light tingling sensation. If you use this sort of treatment option you have to go in for several sessions of therapy. It takes about 10-20 minutes per sessions. There are side effects, but most include skin cracking and blisters, although this is quite rare.

Botox.

If you have sever underarm sweating one option that may work well for you is that of Botulinum toxin type A, or in other words, Botox. The way this treatment option works is that small injections of purified botulinum toxin are placed into the underarm to temporarily block the nerves that stimulate sweating. There are side effects to this treatment option which typically include injection-site pain and flu-like symptoms.

Endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS).

In severe cases your doctor may recommend a minimally-invasive surgical procedure called sympathectomy. This is usually for people who get really sweaty palms, not armpits. The way this surgery works is the surgeon goes in and essentially turns off the signal that tells the body to sweat excessively. When a patient undergoes ETS surgery they are put under with a general anesthesia. The doctor makes two or three tiny cuts under the arm, and the patient's lung is collapsed so the surgeon has more room to work. Then a tiny camera, called an endoscope, is inserted to guide the surgeon to the appropriate nerve. The surgeon explores a little and identifies the nerve that is causing the over-active gland, then it is either removed or destroyed. After this is done, the lung is restored to normal, the camera taken out, and the cuts stitched up. Then, they do the same thing on the other side of the body. The whole process usually takes about half an hour for the surgery. The person who has the surgery usually goes home the following day. While they are put under for the surgery, they may experience some pain for about a week after. As with any surgery there are risks, for this particular surgery, risks include artery damage, nerve damage, and increased sweating. New sweating occurs in about 50% of patients, so instead of fixing the problem it can actually make it worse.