Don't sweat sweating
Arts/Life
Posted By CHERYL CLOCK , STANDARD STAFF
Posted 1 month ago
We all do it, some way more than others. It makes us stinky. And sticky.
And for about one million of us in Canada, it interferes with daily life.
While sweating is generally a good thing if you want to regulate your body's temperature so you don't freeze or overheat, in some people it can get out of hand.
And in the extreme, excessive sweating -- or hyperhidrosis -- makes life miserable for about 300,000 Canadians.
When Niagara Falls dermatologist Dr. Kevin Smith treats people who sweat excessively, he hears stories of how it impacts every aspect of their lives.
They are business people who are embarrassed by their moist handshakes and underarm stains. Women and men who are too ashamed to be intimate with their partners. Students whose sweaty hands soak through paper. Doctors and nurses who can't bear wearing latex gloves. Even police officers whose hands get so sweaty, they worry about dropping their gun.
In addition, people are quick to pass judgment. Sweaty hands and perspiration beads on the forehead are translated as: "This person is nervous, this person is untrustworthy," says Smith.
In actual fact, while there are some medical conditions that cause excessive sweating as well as anxiety, stress and menopause, for the majority of people there is no known cause.
Usually, people start noticing problems in puberty or through their 20s, says Smith.
We all need to sweat. On a hot day or if we're exercising, sweating reduces the body's core temperature, then evaporation cools the surface of the skin to keep us comfortable.
Sweat is made mostly of water, with a little salt and chemical called urea mixed in. Some people believe toxins are released through sweat, but in actual fact most of the body's toxins are eliminated by exhaling or through urine and stool, says Smith.
Sweaty people smell for a couple reasons. First, foods like onions, garlic and other strong spices can get excreted through sweat. And second, if your clothing is wet all the time, it can become a breeding ground for bacteria and yeast.
"It's like if you left a pile of damp laundry sitting on the floor," says Smith.
Men, in general, sweat more. That's just the way they are. But that, in combination with a certain oil they produce in the underarm and groin (perhaps for pheromonal purposes), reacts with the bacteria to produce a, let's say, distinct odour, he says.
Sweat stains, by the way, aren't caused by sweat at all, says Smith.
They're actually due to a chemical reaction of sorts between antiperspirant and clothing fabric.
Usually, by the time people see Smith, they've tried just about every antiperspirant on the shelf.
As a starting point, he suggests tackling the problem with some basic strategies:
Clinical strength antiperspirant. There are many brands out there; just make sure it says "clinical strength" on the container. The formulation penetrates further into the sweat glands, says Smith. Antiperspirant can also be applied in other sweat-prone areas such as: under the breasts, groin and between folds of tummy skin.
Apply at night. For best results, apply it at bedtime, not in the morning.
Dry skin. Before applying antiperspirant make sure your underarm skin is as dry as paper, says Smith. Shower, towel dry, then blow dry the area for a few seconds.
Wear loose clothing.
Buy clothing made from moisture wicking fabrics. Examples are Nike Dri-Fit and Padagonia Capilene 2. Cotton is the worst for staying wet.
But often even these aren't enough. Back in 2007, Smith teamed up with a group of dermatologists from across Canada to write guidelines for treating hyperhidrosis.
One clear favourite emerged: Botox.
Perhaps better known for smoothing out frown lines, Botox has been used worldwide to treat excessive sweating for more than a decade, says Smith. He's been recommending it to his patients, including children, since about 2002.
It's safe, can precisely target an area and on average reduces sweating for six months to a year, says Smith.
Simply put, it stops nerve impulses from overstimulating the sweat gland. It can be used in all problem areas, from armpit to groin, palms, soles of feet, even the face.
Most private drug plans will cover all or most of the treatment.
It won't affect how the body regulates temperature, since there are sweat glands all over that continue to work. It won't cause excessive sweating in other places. And when the treatment wears off, sweating won't be any worse than it was originally. People can choose to have it done again.
And while there are other treatments out there, they can have side effects, says Smith.
Surgery to scrape the underarm from the inside is expensive, there's always a chance of relapse and infection, and you'd be hard-pressed to find someone locally to do it.
Hand surgery comes with other risks, including the development of excessive sweating in areas from the nipples down, says Smith.
You could take a pill, but it affects the whole body and it can cause other problems (trouble focusing and urinating). There is, however, medication to control stress and in menopausal women, hot flashes, which could also reduce sweating, he says.
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For more information on excessive sweating visit www.sweatmanagement.ca.To find doctors in your area who can treat hyperhidrosis, visit the website and click on Find a Specialist.
For information on Dr. Kevin Smith visit www.SmithLaser.comor call 905-356-8013.
cclock@stcatharinesstandard.ca
