Excessive sweating is very common in societies. Although it is mostly in certain parts of the body, it can be in the whole body. It decreases with age. Excessive sweating seriously affects our social life. Our work life can be affected. In the fight against this, there will be things we can do on our own, and in some cases, a solution can be found with medical intervention.

Excessive sweating is very common in societies. Although it is mostly in certain parts of the body, it can be in the whole body. It decreases with age. Excessive sweating seriously affects our social life. Our work life can be affected. In the fight against this, there will be things we can do on our own, and in some cases, a solution can be found with medical intervention.

What is excessive sweating?

Sweat provides thermoregulation of the body. A normal body sweats. Not sweating the body can be a problem, as well as excessive sweating can be a problem. It is excessive sweating in any part of the body or in the whole body, especially in the armpits and palms, independent of factors such as environmental conditions and body movement.

We have eccrine and apocrine sweat glands in our body. Eccrine sweat glands, which are found in almost every part of the body, are responsible for excessive sweating.

What causes excessive sweating?

Excessive sweating can be primary or secondary depending on the underlying disease.

Primary excessive sweating : It is the most common form. It is not associated with systemic diseases. It is often associated with emotional stress. It is common on the palms, soles, forehead, upper lip and armpits. For a person to be diagnosed with primary hyperhidrosis, visibly excessive sweating must have been present for at least six months. Some research focuses on genetic (autosomal dominant) transmission. It usually starts in adolescence, although there is improvement at the age of 25-30, it can last a lifetime. In this group of excessive sweating, there is an unexplained overactivity of the sympathetic nervous system. It is said that factors such as depression, panic disorder and social isolation may play a role in its etiology.



Secondary excessive sweating: It develops due to an underlying systemic disease or drugs. Sweating can occur in certain areas or throughout the body. The most common causes of secondary hyperhidrosis are:

  • Febrile diseases,
  • Endocrine and metabolic diseases,
    • Hyperthyroidism,
    • Diabetes Mellitus,
    • Hypoglycemia,
    • Acromegaly and gigantism,
    • Pheochromocytoma,
    • Pregnancy and menopause
  • Drugs, toxins, substance abuse,
  • Cardiovascular diseases,
  • Respiratory Failure,
  • Hodgkin’s Disease,
  • Breast tumors, Carcinoid Tumor,
  • Parkinson’s Disease,
  • Medulla spinalis injuries (Autonomic dysreflexia),
  • Peripheral neuropathies (Familial dysautonomia / Riley-Day syndrome),
  • Brain lesions (Episodic hyperhidrosis)

What are the diagnostic methods of excessive sweating?

First of all, a very good anamnesis is taken from the patient who applied with the complaint of excessive sweating. A detailed anamnesis will give the physician many clues regarding the diagnosis. A good examination and appropriate laboratory tests are then carried out. Anamnesis, examination and laboratory tests allow the diagnosis of the underlying disease. The first thing to do for diagnosis is to distinguish primary and secondary excessive sweating from the anamnesis. If it cannot be done, a distinction is made by excluding other underlying diseases. Treatment planning will be easier according to this distinction.

What are the things you can do at home to help reduce excessive sweating?

  • Wear loose-fitting clothes, this will allow you to not be noticed from the outside that you sweat excessively, it will relax you socially,
  • Change your socks frequently to reduce foot sweating and wear moisture-absorbing preferably cotton socks.
  • Do not wear the same shoes every day, let your shoes dry and breathe.
  • Let your feet breathe, do not wear closed shoes such as boots for a long time,
  • Dress appropriately for the seasons.
  • Do not wear nylon clothes that will make you sweat and prevent your body from breathing,
  • Do not wear tight clothing
  • Stay away from spicy, garlic, onion foods that will increase your sweat smell, do not drink alcohol,
  • Take frequent baths, use soap
  • You can use stronger antiperspirants instead of deodorant,
  • Use foot powders for foot sweating, wash your feet with soap often,
  • You can use roll-ons for underarm sweating,

When should I consult a doctor?

Your complaint of excessive sweating,

  • If it has been going on for more than six months,
  • If it complicates your life, affects your work life and social life,
  • If you have night sweats
  • If the prevention work you do at home is not enough,
  • If there is a family history of excessive sweating,
  • If you have an underlying disease
  • If you have medications that you use constantly, it would be beneficial to consult a physician (preferably a dermatologist).

What is done in the treatment of excessive sweating?

Excessive sweating should be treated because of its social and psychological effects, as well as the risk of fungal and bacterial infections. If there is an underlying disease, the disease should be treated together with the relevant specialist. In cases of excessive sweating without an underlying disease, topical agents, systemic drugs and surgical options can be applied.

  • Topical agents:
    • Topical antiperspirants (such as aluminum chloride hexahydrate) (first choice, least expensive treatment)
    • Topical Anticholinergic Agents and Local Anesthetics (such as propantheline, scopolamine, poldin methylsulfate) Astringents (such as tannic acid, 2-5% ethanol, formaldehyde, trichloroacetic acid and glutaraldehyde)
  • Systemic Drugs:
    • Oral anticholinergics,
    • Anxiolytics,
    • Beta blockers,
    • Iontophoresis,
  • Partially invasive methods:
    • Botulinum toxin,
  • Surgical Methods:
    • Axillary tissue excision,



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