Why do I sweat even when it’s cold outside?

With Fall upon us in the Midwest, we are getting lots of questions from people who find it strange that they are sweating just as much as when it's hot and humid. We have compiled some information to help explain this annoying facet of hyperhidrosis:

Ever ask why some people perspire even when the air conditioning is on full blast? Or how about those who sweat profusely even during the winter months? The answer is hyperhidrosis.

Excessive sweating, or hyperhidrosis in medical terminology, is more common than you think. Estimates show that approximately 2%-5% of the population is afflicted by excessive sweating. Sweating so severe, that these people consider undergoing surgery or botox injections over topical anti-perspirant to solve their sweating problems.

Hyperhidrosis is caused by the hyper-activity of the sympathetic nervous system. This part of the nervous system is responsible for the secretion of sweat in our bodies. People normally associate hyperhidrosis with excessive sweating of the armpits. Other parts of the body such as the palms of the hands, on the face, bottom of the feet, thighs and torso are also possible areas where hyperhidrosis can occur. Some people’s sympathetic nervous system is just much more active than the average person.

The cause of hyperhidrosis is still unknown. It is often (incorrectly) regarded as a result of anxiety especially when subjected to a stressful situation. Notice how we sweat during job interviews? Such case is more of situational in nature. We sweat as a result of stress. Hyperhidrosis, on the other hand, persists with or without being subjected to stress.

According to a study conducted by Dr. Richard G. Glogau, “there’s an unusual hybrid sweat gland with both eccrine and apocrine elements which is found in patients with axillary hyperhydrosis, and which is capable of a secretory rate of 10-fold higher than normal eccrine glands.” Eccrine and apocrine are sweat glands found in the armpit area. The eccrine gland is located deep in the skin and responsible for the watery consistency of the sweat. The apocrine gland, on the other hand, is located on the surface of the skin producing a protein-like secretion.

People afflicted with such unusual condition live each day worrying about the embarrassment caused by excessive sweating. Regular anti-perspirants and topical sprays bring temporary relief that stop the sweating for a few hours but lose their efficacy after a while. To cite an example, a man named Brandon Burg suffered from hyperhydrosis. He would sweat through his shirt within fifteen minutes. He even placed Kotex under his armpits to absorb the excessive sweating of his armpits! Imagine the emotional stress he has to go through every single day. Hyperhidrosis is not only a medical problem, it also affects our social life, more so our self-esteem.

So what are the available treatments for hyperhidrosis?

There are several options to treat excessive sweating. In lighter cases of hyperhidrosis, the first approach is to use topical antiperspirant containing aluminum chloride. The aluminum chloride constricts the pores so that sweating would be minimized. Other treatments include iontopherosis which means subjecting the axillary area under battery-powered electric current and psychotherapy but only to treat secondary hyperhydrosis, a side effect of another disorder in the case of obesity and endocrine disorders.

If the light treatments do not alleviate the problem of excessive sweating, there are surgical options to consider. One is the surgical removal of the sweat glands wherein the sweat glands are scraped in the underarm skin and another would be botox injections. The chemicals in botox prevent the glands from releasing bodily salts and water also known as sweat.

Before considering serious surgical procedures, it is advisable to get yourself a full assessment of a qualified dermatologist to diagnose the cause of the excessive sweating.

Before undergoing any surgery or radical treatments, the patient should try a Surefoot spray, a Handspray or an Antiperspirant like Klima Antiperspirant. Klima has been shown to nearly eliminate the problems associated with hyperhidrosis for thousands of people, without any detrimental side effects.