How to stop sweating: Seven tips to avoid embarrassing patches during the heatwave

A MEDICAL expert reveals a few simple lifestyle changes that can stop excess sweating fast.

By Laura Mitchell

CHILL: These top five facts will help you avoid excess sweat this summer

While we're all enjoying the mini heatwave, the heat does come with some problems. As commuters cram into packed tube carriages and stuffy trains, sweaty pits can become a nightmare.

And while we all know sweating is a natural and normal function of the human body, it can be pretty unpleasant.

Around two million people in the UK also suffer from hyperhidrosis, or excess sweating, and for them it can be a serious source of embarrassment.

With the temperatures hotting up, Consultant Dermatologist at The Private Clinic of Harley Street, Dr Noor Almaani, provides a few lifestyle changes that could ease the problem.

*** How Brits are cooling down this summer will shock you *** 

HEALTHY: Eating a good diet can stop excess sweat

1. Diet

Try to reduce your caffeine intake and spices as these foods can activate neurotransmitters, called acetylcholine which can stimulate your sweat glands.

2. Antiperspirant

Apply prescription-strength antiperspirant such as those containing aluminium chloride like Driclor.

This should be ideally applied when sweating is minimal i.e. before going to bed and after a cold shower.

Application can be built up from twice weekly to daily if necessary.

This can be applied to other areas of the body such as the palms and soles (avoid face and genital area).

3. Clothing

If you are prone to sweating, try to wear loose, stain resistant and breathable clothes.

And if your feet are especially sweaty try silver-lined socks and absorbent insoles.

4. Medication

Some medications can lead to increased sweating such as steroids, antidepressants, nicotinamide (Vitamin B3) and opioids so consult your GP.

5. Treatment

If antiperspirants aren’t working you can ask your doctor about medical treatments such as Botox injections which can banish excessive sweating for up to a year.

For more information about this treatment please visit theprivateclinic.co.uk

6. Avoid exercise or hot showers

Make sure you don't have a hot shower just before an important event as this can increase core body temperature and sweating.

7. Keep you weight down

Excess fat can cause you to sweat more, so keeping your weight down through exercise can really help.

For more information about this treatment please visit theprivateclinic.co.uk

Here Dr Noor Almaani answers some commonly asked questions about the debilitating condition.

What is hyperhidrosis?

Hyperhidrosis refers to excessive sweating at a higher level than is needed for control of body temperature.

It usually affects the palms, soles and axillae (armpits) but can affect other areas such as the chest, back and face.

It results usually from increased nerve stimulation of the sweat (eccrine) glands and in some cases it can be hereditary.

Why does it occur and who is most likely to get it?

It usually manifests itself in childhood or adolescence with excessive sweating that can lead to wet palms and soles for example, the latter increasing the likelihood of athlete's foot.

In extreme cases affected individuals might require regular change of garments and application of absorbent pads.

It affects all races, ages and both men and women can be affected, although the Japanese have a higher incidence.

In some cases it can be related to menopause or an underlying medical problems such as diabetes, low sugar levels, neurological disorders, overactive thyroid gland, tuberculosis and alcoholism.

In some cases it can be a result of medications such a antidepressants, steroids and opioid pain killers.

What psychological effects can it have on people?

The degree of sweating can be subjective but it is significant if it is affecting an individual's quality of life and leading to lifestyle or habit modification.

It might be that it is resulting in embarrassing sweat stains that are over the level expected for a particular situation, wet palms so a person cannot shake hands for example or even sweat dripping from the hands when sitting exams.

Hyperhidrosis has a significant impact on the quality of life as it can lead to social withdrawal.

It affects an individual's social interaction and works due to sweaty palms, odour and sweat stains for example.

It might lead to depression and situational anxiety that exacerbates the sweating further.

It can lead to modification of lifestyle by limiting the choice of clothing (white or black) or activities.

Can you ever recover from it?

Hyperhidrosis is a chronic condition but in some cases it might improve with time.

There are numerous way of controlling hyperhidrosis and it will depend on the severity as well as underlying medical problems.

If there is concern about an underlying medical problem it might be worth consulting your GP to arrange bloods tests to rule out thyroid problems and diabetes.

Medical treatments if indicated can include: Botox injections, Iontopheresis, medications such as beta blockers and anticholinergics as well as surgery.