DON'T SWEAT IT!

Exploring the causes, symptoms and treatments of hyperhidrosis. DR XEN LUDICK

- DR XEN LUDICK

The hero of the movie is trembling, sweat dripping from his forehead. The clock connected to the bomb is counting down: 14, 13, 12… He has a small pair of pliers ready to cut the wire that will stop the bomb’s clock and save the world… again. Sweat is now dripping from his chin. The time has come. He is going to cut the green wire. No, the red. No, the green. He has to decide. It’s at 5, 4, 3… Okay, red it is.

His hands are too sweaty! The pliers slip out of his hands and...

KABOOM! Too late.

Sweat much?

Sweating under normal circumstances is normal. But what is “normal”? When the sweat glands produce perspiration under conditions of exercise, heat, severe stress, and anxiety, sweating is usually a normal occurrence. It is regulated by what is referred to as your autonomic nervous system. This basically means that it is automatic and we cannot control it. Almost like the climate control in your car. Once you’ve set it to 22°C, it will endeavor to keep your car’s temperature at 22°C.

Living with hyperhidrosis

But, what if the body’s climate control doesn’t work effectively and goes up to 40°C at random times? Well, this is exactly how hyperhidrosis feels to people who suffer from this condition, where they sweat at the ‘wrong’ and inappropriate times. Indeed, hyperhidrosis can be so severe that you cannot hold on to a pen, are forced to wear two, sometimes three, layers of shirts to hide your sweat marks, or even slip around in your shoes because they are so wet. Needless to say, it can be extremely debilitating.