excess sweat

I am male of 30 years skinny and not very strong, i started sweating excessively from my underarms at 26. I sweat excessively and it drips from my armpits like water and it wets my shirt. Even if it is cold in the morning I still sweat. What can I do to stop this because I am so embarassed when I start sweating. which is the cheapest way to get back to normal coz I am now jobless because of my condition. I can't socialise with people and I hate being around many people. i am really stressed. Please Help
yours Stew78.

[Dr Vinod]

Hello!

The very basic explanation for excessive sweating is that a segment of the sympathetic nervous system is responsible for this presentation.
Armpit sweating or as its known as axillary sweating is another form of excessive sweating. You can use dusting powders whenever you go out to absorb the sweat.
There are also surgical options. Sympathectomy is the resection of those nerves.
The armpit area has two types of sweat glands, eccrine and apocrine glands. The eccrine glands will be affected by sympathectomy and not so for the apocrine glands. For those patients who have the armpit sweating together with the hand sweating sympathectomy will help in about 75 to 80% of the cases. For those who suffer from only armpit sweating Superficial Liposuction is a surgical option with a higher success rate.
Discuss with a neurosurgeon/plastic surgeon.
Take care!

[bhoward1122]

i have the same problem as you, it's horrible, it started when i was 21, i'm now 23 it has made the last 2 years a living nightmare, i've went from being very outgoing and social, to wanting to stay at the house all the time, i look for jobs that involve being outside just so i can work and be comfortable, people who do not have this problem think its no big deal. but i can tell you from living it, it ruins your life, i have no answers for you, i'm looking for them also, i'm in the same boat, no insurance, no way to pay for surgeries.

[bhoward1122]

on another note... i kind of stumbled on something that cures it temporarily, i had gotten a tooth knocked out at work, i had a surgery, they prescribed me pain killers, 30 of them. i know this is not something you should do, i don't agree with it, but whenever i have something important to do, like a night out, shopping, pretty much anytime i want to feel normal, and not sweat, or have to wear black shirts, or a hoodie i do this. the painkillers stop the sweating completely, i can soak a shirt, take a pain pill, 30 minutes later put on a regular shirt and not sweat a drop the rest of the day

[Dr Vinod]

Hello!

If you want temporary treatment then i would not suggest pain killers and they might cause you side effects if you take it for longer even if it works for you.

You can take anticholinergics, beta blockers or clonidine hydrochloride. But these have more side effects and long term treatments with these drugs are not suggested.

You can consider all types of anti perspirants like dusting powder, good hygiene and also deodorants etc. Also consider iontophoresis and botox injections.

Discuss these with a local physician and start medications till you consider a complete cure.

Take care!

[LazyMoose]

Low cost effective prescription (USA) that worked for me when I asked my doctor about major armpit and hand sweating!

It a prescription liquid that comes in a roll on applicator. I call it 'industrial strenght anti-persperant.  The brand name is Hypercare, the solution is 20% aluminum chloride (hexahydrate), prescription in the USA..

You apply before bed, then sleep with a T shirt and maybe light thin gloves on so it wont stain the bed. It takes a while to dry and feels like salt water if you ever been in the ocean. It slowly soaks in. Morning - shower and the salty feel is gone but you sweat way less! At first you have to build this up in your skin for a week. Then apply only once a week!  Works better under arms than hands, but still a great product. No more crusty shirts.

One 60cc bottle is $15 us, and lasts 3 -6 months!!! Safe too!

Go get it!

[LazyMoose]

On more thing to consider. Hyperthyroid people sweat a lot, have hot flashes (men too), and are 'skinny' from their sped up motabilism. A faster pulse is also evident - the dangerous side affect.