Strong Sweating

What helps with excessive sweating?

Why do we sweat?

Sweating and especially excessive sweating is a troublesome topic for many affected individuals. In this Mister Sandman guide, you will learn everything about excessive sweating and how the right equipment in the bedroom (e.g., through a suitable mattress) can counteract this sweating. Sweating is often seen as undesirable and a sign of poor personal hygiene, depending on the situation. However, sweating is a natural and vital process without which our health would be severely compromised. Through sweat production, the body regulates its temperature. Sweating is therefore our air conditioning system that protects us from overheating. In certain situations, every person sweats. During sports, on a hot summer day, when eating spicy foods - these situations make us sweat. But stress, tension, and fear, such as before exams, literally bring the sweat of fear to our faces. Where and how much we sweat is primarily genetically determined and varies from person to person. The trigger for sweating is the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, which is released in the brain and controlled by the autonomic nervous system. This substance instructs the sweat glands to produce sweat.

Types of sweating

  • Thermoregulatory sweating: This form of sweating serves to lower an elevated body temperature. This also includes sweating during or immediately after consuming hot foods. The excessive heat inside the body is released to the environment through sweat.
  • Emotional Sweating: Many people sweat more in situations where they are under psychological stress. The so-called anxiety sweat is well known to many. Especially before exams, unfamiliar challenges, or stage fright, there are often outbreaks of sweat, mostly on the hands, head, and under the armpits. Patients with anxiety disorders, psychoses, or depression also frequently suffer from sweating and excessive perspiration. In emotional sweating, an increased release of stress hormones leads to heightened activity of the sweat glands.
  • Gustatory sweating: This form of sweating is also referred to as taste sweating and involves sweating when enjoying spicy food or alcohol. Here, sweating mainly occurs on the head, often on the forehead or upper lip.

What is sweat, actually?

Sweat, which is produced and excreted by the sweat glands, mainly consists of water. This water contains various minerals and nutrients. Therefore, those who sweat a lot also lose a lot of water. This loss must be compensated accordingly, for example, by drinking enough water. Those who sweat a lot are quickly labeled as unhygienic, and thoughts of unpleasant odors and sweaty feet arise quickly. However, fresh sweat is usually odorless (except in certain illnesses). Odor development occurs only when sweat remains on the skin for an extended period. The bacteria present on the skin gradually break down the minerals contained in the sweat.

Hyperhidrosis - When does sweating become a disease?

Those who exercise consume energy; through our diet, we add additional energy and thus drive the body's heat production. At the latest, when the body temperature rises above 37°C, sweating begins. The sweat forms a moisture film on the skin and conducts heat outward. The evaporation of sweat on the skin cools the body. Not sweating would therefore be anything but healthy. However, sweating too much can also be unhealthy. While sweating varies among individuals and is influenced by both genetic factors and various external factors as well as general life circumstances, excessive sweating becomes a disease beyond a certain point. In addition to anhidrosis (where individuals do not sweat at all) and hypohidrosis (where individuals suffer due to hardly any sweating), the medical term for pathological excessive sweating is hyperhidrosis. Hyperhidrosis and pathological sweating are generally referred to when sweating becomes such a burden for those affected, either temporarily or permanently, that personal and professional daily life is significantly impaired and, for example, leads to sleep disorders. The previous trial sleeping on a mattress can help determine if it is ideally suited for the body. Thus, latex mattresses serve very well as a sleeping surface for heavy sweaters. But cold foam mattresses and mattresses with gel foam are also ideal for such purposes. 

Primary Hyperhidrosis

In medicine, primary or idiopathic hyperhidrosis is referred to when there is no identifiable cause for excessive, strong sweating. In primary hyperhidrosis, there are no underlying diseases, and excessive sweating cannot be attributed to external influences. This form of strong sweating is more common than secondary hyperhidrosis. Signs of primary hyperhidrosis usually appear in childhood or adolescence and persist for a lifetime. Affected individuals usually sweat particularly heavily during the day. Excessive night sweats on the mattress are rare in primary hyperhidrosis. Those affected by primary hyperhidrosis also often suffer from focal hyperhidrosis. In this case, particularly strong sweating occurs only at certain body locations. It often occurs on the hands and feet, under the armpits, or on the head, for example on the forehead.

Secondary hyperhidrosis

In secondary hyperhidrosis, excessive sweating is a symptom of diseases or a physical change. Excessive sweating is particularly common in connection with infectious diseases. The fever then leads to sweating in order to lower the body temperature again. But hormonal changes can also lead to sweating episodes. Especially women are subject to significant hormonal fluctuations, for example during pregnancy or menopause in advanced age. Hot flashes and sweating episodes are then often a topic. In addition to these temporary causes of excessive sweating, chronic and serious illnesses can also be responsible for secondary hyperhidrosis. Those who suffer from constantly flowing sweat and experience other symptoms can discuss this with a doctor to determine a possible illness.

Heavy sweating - When should one see a doctor?

If one suffers from heavy sweating and additional symptoms occur, diseases may be the cause. Relatively harmless conditions to severe ailments can be responsible for the sweating episodes. Although this is generally rather rare, one should definitely consult a doctor about the symptoms, especially when one does not feel completely healthy.

Checklist for heavy sweating

  • they suffer from heavy sweating suddenly and without identifiable cause.
  • they have sudden sweating episodes without explanation.
  • they experience sudden and recurring night sweats without any identifiable cause.
  • they suffer from excessive sweating that affects their daily life.
  • they break into heavy sweat immediately with minimal physical exertion or stress.
  • they sweat due to fever, which rises above 40°C, lasts longer than three days, and seemingly has no cause.
  • they complain of additional discomfort and symptoms alongside heavy sweating.

An emergency doctor must be contacted if the following symptoms occur:

  • Sweating episodes in connection with restlessness and altered consciousness (in diabetes)
  • Sudden sweating episodes and symptoms such as dizziness or fainting
  • Shock with symptoms such as cold sweat, gray skin, restlessness, trembling

Causes of excessive sweating

Excessive sweating can have a variety of different causes. Physical exertion, for example from sports, hot weather, spicy food, or situations in which we are under great stress, naturally make us sweat. This condition is usually only temporary, and the sweating ends with the situation. In hyperhidrosis, those affected suffer from significantly increased sweat production and excessive sweating.

Causes of primary hyperhidrosis

The most common is primary hyperhidrosis, where a doctor, even after careful examination and asking many questions about lifestyle and habits, cannot find a cause for the excessive sweating. The causes of primary hyperhidrosis remain unclear to this day. It is suspected that there is an overactive function of the autonomic nervous system, which controls sweat production in the sweat glands. Contrary to the common belief that those affected by hyperhidrosis have particularly many sweat glands, this is not the case. In these individuals, the sweat glands are merely particularly active. It is assumed that the nervous system is overactive and thus produces large amounts of acetylcholine, which directly stimulates the sweat glands to produce sweat. Certain situations or circumstances can particularly trigger the sweating episodes. For instance, in primary hyperhidrosis, even slight physical exertion or mild nervousness is often enough to make the sweat flow. Sweating is often particularly strong on the hands, feet, and on the head and forehead. This often leads to those affected avoiding these situations, thus withdrawing more and more, and the symptoms significantly impact and restrict daily life.

Causes of secondary hyperhidrosis

  • Unhealthy lifestyle: for example, overweight, obesity, alcohol consumption, alcohol abuse, drug abuse, stress, mental strain, burnout, anxiety
  • Changed life phases (women): for example, pregnancy, menopause in old age
  • Infections with fever: for example, flu infections, viral flu, malaria, etc.
  • Hormonal and metabolic diseases: for example, hyperthyroidism, diabetes, various autoimmune diseases
  • Disrupted circulatory regulation, heart diseases
  • Disorders or diseases of the nervous system: for example, Parkinson's disease (Morbus Parkinson)
  • Pain disorders: for example, back pain, chronic pain
  • Mental illnesses: for example, anxiety disorders, depression
  • Tumors, cancer
  • Medications: for example, hormone preparations, medications that act on the central nervous system (antidepressants, Parkinson's drugs, etc.) or circulation-promoting medications

Severe Sweating - Treatment and Therapy

The treatment of excessive sweating always depends on the cause. In the case of secondary hyperhidrosis, the treatment is focused on the underlying diseases, as sweating here is just one of many symptoms. With successful therapy of the diseases, the symptom of sweating usually disappears after some time when health is restored. The diagnosis of the underlying diseases is of primary importance. In the case of primary hyperhidrosis, treatment is often difficult, as no immediate cause for excessive sweating can be found. However, by observing and adjusting living conditions and habits, as well as some tips, help can also be provided here.

Tips against excessive sweating

  • Antiperspirants: These are special sweat-stopping agents. These agents are often found in deodorant rollers or deodorant sprays. Deodorants containing aluminum salts are particularly effective and commonly used. When using these deodorants, one should ensure that the aluminum chloride content does not exceed 15 percent. Such a deodorant should also be used a maximum of every two days and not on freshly shaved skin.
  • Tap water iontophoresis: This involves baths for the hands and feet. A weak direct current flows through the water.
  • Injecting Botox under the affected skin areas prevents the release of the neurotransmitter for sweat production. The sweat glands are effectively paralyzed and are temporarily non-functional. This procedure must be repeated regularly. Long-term effects are still largely unexplored.
  • If usual methods do not work and the discomfort is very strong, there are also surgical procedures in some cases to curb sweating. For example, sweat glands can be suctioned out.
  • In cases of unexplained excessive sweating, often a lifestyle adjustment is also helpful. A balanced diet, sufficient exercise and sports, as well as measures to reduce stress can help.
  • Good personal hygiene helps prevent sweat odor. Shaving armpit hair also promises relief from sweat odor in cases of excessive underarm sweating.
  • Wearing breathable clothing helps with the transport of sweat and keeps the body dry. Clothing made from synthetic materials or cotton is unfavorable, as it absorbs sweat for too long.
  • In cases of severe obesity and excessive sweating, losing weight and normalizing body weight is advisable.
  • A cure with sage tea is a commonly recommended home remedy for excessive sweating. Sage products are also available at the pharmacy.