Normal Sweating or Hyperhidrosis?

We all sweat. We usually sweat more if we exert ourselves, are nervous, or if it’s a hot, sunny day. Some people sweat more than others, naturally. However, there is a difference between normal sweating and hyperhidrosis. You can sweat a lot, and still not have hyperhidrosis, an excessive sweating condition.

It can be hard to know if you have this disorder or if you just sweat more than the average person. Usually, hyperhidrosis is excessive sweating in one or many parts of the body that’s not related to exercise or heat. Here are some questions to ask yourself to see if you may have the condition:

• Are you afraid to go out anywhere because of the amount you sweat?
• Are you often sitting in sweat-stained clothes?
• Do you carry various supplies with you everywhere to get rid of sweat? Towel? Antiperspirants? Wipes?
• Do you change your shirts or socks often throughout the day?
• Do you soak through your clothing a lot?
• Is it hard for you to turn a doorknob, use a touchscreen, shake hands, or grab items because of how sweaty your palms are?
• Are you embarrassed to leave the house?
• Do you think a lot about how much you’re sweating?
• Do you sweat for no apparent reason?

If you answer “yes” to a few of these questions, there’s a good chance you may have hyperhidrosis, and you should talk to a doctor about your symptoms. When you go to the doctor, let him or her know what you’re currently using or doing to help combat sweat. Let him or her know if you tried other treatments before and how they worked or didn’t work. Discuss any skin irritation that has occurred from the sweating.

Sweating excessively isn’t fun. Many people suffer from hyperhidrosis, and you’re not alone in what you are going through. It’s time to take the steps to sweating less. There are several treatments that can help you. Dr. Peter Mikhail is a Tampa hyperhidrosis physician and surgeon in New Port Richey, Florida. Dr. Mikhail will ask you questions about your excessive sweating and determine the best treatment plan for you.  To book a consult, click our Tampa hyperhidrosis contact page or call 727-312-4844. Dr. Mikhail treats patients in the Tampa and Clearwater area.