How to Prevent Excessive Sweating

Perspiration is a natural phenomenon but some people sweat so much that it becomes obvious from outside. And you will agree that sweating creates some great awkward moments. In some cases, it is seen that, excessive sweating has compelled a person to avoid public gathering. This is the time; you should know how to prevent sweating.

Perspiration is a natural physiologic process of our body. It helps in maintaining normal temperature. Several triggering factors including chemical, neurological and hormonal substances affect the process of perspiration. A person perspires excessively after physical exercises, after smoking and taking alcohol or after taking spicy foods. Hormonal disorders like hyperthyroidism, Hodgkin’s disease, cancer in any part of our body, heart failure, menstruation, tumor in the adrenal gland can also produce excessive sweating. In addition to that some infections like malaria, dengue, viral fever and lung infection can also lead to sweating.

Some triggering factors can be modified to prevent excessive sweating. Here we shall discuss about some lifestyle modifications and active approaches.

• Watch out what you eat – avoid hot and spicy foods. As said earlier, our body tries to cool down by producing sweat. It is also a way to expel toxins from our body. Firstly, you will sweat because of the warmth present in the food. And then your body will again perspire to excrete the toxins present in the food.

• Look what you are wearing – dress sensibly. Fabrics made out of cotton have more generous pores which you won’t find in polyester, rayon or nylons. Cotton fabrics will help your body to cool down by allowing passage of free air. There are some genetically designed fabrics that are specifically made for those people who sweat a lot. But these fabrics cost a lot.

• Use antiperspirant containing deodorant – this is again of a great help if you have to move outdoors. All deodorants do not contain anti-perspiration agents like aluminum chorohydrate or peroxidases. These agents block the sweat gland to some extent and help is reducing perspiration. On the contrary to our general belief that application of powder can prevent sweating, it is not advisable to use powders as it may become counterproductive. Powder will block the sweat gland completely and help you in remaining dry for some time. But, as they obliterate the ducts completely, there is a chance of rebound perspiration which may become difficult to manage. Application of powder is advisable for short term purpose.

• Taking plenty of cold water – taking plenty of cold water will cool down your core temperature. This will tell the temperature regulating areas of brain that you don’t need to perspire at the moment.

• Application of alcohol – it is again a good approach. Rubbing some alcohol in those parts you sweat most will constrict the pores of the sweat glands and will reduce sweating.

• Avoid stress – stress causes release of some hormones like adrenaline and nor-adrenaline. These are notorious for excessive sweating. Stress reducing techniques will help you in preventing excessive sweating.

• Injection of Botox toxin – this is again a good technique, but requires a lot of money.

• Surgery – as a last resort, sympathetectomy can be considered.

I hope this little article will help you in getting rid of one of your most uncomfortable situations and help you out to lead a sweat free life.