Lifestyle changes

If you are suffering from excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis) then you may find that your lifestyle is to blame. If it is then look at making a few changes which will not cure your condition but can boost your flagging confidence and self-esteem. A few modifications can ease the symptoms of excessive sweating and in some cases, can improve your general state of health.

To reiterate: these are not a cure but they can make it easier to live with hyperhidrosis. So what changes do you need to make? Here are a few suggestions for you to try:

• Wear loose clothing made from natural fabrics. Avoid tight fitting clothes made from man-made fabrics.
• Wear black or white clothing as this will minimise the signs of excessive sweating.
• Use a good antiperspirant available over the counter at your pharmacist. If that is not effective then ask your GP to prescribe a strong antiperspirant such as Odaban. Use an antiperspirant rather than a deodorant as this will reduce excessive sweating whereas a deodorant only masks the smell.
• Try to avoid hot spicy foods such as curries as these tend to worsen the symptoms of excessive sweating. This also applies to caffeine and alcohol. If you find this difficult to do then try and reduce your intake of these.
• If you suffer from excessive sweating of your feet then choose highly absorbent socks instead of synthetic socks. Wear socks which are made from natural fibres as these will absorb sweat and reduce the risk of an infection.
• Wear shoes made of leather or a canvas material instead of synthetic materials.

Advantages of lifestyle changes

The advantage of these changes is that they are likely to be inexpensive (apart from purchasing leather shoes!) and contain no harmful side effects. They are relatively easy to do and the benefits will be noticeable almost straightaway. We appreciate that it may be difficult to make some changes more than others such as giving up your favourite curry but you can choose a milder alternative. Plus the benefits of reducing your excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis) outweigh the enjoyment of a good curry.

The disadvantages of lifestyle changes

Whilst the benefits of these changes cannot be ignored it is only fair to mention about the disadvantages of doing so. These are only small in comparison to the advantages of these changes but they do need to be highlighted. You may find that you are still anxious about your excessive sweating even though you have made some lifestyle changes. You may feel that the benefits are marginal rather than dramatic and despondent at the results.

It is important to realise that these changes are just that: they are not a cure for excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis) and will not prevent this from happening or completely restore your confidence. You will still feel embarrassed about your condition although not to the same extent.

The other issue is cost: the expense of having to buy certain types of clothes and shoes, for example leather shoes, is a worry and especially if you are on a tight budget. This increases your stress and anxiety levels even further and places an extra burden on you.

Conclusion

So, it is important to take both of these into account when considering changing certain aspects of your lifestyle. In many ways the disadvantages are more than compensated by the improvement in your condition and hopefully, your confidence. But you do need to consider the downsides as well.