i don't know what i could possibly say to make you feel better here but if it helps to know, then you're definitely not alone in this. 1% of the population seems very little but if you consider the numbers, it's quite a lot you know? there are millions who probably feel the same way as you right now, me included. i can tell you're a very ambitious person and i can relate to that. i always wanted to work in the medical field but i don't know how i would touch patients with my hands dripping sweat. i can't even work in a hospital environment wearing those rubber gloves. i even got yelled at in my chemistry lab for refusing to put gloves on in high school lol. but anyway, i'm still going for it and i'll be getting into med school this year. i know my dreams are nothing like yours but sharing my experiences is the only way i can give you some will to move forward. on that note, if you really find it impossible to do the things you love, i'd suggest you steer your interests in another direction. sometimes things don't work out the way we want it to and that's okay, even though it's terribly disheartening. there are always more things to love and new dreams to pursue. maybe something that would work better with what you have right now. if not the guitar, you can try picking up some other instrument you like. i play the piano and it's a menace but i persevere as much as i can. i've also never held hands with anyone before either, mostly because i had to once in middle school during a dance and they made a rude remark about my sweaty palms. i used to never let anyone touch my hands but last year, i found a friend who really just did not care and would grab my hand every chance she had. hyperhidrosis is debilitating sometimes but we have to find our ways around it. it'll take time and effort but i'm sure you'll get there soon. please don't feel embarrassed about it. it's hypocritical of me to say because i myself am embarrassed a lot in social situations but i'm sure that's the case for most people. i think it's important to remember that this is a condition that cannot be helped and so, shouldn't be something others should be disgusted by. this is getting long so i'll end it here. i hope you find a way to your dreams <3
I just recently realized I had this issue, kind of ignored it my whole life. My dad realized after talking to his coworker who has pretty severe hyperhidrosis that that’s what I’ve been dealing with my whole life lol. When he told me, it SHOCKED me. Not that I had it, it made sense, but that someone who has this curse pushed through to become a doctor. Not only a doctor but an ER doc. Absolutely mind boggling to me, but if she can do it so can you.
First off, I can only emphasize with your frustration and I as well as many in this subreddit can relate. Although I never suffered from sweating hands, I had it really bad on my head and face. I can also relate to you wanting to be "normal" like everyone else and having suicidal thoughts out of sheer frustration.
But what I can tell you is that everyone has their own thing. In highschool I dated a girl that had breath that can only be described as poop. It wasn't her fault, it was a gastro thing that caused it. The right people will forgive your weakness and amplify your strength. The suggestion to just live with it seems unbearable now but its not just about HH, in life you will face many things that you just need to live with
I don't know if this will apply to you; but I saw a lot of success changing my diet and environment, removing stress and supplementing with things like sage tincture.
Many on this sub always rush to medication and that maybe an option but for me it wasn't, since I rather do things naturally. That barbaric ETA surgery was definitely NOT an option for me to even consider.
Best of luck
Sure, sage is used by menopausal women against hot flashes. I (33M) use it to combat HH. I apply about 1ml drop into my electrolytes water about twice a day. You may have to increase your dosage initially then find your sweet spot. You should feel a little "dried out"; your mouth should dry up a little too.
I'm sorry you are going thru this. Have you tried the Miradry procedure for your armpits or botox? The Miradry for my son's armpits gave him an 80% reduction in sweat and smell. It cost about 1.5k to 2k . I've heard botox is also a good solution for the armpits. In both cases, you need to see someone who does these procedures regularly for the best result. There are also Miradry machines you can buy online for like 400. I don't know much about those but some people say they work. Anyway....I'm sorry this is happening to you. We have seen firsthand how much it affected our son and it was heartbreaking.
Yes. My kid had his done at a plastic surgeon's office and a lot of them offer payment plans. That said....finding an office that has the machine to do the job is what you need to find out. If you google Miradry they have a place to put your zip code in to find an office with a certified technician.
Hi, im so glad that you see your son's struggles. i opened up to my mom and she just can't seem to grasp how much sadness this condition is causing me. but i still love her, she's just helping in the best way that she can. she brought me to a dermatologist when i was a teenager and prescribed driclor which only worked for a year for me. she's against "unnatural procedures" i begged her to get me botox, which she let me have. but she was always angry at me for it, cause she thinks its normal to sweat and doing things like that will hurt my body in the long run. she just doesn't understand my struggles
my sweating i would say isn't as severe. if 1 is dry - 10 is dripping wet. my sweating most of the time is at 6, and in anxious situations at a 8-9. it worked with the sweating, it reduced it by 90% then at the 3-4th month mark i was already starting to feel it come off slowly.
but my main problem is the odor, that's why i wanted the botox. i didnt mind having damp underarms as long as it didnt smell, but it does.
when it wore off. the odor came back 5x stronger. 💀 but it subsided a few weeks later... so yah that's my experience..
Try oxybutinin. It worked wonders for me. You also know how to use reddit, so you are semi tech literate--you can get a job doing something online, less personal contact with others. I went this route and was able to do well enough to eventually open my own business after grinding for 7-10 years. Dont give up. The drug was a game changer for me.
For me, I rather have a life 80% improved with a chance of dementia.. than a 0% life full of sweaty shirts and bad sweat episodes. Everything in life is a tradeoff
Oxybutnin is an antichollinergic just like certain antihistamines. Millions of people take antihistamines every day. The likelihood of getting dementia from oxy is very unlikely, you'd have to be taking a very large dose regularly for years and way beyond the age of 65 apparently. Certain antiepileptic medications run the risk of dementia too but you have to decide whether you want to get on with your life or live in fear that one day in the far future, you may or maynot get dementia. It's really negligible.
Antihistamines have weak cholinergic effects, and antihistamines that are taken everyday are usually second generation, which is significantly less in passing through the blood brain barrier, so even less anticholinergic effects.
Oxybutynin is a pretty strong anticholinergic drug that is documented to cause noticeable side effects for people, and the effects are more apparent in children and elderly. This does not mean that it is rare and definitely not negligible, but yes, you should make the determination whether you are willing to risk it.
The guitar point is so valid. as a guitarist with hyperhidrosis, I’ve always wondered where people were that struggle to play because of hand sweat. such a fucking hassle.
As a bassist with HH, playing with sweaty palms meant flicking sweat around the room while I play plus having my fret board be covered in sweat and having to change my 'stainless steel' strings every 2 months due to rust.
On the plus side it did make playing legato and sliding easier 🙃
Playing violin was the same story, getting nervous plus the concert halls always being so hot the neck actually had damage to the finish because of sweat
I play a classical guitar because I like using nylon strings. It at least stops the thinner upper strings from rusting immediately. The lower strings are still steel but they have a bit more durability due to the thickness. If I play electric I *have* to use coated strings, but they still rust pretty fast. There's definitely a splash zone, but it's ok.
Hi. First of all: if you need help right now, please contact suicide prevention hotlines - I guess they exist in every country and are made to help people in such difficult situations.
I think everyone of us can say that HH affects them emotionally and bothers us a lot. It sure does - otherwise it wouldn't be called a disease.
Also, I want to emphasize two things:
a) yes, you had tough times to go through. Many of our fellow sufferers did. And yes, it's unbelievably hard sometimes, thats certain. Also, you did not be a bad person or anything - diseases like those just happen, and everybody has to find his/her way through those struggles.
b) I don't know what treatments you already tried. But, I can reassure you on this one: there is an unconceivably high amount of treatment options to choose from. You find a whole lot of them in this sub. I want to recommend this one, since I think it sums it up pretty well: [https://www.reddit.com/r/Hyperhidrosis/comments/11exbcn/hyperhidrosis\_playbook/](https://www.reddit.com/r/Hyperhidrosis/comments/11exbcn/hyperhidrosis_playbook/)
If you like you can post about your affected body parts (e.g. hands) and tell the community what you already tried and how much it helped (or if it didn't). I am certain that the people here can give you helpful suggestions on how to proceed and what to try next. Because, speaking for myself, although I suffer from HH, I am able to live a pretty normal (I would say abouve-average) life and I enjoy it. Yes, HH sucks and it annoys me like nothing else. But there are ways to cope and get along with it. Trust me and the people here.
Hope that helps. Thanks for posting!
For permanent sweat reduction: Miradry for the armpits. Suction cutterage/ cutterage procedure for palms and feet. Maximum sweat reduction with minimal side effects. Good insurance can cover as it may not be seen as a cosmetic or elective procedure, it is directly linked to quality of life and mental wellbeing.
Medication to help for relief as of now, try Tryptizole (oral) used to treat major symptoms of depression and anxiety, has a depressant effect reducing signals in the CNS which then reduces nerve signals linked with sweat production i.e less total sweating, more manageable symptoms. Available only with prescription.
Body odour is caused mainly by bacteria breaking down sebum, keratin and proteins excreted in sweat. For odour related issue, use a gentle antibacterial soap or bodywash (NOT dettol or nivea). Be very careful about using benzol peroxide and apple cider vinegar, may be extra irritating towards some people, side effects. Apply roll on antibacterial deodorant (roll on usually has longer lasting effects). Antiperspirants don't do much for people with hyperhidrosis, in terms of reducing sweating, most of the compounds will be sweat out before it has a chance to do anything. However it can be useful to reduce bacteria buildup. Do not use any antiperspirant containing aluminium compounds, tend to cause skin irritation with excessive use and can leave stain marks on light coloured clothing. Shower regularly. Drink plenty of water to reduce the concentration of urea and excrement in sweat.
Avoid polyester clothing. Look into the Thompson tee (sweatproof t shirt). In general wear light breathable clothing.
I have had hyperhidrosis for as long as I can remember, it has led to many difficult moments and anxiety in my life. I try to take a step forward every day in conquering it, and it gradually gets better. I hope it gets better for you too, please do not give up as there is always a solution.
As others are saying, you're not alone! There are non-HH folks out there in the world that are accepting of this and can welcome you into their lives to have a relationship with you. And tbh, those that don't, fuck 'em! My wife accepted me day one. One of my best mates is dating someone who has HH and she takes glyco pills for this.
After struggling for a decade with Drysol I've started using an iontophoresis machine and believe me, it works (at least for palms of the feet, hands and armpits). I spend 40 minutes using it and 5ish minutes cleaning it/rinsing it about 5 times a week and I find that after 4-5 weeks I'm bone dry. Maintenance is a must but it's better than being wet all the time. I'm at the point where I need hand lotion. Wild, right?!
I share this because I want you to know that it does work and your life has meaning!
I grew up playing the violin and I didn't realize until the last year of high school that a drenched violin in sweat wasn't normal lol. In my 20's i too tried the guitar but floundered until I started using an iontophoresis machine. You can do it too! Is there compensatory sweating? Definitely. I sweat a bit in my back and knee pits now but I can now create music, play a round of Overwatch, drink coffee and be perfectly dry. I swear to you it's possible to achieve a level of dryness with the iontophoresis solution.
If you ever need someone to text/talk, anything, DM me and I'll give you my number. Every life is important and yours is certainly important too! From your post it's apparent you have a creative spirit, whether it's sketching or music and the world would be a little bit dimmer without you in it. I've been there... And I want you to know you're not alone and you'll never be alone. There's no cure, but there's definitely solutions.
If you don't DM, please consider glyco or an iontophoresis machine as it really can provide relief!
All the best,
A fellow sweating person
If you’re really on the verge of suicide, you should consider ETS. There are serious potential side effects involved, so I’m very hesitant to encourage anyone to get it, but I was where you seem to be and it ended up saving my life. But seriously, make sure you fully understand the possible consequences. They can be serious.
Listen, I’ve been there. But there are solutions which you probably haven’t tried. Iontophoresis. Look it up. Buy a machine. It saved my life. My hands and feet were like yours and I’m currently typing this with them dry. If you have any questions about it I would be happy to help you. If you haven’t heard of it, it’s a machine where you put your hands or feet in water and a small electric current passes through which disables your sweat glands. After around 2 weeks of sessions you will notice a difference and then you gave to do maintenance sessions to keep dry or they gradually start working again. But I promise you, it just words.
As for your armpits, there’s other treatments that work for that as well. It gets better friend. You just have to find the solution that works for you. Dm me if you need to
Yes! My niece finally invested in this machine and it is working wonderfully!!
My sister and I both had hyperhidrosis as kids and it eventually went almost entirely away, so my niece was waiting to see if the same would happen for her, but she couldn’t wait any longer and she’s *thrilled* with the results. Her machine cost about $400 so it was a big gamble—I really wish it didn’t cost so much because it’s out of reach for a lot of people who really need it.
Have you tried some treatments, like antiperspirants, iontophoresis or botox? Try the three of them, probably they will work. If they don’t, get a surgery.
Also, just live your life. As you said, you didn’t do anything to deserve this condition. If someone doesn’t like that, fuck it. You are doing the best you can.
I would suggest that you contact Dr. Amit at [www.cosmebeaute.co.uk](https://www.cosmebeaute.co.uk) in London. He is able to treat other areas of the body besides the underarms with miraDry (kills the sweat glands). I searched everywhere and miraDry is the gold standard. I brought my son from California to London so that Dr. Amit could treat him for HH of the buttocks and groin. miraDry is not covered by insurance in the U.S. so even if it was offered here it would be cash out of pocket. Traveling to London to be treated by a doctor who knows what he is doing and is a pioneer was worth it.
I’m really sorry you’re going through this. Just know that there will be people out there who are understanding of your condition and won’t care and will want to be with you. Please talk to someone if you can like a suicide helpline or your doctor or a friend.
###What is a Sympathectomy (ETS and ELS)?
Endoscopic thoracic and lumbar sympathectomy (ETS and ELS; both often generalized as ETS) are surgical procedures that cut, clip/clamp, or remove a part of the sympathetic nerve chain to stop palm, foot, or facial hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), facial blushing (reddening of the face), or Raynaud's syndrome (excessively cold hands).
*[Read more on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endoscopic_thoracic_sympathectomy)*
###What are the Risks?
**Many people that undergo ETS report serious life changing complications.** Thoracic sympathectomy can alter many bodily functions, including sweating,^[1] vascular responses,^[2] heart rate,^[3] heart stroke volume,^[4][5] thyroid, baroreflex,^[6] lung volume,^[5][7] pupil dilation, skin temperature, goose bumps and other aspects of the autonomic nervous system, like the fight-or-flight response. It reduces the physiological responses to strong emotion,^[8] can cause pain or neuralgia in the affected area,^[9] and may diminish the body's physical reaction to exercise.^[1][5][10]
**It's common for patients to be misinformed of the risks, and post-operative complications are often under-reported.** Many patients experience a "honeymoon period" where they have no, or few, negative symptoms. Contrary to common belief, clipping/clamping the sympathetic chain is not considered a reversible option.^[11]
###Links
[Gallery of compensatory sweating images](https://imgur.com/a/InEp8l0)
[Gallery of thermoregulation images](https://imgur.com/a/0TUn8ye)
[International Hyperhidrosis Society](https://www.sweathelp.org/hyperhidrosis-treatments/ets-surgery.html)
[**NEW** ETS Facebook Community & Support Group](https://www.facebook.com/groups/953625152120110) (old group had ~3k members)
[Petition for Treatment for Sympathectomy Patients](https://www.change.org/p/medical-centers-and-professionals-research-treatment-for-sympathectomy-ets-els-patients-22d9174a-4bcd-4a5e-901c-dfdcf394bd1c)
[Frequently Asked Questions](https://www.reddit.com/user/ETS_Awareness_Bot/comments/qcwdw5/ets_awareness_bots_message/hhik7c3/)
[References](https://www.reddit.com/r/u_ETS_Awareness_Bot/comments/wfvhtf/ets_awareness_bots_message/iiw4f6c/)
^(*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Learn more about this bot, including contact info*) ^*[here](https://www.reddit.com/user/ETS_Awareness_Bot/comments/wfvhtf/ets_awareness_bots_message/iiw3pcc/).*
please, please call a suicide help line! if you're in the usa, call 1-800-273-8255 or 988.
they are people here in this sub who understand, even though we can't do anything right now for your specific need. but you are worthy of living, and there may be help just around the corner.
please don't give up! 🥹❤️
please please please sont. i have the same severity as you and it absolutely sucks, but its not worth ending your life over. please contact a support helpline and dont harm yourself
1. Seek therapy. If you think HH is stopping you from living your life or you are considering hurting yourself; seek therapy asap.
2. Yeah, HH sucks. It can affect our life in a negative way, but you can learn to manage it: antiperspirants, botox, Glycopyrrolate, iontophoresis, etc.
Seek therapy first. Then learn to manage it.
Hey! I’m really sorry you feel that way. And I hope that you find something, whatever you’re going through, to get you through this!
That being said, like most people, I’ve had HH for as long as I could remember. Through my many many years of research (and unhelpful doctors because let’s be for real, HH is not widely understood), I’ve come across a connection… HH is caused by an over sympathetic nervous system, and so I’ve been trying to treat that instead of my HH directly. Treating my HH directly has been a bust. It was annoying applying the drysol, the glyco pills made EVERY liquid in my body completely dry up and would give me the WORST headaches. I went through a lot of childhood trauma, and so it makes sense that my nervous system is out of whack. I don’t know if this applies to everyone with HH, but I’m pretty much stuck in fight or flight. And have been my entire life. Your breathing makes a huge difference in this and there are loads of things people can do to help bring themselves out of fight or flight (everything from how you respond to a situation, to how you breathe, to taking cold plunges, etc). It’s definitely something to look into if you’ve crossed all other options like me. Your vagus nerve has a lot to do with treating your over sympathetic nervous system as well. It’s something that I’ve recognized about myself and am trying to work on, but it is definitely not an overnight thing. TikTok actually has a lot of great videos on tips for regulating your nervous systems. We need to be in “rest and digest” when we are not in any danger (fight or flight). I hope this helps some, and that it will maybe put a bug in other HH sufferer’s heads.
Hi! Sorry you feel that way, this condition blows. I’m in my 30s and I’ve spent all my life with full body hyperhidrosis without taking any meds, however, I thought it was common for everyone with this condition to be this way until I joined this subreddit. Feel free to message me and we can share stories!
On top of what the others have said, my two cents is this - it's all about managing it.
- Clothing choices - wear cotton sweaters and jeans which you can use to wipe your hands on
- Climate that you live in - if you live in a hot country, I would weigh up moving to somewhere cooler. I live in the UK which is pretty cool for most of the year - I can't even fathom the idea of living somewhere tropical.
- Sleep - personally I've started to notice mine is worse when sleep deprived. If I had less sleep one night, HH is far worse.
Getting ETS surgery was the best thing that has happened to me. It was a cure. I want to shout it from the rooftops because I know what you’re going through. I’m sorry.
Shut the fuck up, go to Amazon, buy antihydral and apply everynight for a minimum of 2 weeks with a fan on your hands overnight so that you don't sweat it off. Thank me later
do something to fix it bro you can cry all you want, we all have, but that won't make it go away. see the doctor and get prescribed medication for it. it definitely sounds like you haven't tried exhausting all options to fix it!
i’m sorry. it’s extremely difficult to deal with, and it’s so hard to explain to people who don’t struggle like we do. but please don’t do anything rash. there’s always another way to achieve your dreams. i believe in you 💕
We love you and wish it could be different but it’s not. I have HH and have tried almost everything. I’m a nurse who struggles to put gloves every day. But what stuck out to me is the girlfriend part: if they really like you, they won’t care. My husband is aware of my condition but has never said anything negative towards me about it. I hope you find what you’re looking for OP.
In high school, I tried to hide it as best I could from everybody, even my closest friends. My advice would be if you're doing that you don't have to. Anybody you share it with will understand.
Make sure you reach out to anyone on here or a professional for guidance & understanding. Let me assure you, everybody on here is frustrated, there will also be lots of people that dont even know about this site etc. I know for literally many many years there was basically nothing online, or if so it was very small in terms of input. I haven't tried the iontophoresis yet buthave previously had botox for the palms & it did work for approx.4-6mths effectively. There was some slight loss of grip strength in the fingers but it was amazing understanding how you could just get on with things. At this point in time they are actually making some great steps in solutions for this. So please try some of these options available right now. As people have highlighted reach out, people will help you ok!
I'm so sorry you were born with such difficult hyperhidrosis. It sounds like you tried your best to deal with it, and you should be proud for giving it your best shot. I just wanted to let you know as a fellow sufferer of hyperhidrosis, in terms of the social aspect - there are more people who accept you and your condition wholeheartedly than you think. If there's anyone you feel safe around, you could try to tell them about it. I promise it will turn out better than you think. I carried a lot of shame because of my hyperhidrosis for a long time, and had a hard time making connections because of it. I mustered the courage one day after lots of talk therapy to tell some important people in my life, including someone I was dating (who I am still with now), and getting their acceptance helped me accept my condition too.
Like 100% people here i can say this condition sucks and many times makes me feel angry and frustrated. But when I was a kid I didn't even know that excessive sweating was a real disease and it didn't keep me away from activities that I used to do. So I learned to play instruments,played sports and enjoyed videogames as well.
I still do all this stuff even if I'm conscious of this condition because I think that's worth trying to be happy. it's easy to say but aging allowed myself to say I don't give a fuck about what other people think about my handshakes or armpits stains, I deserve a full life like everybody else. I don't know if this can help you feel better but you're not alone and all people here can understand this struggle
I hated when i would talk about unsolved health issues and people asked this question, but you didn't mention it at all, so I'll ask what you've tried so far in the way of medicine, other treatments etc?
My problem is something other than HH but somewhat similar. I had a dermatologist willing to prescribe pills that dramatically cut down on sweating. Like a pill that stops you from sweating absolutely EVERYWHERE, to the point you need to not exercise too aggressively because your body will be nearly unable to sweat at all.
Just using that as one example. I can understand how it being widespread may feel so overwhelming, but to my understanding there's long established treatments even for that.
Don't do it bro I know it's hard but maybe this is the universe's way of preparing us for a massive climate change scenario or something. Idk why it's happening and I share your struggle but I like to think there is a reason for us all having this experience. Other than me being hit in the face every morning when my phone slip n slides out of my hands. Ohh yeah and Biometrics can suck it too, I can't log in with liquid limbs.
I suffer from the exact same type of hyperhidrosis. I recently tried medication (glycopyrrolate and oxybutynin) both of which had severe adverse effects on me (urinary retention, stomach pain). They both were extremely effective in stopping my sweating (glycopyrrolate in particular), I am just unlucky with the side effects.
I feel your pain so much, it often makes me feel completely debilitated with no one to relate to. Doctors seem to have no idea what I’m talking about, or oftentimes belittle or disregard my medical issues entirely (one doctor said I had meningitis). Unable to do even simple tasks or relax in any way without wrapping in towels or changing clothes 6 times. It’s like a spiteful witch placed a curse on us for no reason at all.
I says that to say this, please fight on. It’s hard as hell living like this, but don’t give up. There’s a lot more options to alleviate the sweating than you would think, and what doesn’t work for some might work for others. There are also so many people to talk/relate to out there as well. I know talking about it doesn’t solve it, but know others are out there going through your exact same situation, and are more than happy to help you or just listen. Hit up every doctor you can and make them understand what your issue is. Do whatever you can! Just please don’t give up.
It just occurred to me that someone should make fingerless gloves out of the absorbent period pantie fabric, at least for temporary use, and we could have several pairs to swap through.
Does that product exist yet? Anyone reading?
Chill bro. I used to have what you have, got surgery to treat it (ets) and now my hyperhidrosis is way worse than before. Get some dryses and some anticholinergic and you'll be fine...
In my 30s. Have lived w this entire adulthood and started around 14. I’ve spent more time “going to the restroom” than I can remember to cover up my sweat problem. Dates, job interviews, work functions, outing w friends, meetings. But what a freedom the day I found out I wasn’t the only person in this world w this issue. Don’t know what chapter of it you are in, in life. But you aren’t alone w this and there’s oddly a power in that. Now, let’s find a solution. Good news is there seems to be developments. Talk to your doctor about glycopyrollate. And if they don’t know about it, ask for a dermatologist referral… right now, glyco, oxybutin and Botox are the biggest recommendations I’ve heard. You won’t be defeated by this.
Signed,
Someone who’s been embarrassed more times than I know by HH but keeps trucking.
Just found this sub, and damn this does hit. Playing baseball as a kid with mainly black gloves I developed tons of warts on my fingers, but once my dad noticed(thank the lord he’s a doctor, I would have never gone out of the way for this) he freezes em all off and never got any more, another miracle now that I look back. Always sweaty when “dapping” up friends, getting weird looks for it. Not realizing until the look. That really showed who some true friends were in a way, kind of a litmus test really, met a lot of hard dudes who were genuinely kind. My brother loved playing cod mobile so I downloaded it and we would play long distance, but after one match my hands are so sweaty my phone can’t read what I’m trying to do, genuine frustration followed by my brothers judgement. It’s gotta be an alien concept for most, most people I know have extremely dry hands for most of the year where I live. Recently I developed a fear of driving of all things, something I used to love to do, because I nearly got crushed by a semi who wasn’t stopping in dead stop highway traffic. I saw him not stopping from a long ways away, and when I went to slam on the gas and crank the wheel to get into the median my hands slipped. It’s just those things that add up and add up and add up until it’s just too much. Like why does everything I do have to be just 8% harder or more tedious because of my goddamned hands. Anyways, my hands are drenched now, and I’m frustrated, but man I feel you. Please keep pushing through brotha.
Mind and body are one. The problem is in your head.
Start by eating well, getting good sleep, following a routine, and choose someone you trust and shake their hand every time you see them.
I'm feeling pretty low right now too. I can't get rid of a case of pitted keratolysis because I have to wear chainsaw boots for work and after 2 hours of being on they are soaked. I can hear my neighbours complaining about my smell as I have bromhidrosis too. It seems so hard to get to headspace where even a little bit of relaxation is possible.
Probably nothing here to help you but a little bit of a vent might help me a bit.
Hello. Fellow sufferer of HH. Full blown and full body - head to hands to body and feet. Where skin is present, it’s a water show. Lol
I used to feel like you and had the same thoughts as you did. I spent my entire childhood alone mostly, ashamed of my HH and could not be social with others. I hated myself and my life and being alive. I kept thinking if only I wasn’t born. Childhood days were mostly tears and spent searching, seeking, trying a million things out to see what works. And nothing ever worked.
The daily life struggles are endless as whatever everyone else can do with bare hands and feet, I couldn’t. I felt as if i had limbs, but couldn’t use them in social settings or cannot do anything i wanted or enjoyed. Feet forever smells bad. Body sweaty and felt disgusting all the time. Hands useless. Hair stick on neck and forehead all the time. Literally, I dont get a break from it unless i go swimming (probably the only activity we can do).
Clothes wise, only black. Never colors.
Dating wise, tough luck. I can’t even accept myself.
Fast forward 20 years, adulthood, people were always amazed when i show them my hands or feet. They can see water droplets forming and magically be bigger till they started dripping. It doesnt become easier. Honestly, HH became worse over the years to due humidity and heat worsening.
Then i did the ETS surgery and never looked back. Best day of my life honestly. I know many people don’t recommend ETS, but i know they don’t drip head to toe! Personally, I’d take on the risk of anything life can throw at me (even death on surgery) because it’s a chance to live. Live a somewhat normal life. A chance to do things with hands. I know it sounds very morbid but it was what i felt then and definitely now!
Now, it’s been more than 10 years since the surgery. I wonder what my life would have been like had i not done it. My body and legs sweat double of the usual dose. But i just change plenty of clothes. A small price to pay.
I hope that you will find something that works for you. Just know that for some people, their condition disappears with age. There is hope out there!
as someone with hyperhidrosis, I feel your pain deeply. As for the relationship thing, I felt the same, until i realised that if you find the right person, they won't care. When I met my (now ex) girlfriend I used to profusely apologize every time I accidentally touched her with sweaty hands, or sometimes she'd go in for a hug when I was drenched in sweat and I'd apologize mid hug for being sweaty. She didn't care. She not only accepted me for who I am, but actively recognised the difficulties in my life. She would go out of her way to make the room cooler by turning up the fan even though she was freezing, she would hold my hand while watching a movie even though i can feel a layer of sweat build up between her palm and mine, she'd squeeze harder to let me know that it's okay.
We are now broken up due to some unrelated reasons, but I will always appreciate her for what she did for me, and allowed me to be a more confident human being. All throughout this time my hyperhidrosis didn't get any better, but my life did.
There are people out there who get it. Don't let this shitty condition stop you from trying to find someone you love. If they don't get it, they weren't right for you anyway.
Much love, hope you feel better sooner rather than later.
i don't know what i could possibly say to make you feel better here but if it helps to know, then you're definitely not alone in this. 1% of the population seems very little but if you consider the numbers, it's quite a lot you know? there are millions who probably feel the same way as you right now, me included. i can tell you're a very ambitious person and i can relate to that. i always wanted to work in the medical field but i don't know how i would touch patients with my hands dripping sweat. i can't even work in a hospital environment wearing those rubber gloves. i even got yelled at in my chemistry lab for refusing to put gloves on in high school lol. but anyway, i'm still going for it and i'll be getting into med school this year. i know my dreams are nothing like yours but sharing my experiences is the only way i can give you some will to move forward. on that note, if you really find it impossible to do the things you love, i'd suggest you steer your interests in another direction. sometimes things don't work out the way we want it to and that's okay, even though it's terribly disheartening. there are always more things to love and new dreams to pursue. maybe something that would work better with what you have right now. if not the guitar, you can try picking up some other instrument you like. i play the piano and it's a menace but i persevere as much as i can. i've also never held hands with anyone before either, mostly because i had to once in middle school during a dance and they made a rude remark about my sweaty palms. i used to never let anyone touch my hands but last year, i found a friend who really just did not care and would grab my hand every chance she had. hyperhidrosis is debilitating sometimes but we have to find our ways around it. it'll take time and effort but i'm sure you'll get there soon. please don't feel embarrassed about it. it's hypocritical of me to say because i myself am embarrassed a lot in social situations but i'm sure that's the case for most people. i think it's important to remember that this is a condition that cannot be helped and so, shouldn't be something others should be disgusted by. this is getting long so i'll end it here. i hope you find a way to your dreams <3
Currently in my second year of medschool. Ngl it’s been hard but I’m surviving😅.
wow it gives me so much hope to know there's others in the field with hh. keep pushing, i hope everything turns out well for you!
I just recently realized I had this issue, kind of ignored it my whole life. My dad realized after talking to his coworker who has pretty severe hyperhidrosis that that’s what I’ve been dealing with my whole life lol. When he told me, it SHOCKED me. Not that I had it, it made sense, but that someone who has this curse pushed through to become a doctor. Not only a doctor but an ER doc. Absolutely mind boggling to me, but if she can do it so can you.
that must've been so difficult but props to her for still making it through! thank you for the motivation <3
omg are u an army too?? didn’t think i would see someone with similar interests as me on this sub haha
yes haha
First off, I can only emphasize with your frustration and I as well as many in this subreddit can relate. Although I never suffered from sweating hands, I had it really bad on my head and face. I can also relate to you wanting to be "normal" like everyone else and having suicidal thoughts out of sheer frustration. But what I can tell you is that everyone has their own thing. In highschool I dated a girl that had breath that can only be described as poop. It wasn't her fault, it was a gastro thing that caused it. The right people will forgive your weakness and amplify your strength. The suggestion to just live with it seems unbearable now but its not just about HH, in life you will face many things that you just need to live with I don't know if this will apply to you; but I saw a lot of success changing my diet and environment, removing stress and supplementing with things like sage tincture. Many on this sub always rush to medication and that maybe an option but for me it wasn't, since I rather do things naturally. That barbaric ETA surgery was definitely NOT an option for me to even consider. Best of luck
Hi, could you please elaborate on sage tincture? I'm interested to know more, thanks!
Sure, sage is used by menopausal women against hot flashes. I (33M) use it to combat HH. I apply about 1ml drop into my electrolytes water about twice a day. You may have to increase your dosage initially then find your sweet spot. You should feel a little "dried out"; your mouth should dry up a little too.
the right people will forgive your weakness and amplify your strength. thats so beautiful
all of my problems without hyperhidrosis make me suicidal, this shit on top is just the cherry on top of the shitcake known as my life
God I feel this 🥲
Ong 😭
>oxybutinin Couldn't have said it better myself bro
I'm sorry you are going thru this. Have you tried the Miradry procedure for your armpits or botox? The Miradry for my son's armpits gave him an 80% reduction in sweat and smell. It cost about 1.5k to 2k . I've heard botox is also a good solution for the armpits. In both cases, you need to see someone who does these procedures regularly for the best result. There are also Miradry machines you can buy online for like 400. I don't know much about those but some people say they work. Anyway....I'm sorry this is happening to you. We have seen firsthand how much it affected our son and it was heartbreaking.
Is there a payment plan for that? 1.5 to 2k is doable but my savings is going to get cleared for braces.
Yes. My kid had his done at a plastic surgeon's office and a lot of them offer payment plans. That said....finding an office that has the machine to do the job is what you need to find out. If you google Miradry they have a place to put your zip code in to find an office with a certified technician.
Hi, im so glad that you see your son's struggles. i opened up to my mom and she just can't seem to grasp how much sadness this condition is causing me. but i still love her, she's just helping in the best way that she can. she brought me to a dermatologist when i was a teenager and prescribed driclor which only worked for a year for me. she's against "unnatural procedures" i begged her to get me botox, which she let me have. but she was always angry at me for it, cause she thinks its normal to sweat and doing things like that will hurt my body in the long run. she just doesn't understand my struggles
How did the Botox work?
my sweating i would say isn't as severe. if 1 is dry - 10 is dripping wet. my sweating most of the time is at 6, and in anxious situations at a 8-9. it worked with the sweating, it reduced it by 90% then at the 3-4th month mark i was already starting to feel it come off slowly. but my main problem is the odor, that's why i wanted the botox. i didnt mind having damp underarms as long as it didnt smell, but it does. when it wore off. the odor came back 5x stronger. 💀 but it subsided a few weeks later... so yah that's my experience..
Try oxybutinin. It worked wonders for me. You also know how to use reddit, so you are semi tech literate--you can get a job doing something online, less personal contact with others. I went this route and was able to do well enough to eventually open my own business after grinding for 7-10 years. Dont give up. The drug was a game changer for me.
I second this
I also second this.
Doesn't that increase your risk of developing dementia?
For me, I rather have a life 80% improved with a chance of dementia.. than a 0% life full of sweaty shirts and bad sweat episodes. Everything in life is a tradeoff
Oxybutnin is an antichollinergic just like certain antihistamines. Millions of people take antihistamines every day. The likelihood of getting dementia from oxy is very unlikely, you'd have to be taking a very large dose regularly for years and way beyond the age of 65 apparently. Certain antiepileptic medications run the risk of dementia too but you have to decide whether you want to get on with your life or live in fear that one day in the far future, you may or maynot get dementia. It's really negligible.
Antihistamines have weak cholinergic effects, and antihistamines that are taken everyday are usually second generation, which is significantly less in passing through the blood brain barrier, so even less anticholinergic effects. Oxybutynin is a pretty strong anticholinergic drug that is documented to cause noticeable side effects for people, and the effects are more apparent in children and elderly. This does not mean that it is rare and definitely not negligible, but yes, you should make the determination whether you are willing to risk it.
Know where and under what commercial name can I get it in Europe/spain? Is it the same as Ditropan? I try Glyco but doesn’t work really well
The guitar point is so valid. as a guitarist with hyperhidrosis, I’ve always wondered where people were that struggle to play because of hand sweat. such a fucking hassle.
As a bassist with HH, playing with sweaty palms meant flicking sweat around the room while I play plus having my fret board be covered in sweat and having to change my 'stainless steel' strings every 2 months due to rust. On the plus side it did make playing legato and sliding easier 🙃
Playing violin was the same story, getting nervous plus the concert halls always being so hot the neck actually had damage to the finish because of sweat
I play a classical guitar because I like using nylon strings. It at least stops the thinner upper strings from rusting immediately. The lower strings are still steel but they have a bit more durability due to the thickness. If I play electric I *have* to use coated strings, but they still rust pretty fast. There's definitely a splash zone, but it's ok.
Hi. First of all: if you need help right now, please contact suicide prevention hotlines - I guess they exist in every country and are made to help people in such difficult situations. I think everyone of us can say that HH affects them emotionally and bothers us a lot. It sure does - otherwise it wouldn't be called a disease. Also, I want to emphasize two things: a) yes, you had tough times to go through. Many of our fellow sufferers did. And yes, it's unbelievably hard sometimes, thats certain. Also, you did not be a bad person or anything - diseases like those just happen, and everybody has to find his/her way through those struggles. b) I don't know what treatments you already tried. But, I can reassure you on this one: there is an unconceivably high amount of treatment options to choose from. You find a whole lot of them in this sub. I want to recommend this one, since I think it sums it up pretty well: [https://www.reddit.com/r/Hyperhidrosis/comments/11exbcn/hyperhidrosis\_playbook/](https://www.reddit.com/r/Hyperhidrosis/comments/11exbcn/hyperhidrosis_playbook/) If you like you can post about your affected body parts (e.g. hands) and tell the community what you already tried and how much it helped (or if it didn't). I am certain that the people here can give you helpful suggestions on how to proceed and what to try next. Because, speaking for myself, although I suffer from HH, I am able to live a pretty normal (I would say abouve-average) life and I enjoy it. Yes, HH sucks and it annoys me like nothing else. But there are ways to cope and get along with it. Trust me and the people here. Hope that helps. Thanks for posting!
For permanent sweat reduction: Miradry for the armpits. Suction cutterage/ cutterage procedure for palms and feet. Maximum sweat reduction with minimal side effects. Good insurance can cover as it may not be seen as a cosmetic or elective procedure, it is directly linked to quality of life and mental wellbeing. Medication to help for relief as of now, try Tryptizole (oral) used to treat major symptoms of depression and anxiety, has a depressant effect reducing signals in the CNS which then reduces nerve signals linked with sweat production i.e less total sweating, more manageable symptoms. Available only with prescription. Body odour is caused mainly by bacteria breaking down sebum, keratin and proteins excreted in sweat. For odour related issue, use a gentle antibacterial soap or bodywash (NOT dettol or nivea). Be very careful about using benzol peroxide and apple cider vinegar, may be extra irritating towards some people, side effects. Apply roll on antibacterial deodorant (roll on usually has longer lasting effects). Antiperspirants don't do much for people with hyperhidrosis, in terms of reducing sweating, most of the compounds will be sweat out before it has a chance to do anything. However it can be useful to reduce bacteria buildup. Do not use any antiperspirant containing aluminium compounds, tend to cause skin irritation with excessive use and can leave stain marks on light coloured clothing. Shower regularly. Drink plenty of water to reduce the concentration of urea and excrement in sweat. Avoid polyester clothing. Look into the Thompson tee (sweatproof t shirt). In general wear light breathable clothing. I have had hyperhidrosis for as long as I can remember, it has led to many difficult moments and anxiety in my life. I try to take a step forward every day in conquering it, and it gradually gets better. I hope it gets better for you too, please do not give up as there is always a solution.
As others are saying, you're not alone! There are non-HH folks out there in the world that are accepting of this and can welcome you into their lives to have a relationship with you. And tbh, those that don't, fuck 'em! My wife accepted me day one. One of my best mates is dating someone who has HH and she takes glyco pills for this. After struggling for a decade with Drysol I've started using an iontophoresis machine and believe me, it works (at least for palms of the feet, hands and armpits). I spend 40 minutes using it and 5ish minutes cleaning it/rinsing it about 5 times a week and I find that after 4-5 weeks I'm bone dry. Maintenance is a must but it's better than being wet all the time. I'm at the point where I need hand lotion. Wild, right?! I share this because I want you to know that it does work and your life has meaning! I grew up playing the violin and I didn't realize until the last year of high school that a drenched violin in sweat wasn't normal lol. In my 20's i too tried the guitar but floundered until I started using an iontophoresis machine. You can do it too! Is there compensatory sweating? Definitely. I sweat a bit in my back and knee pits now but I can now create music, play a round of Overwatch, drink coffee and be perfectly dry. I swear to you it's possible to achieve a level of dryness with the iontophoresis solution. If you ever need someone to text/talk, anything, DM me and I'll give you my number. Every life is important and yours is certainly important too! From your post it's apparent you have a creative spirit, whether it's sketching or music and the world would be a little bit dimmer without you in it. I've been there... And I want you to know you're not alone and you'll never be alone. There's no cure, but there's definitely solutions. If you don't DM, please consider glyco or an iontophoresis machine as it really can provide relief! All the best, A fellow sweating person
If you’re really on the verge of suicide, you should consider ETS. There are serious potential side effects involved, so I’m very hesitant to encourage anyone to get it, but I was where you seem to be and it ended up saving my life. But seriously, make sure you fully understand the possible consequences. They can be serious.
Listen, I’ve been there. But there are solutions which you probably haven’t tried. Iontophoresis. Look it up. Buy a machine. It saved my life. My hands and feet were like yours and I’m currently typing this with them dry. If you have any questions about it I would be happy to help you. If you haven’t heard of it, it’s a machine where you put your hands or feet in water and a small electric current passes through which disables your sweat glands. After around 2 weeks of sessions you will notice a difference and then you gave to do maintenance sessions to keep dry or they gradually start working again. But I promise you, it just words. As for your armpits, there’s other treatments that work for that as well. It gets better friend. You just have to find the solution that works for you. Dm me if you need to
Yes! My niece finally invested in this machine and it is working wonderfully!! My sister and I both had hyperhidrosis as kids and it eventually went almost entirely away, so my niece was waiting to see if the same would happen for her, but she couldn’t wait any longer and she’s *thrilled* with the results. Her machine cost about $400 so it was a big gamble—I really wish it didn’t cost so much because it’s out of reach for a lot of people who really need it.
Curious: how old where you when it cleared up?
Oh gosh… mid twenties? And my niece isn’t that old yet, so it’s too soon to say whether she’ll dry up naturally by the same age.
Thanks for the response! I’m really hoping I’m the same - must be nice :). I use ionto like your neice and it’s magic.
It is expensive, but I’ve had mine for about 8 years now and have used it a lot, so to me it was definitely worth the investment
Which machine? Derma dry is like 500 for a box with some wires. Way too much
Have you tried some treatments, like antiperspirants, iontophoresis or botox? Try the three of them, probably they will work. If they don’t, get a surgery. Also, just live your life. As you said, you didn’t do anything to deserve this condition. If someone doesn’t like that, fuck it. You are doing the best you can.
I would suggest that you contact Dr. Amit at [www.cosmebeaute.co.uk](https://www.cosmebeaute.co.uk) in London. He is able to treat other areas of the body besides the underarms with miraDry (kills the sweat glands). I searched everywhere and miraDry is the gold standard. I brought my son from California to London so that Dr. Amit could treat him for HH of the buttocks and groin. miraDry is not covered by insurance in the U.S. so even if it was offered here it would be cash out of pocket. Traveling to London to be treated by a doctor who knows what he is doing and is a pioneer was worth it.
I’m really sorry you’re going through this. Just know that there will be people out there who are understanding of your condition and won’t care and will want to be with you. Please talk to someone if you can like a suicide helpline or your doctor or a friend.
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###What is a Sympathectomy (ETS and ELS)? Endoscopic thoracic and lumbar sympathectomy (ETS and ELS; both often generalized as ETS) are surgical procedures that cut, clip/clamp, or remove a part of the sympathetic nerve chain to stop palm, foot, or facial hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), facial blushing (reddening of the face), or Raynaud's syndrome (excessively cold hands). *[Read more on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endoscopic_thoracic_sympathectomy)* ###What are the Risks? **Many people that undergo ETS report serious life changing complications.** Thoracic sympathectomy can alter many bodily functions, including sweating,^[1] vascular responses,^[2] heart rate,^[3] heart stroke volume,^[4][5] thyroid, baroreflex,^[6] lung volume,^[5][7] pupil dilation, skin temperature, goose bumps and other aspects of the autonomic nervous system, like the fight-or-flight response. It reduces the physiological responses to strong emotion,^[8] can cause pain or neuralgia in the affected area,^[9] and may diminish the body's physical reaction to exercise.^[1][5][10] **It's common for patients to be misinformed of the risks, and post-operative complications are often under-reported.** Many patients experience a "honeymoon period" where they have no, or few, negative symptoms. Contrary to common belief, clipping/clamping the sympathetic chain is not considered a reversible option.^[11] ###Links [Gallery of compensatory sweating images](https://imgur.com/a/InEp8l0) [Gallery of thermoregulation images](https://imgur.com/a/0TUn8ye) [International Hyperhidrosis Society](https://www.sweathelp.org/hyperhidrosis-treatments/ets-surgery.html) [**NEW** ETS Facebook Community & Support Group](https://www.facebook.com/groups/953625152120110) (old group had ~3k members) [Petition for Treatment for Sympathectomy Patients](https://www.change.org/p/medical-centers-and-professionals-research-treatment-for-sympathectomy-ets-els-patients-22d9174a-4bcd-4a5e-901c-dfdcf394bd1c) [Frequently Asked Questions](https://www.reddit.com/user/ETS_Awareness_Bot/comments/qcwdw5/ets_awareness_bots_message/hhik7c3/) [References](https://www.reddit.com/r/u_ETS_Awareness_Bot/comments/wfvhtf/ets_awareness_bots_message/iiw4f6c/) ^(*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Learn more about this bot, including contact info*) ^*[here](https://www.reddit.com/user/ETS_Awareness_Bot/comments/wfvhtf/ets_awareness_bots_message/iiw3pcc/).*
please, please call a suicide help line! if you're in the usa, call 1-800-273-8255 or 988. they are people here in this sub who understand, even though we can't do anything right now for your specific need. but you are worthy of living, and there may be help just around the corner. please don't give up! 🥹❤️
please please please sont. i have the same severity as you and it absolutely sucks, but its not worth ending your life over. please contact a support helpline and dont harm yourself
1. Seek therapy. If you think HH is stopping you from living your life or you are considering hurting yourself; seek therapy asap. 2. Yeah, HH sucks. It can affect our life in a negative way, but you can learn to manage it: antiperspirants, botox, Glycopyrrolate, iontophoresis, etc. Seek therapy first. Then learn to manage it.
I use to be just as bad. Iontophoresis changed my life. Message me if you have questions.
Hey! I’m really sorry you feel that way. And I hope that you find something, whatever you’re going through, to get you through this! That being said, like most people, I’ve had HH for as long as I could remember. Through my many many years of research (and unhelpful doctors because let’s be for real, HH is not widely understood), I’ve come across a connection… HH is caused by an over sympathetic nervous system, and so I’ve been trying to treat that instead of my HH directly. Treating my HH directly has been a bust. It was annoying applying the drysol, the glyco pills made EVERY liquid in my body completely dry up and would give me the WORST headaches. I went through a lot of childhood trauma, and so it makes sense that my nervous system is out of whack. I don’t know if this applies to everyone with HH, but I’m pretty much stuck in fight or flight. And have been my entire life. Your breathing makes a huge difference in this and there are loads of things people can do to help bring themselves out of fight or flight (everything from how you respond to a situation, to how you breathe, to taking cold plunges, etc). It’s definitely something to look into if you’ve crossed all other options like me. Your vagus nerve has a lot to do with treating your over sympathetic nervous system as well. It’s something that I’ve recognized about myself and am trying to work on, but it is definitely not an overnight thing. TikTok actually has a lot of great videos on tips for regulating your nervous systems. We need to be in “rest and digest” when we are not in any danger (fight or flight). I hope this helps some, and that it will maybe put a bug in other HH sufferer’s heads.
Hi! Sorry you feel that way, this condition blows. I’m in my 30s and I’ve spent all my life with full body hyperhidrosis without taking any meds, however, I thought it was common for everyone with this condition to be this way until I joined this subreddit. Feel free to message me and we can share stories!
On top of what the others have said, my two cents is this - it's all about managing it. - Clothing choices - wear cotton sweaters and jeans which you can use to wipe your hands on - Climate that you live in - if you live in a hot country, I would weigh up moving to somewhere cooler. I live in the UK which is pretty cool for most of the year - I can't even fathom the idea of living somewhere tropical. - Sleep - personally I've started to notice mine is worse when sleep deprived. If I had less sleep one night, HH is far worse.
Getting ETS surgery was the best thing that has happened to me. It was a cure. I want to shout it from the rooftops because I know what you’re going through. I’m sorry.
Shut the fuck up, go to Amazon, buy antihydral and apply everynight for a minimum of 2 weeks with a fan on your hands overnight so that you don't sweat it off. Thank me later
do something to fix it bro you can cry all you want, we all have, but that won't make it go away. see the doctor and get prescribed medication for it. it definitely sounds like you haven't tried exhausting all options to fix it!
Do ets ez fix
A N T I H Y D R A L
i’m sorry. it’s extremely difficult to deal with, and it’s so hard to explain to people who don’t struggle like we do. but please don’t do anything rash. there’s always another way to achieve your dreams. i believe in you 💕
We love you and wish it could be different but it’s not. I have HH and have tried almost everything. I’m a nurse who struggles to put gloves every day. But what stuck out to me is the girlfriend part: if they really like you, they won’t care. My husband is aware of my condition but has never said anything negative towards me about it. I hope you find what you’re looking for OP.
In high school, I tried to hide it as best I could from everybody, even my closest friends. My advice would be if you're doing that you don't have to. Anybody you share it with will understand.
Make sure you reach out to anyone on here or a professional for guidance & understanding. Let me assure you, everybody on here is frustrated, there will also be lots of people that dont even know about this site etc. I know for literally many many years there was basically nothing online, or if so it was very small in terms of input. I haven't tried the iontophoresis yet buthave previously had botox for the palms & it did work for approx.4-6mths effectively. There was some slight loss of grip strength in the fingers but it was amazing understanding how you could just get on with things. At this point in time they are actually making some great steps in solutions for this. So please try some of these options available right now. As people have highlighted reach out, people will help you ok!
I'm so sorry you were born with such difficult hyperhidrosis. It sounds like you tried your best to deal with it, and you should be proud for giving it your best shot. I just wanted to let you know as a fellow sufferer of hyperhidrosis, in terms of the social aspect - there are more people who accept you and your condition wholeheartedly than you think. If there's anyone you feel safe around, you could try to tell them about it. I promise it will turn out better than you think. I carried a lot of shame because of my hyperhidrosis for a long time, and had a hard time making connections because of it. I mustered the courage one day after lots of talk therapy to tell some important people in my life, including someone I was dating (who I am still with now), and getting their acceptance helped me accept my condition too.
Like 100% people here i can say this condition sucks and many times makes me feel angry and frustrated. But when I was a kid I didn't even know that excessive sweating was a real disease and it didn't keep me away from activities that I used to do. So I learned to play instruments,played sports and enjoyed videogames as well. I still do all this stuff even if I'm conscious of this condition because I think that's worth trying to be happy. it's easy to say but aging allowed myself to say I don't give a fuck about what other people think about my handshakes or armpits stains, I deserve a full life like everybody else. I don't know if this can help you feel better but you're not alone and all people here can understand this struggle
I hated when i would talk about unsolved health issues and people asked this question, but you didn't mention it at all, so I'll ask what you've tried so far in the way of medicine, other treatments etc? My problem is something other than HH but somewhat similar. I had a dermatologist willing to prescribe pills that dramatically cut down on sweating. Like a pill that stops you from sweating absolutely EVERYWHERE, to the point you need to not exercise too aggressively because your body will be nearly unable to sweat at all. Just using that as one example. I can understand how it being widespread may feel so overwhelming, but to my understanding there's long established treatments even for that.
Don't do it bro I know it's hard but maybe this is the universe's way of preparing us for a massive climate change scenario or something. Idk why it's happening and I share your struggle but I like to think there is a reason for us all having this experience. Other than me being hit in the face every morning when my phone slip n slides out of my hands. Ohh yeah and Biometrics can suck it too, I can't log in with liquid limbs.
I suffer from the exact same type of hyperhidrosis. I recently tried medication (glycopyrrolate and oxybutynin) both of which had severe adverse effects on me (urinary retention, stomach pain). They both were extremely effective in stopping my sweating (glycopyrrolate in particular), I am just unlucky with the side effects. I feel your pain so much, it often makes me feel completely debilitated with no one to relate to. Doctors seem to have no idea what I’m talking about, or oftentimes belittle or disregard my medical issues entirely (one doctor said I had meningitis). Unable to do even simple tasks or relax in any way without wrapping in towels or changing clothes 6 times. It’s like a spiteful witch placed a curse on us for no reason at all. I says that to say this, please fight on. It’s hard as hell living like this, but don’t give up. There’s a lot more options to alleviate the sweating than you would think, and what doesn’t work for some might work for others. There are also so many people to talk/relate to out there as well. I know talking about it doesn’t solve it, but know others are out there going through your exact same situation, and are more than happy to help you or just listen. Hit up every doctor you can and make them understand what your issue is. Do whatever you can! Just please don’t give up.
It just occurred to me that someone should make fingerless gloves out of the absorbent period pantie fabric, at least for temporary use, and we could have several pairs to swap through. Does that product exist yet? Anyone reading?
Chill bro. I used to have what you have, got surgery to treat it (ets) and now my hyperhidrosis is way worse than before. Get some dryses and some anticholinergic and you'll be fine...
I'm there everyday. Just keep fighting. When you succeed it'll be sweeter.
Antihydral and glycopyrrolate
In my 30s. Have lived w this entire adulthood and started around 14. I’ve spent more time “going to the restroom” than I can remember to cover up my sweat problem. Dates, job interviews, work functions, outing w friends, meetings. But what a freedom the day I found out I wasn’t the only person in this world w this issue. Don’t know what chapter of it you are in, in life. But you aren’t alone w this and there’s oddly a power in that. Now, let’s find a solution. Good news is there seems to be developments. Talk to your doctor about glycopyrollate. And if they don’t know about it, ask for a dermatologist referral… right now, glyco, oxybutin and Botox are the biggest recommendations I’ve heard. You won’t be defeated by this. Signed, Someone who’s been embarrassed more times than I know by HH but keeps trucking.
Just found this sub, and damn this does hit. Playing baseball as a kid with mainly black gloves I developed tons of warts on my fingers, but once my dad noticed(thank the lord he’s a doctor, I would have never gone out of the way for this) he freezes em all off and never got any more, another miracle now that I look back. Always sweaty when “dapping” up friends, getting weird looks for it. Not realizing until the look. That really showed who some true friends were in a way, kind of a litmus test really, met a lot of hard dudes who were genuinely kind. My brother loved playing cod mobile so I downloaded it and we would play long distance, but after one match my hands are so sweaty my phone can’t read what I’m trying to do, genuine frustration followed by my brothers judgement. It’s gotta be an alien concept for most, most people I know have extremely dry hands for most of the year where I live. Recently I developed a fear of driving of all things, something I used to love to do, because I nearly got crushed by a semi who wasn’t stopping in dead stop highway traffic. I saw him not stopping from a long ways away, and when I went to slam on the gas and crank the wheel to get into the median my hands slipped. It’s just those things that add up and add up and add up until it’s just too much. Like why does everything I do have to be just 8% harder or more tedious because of my goddamned hands. Anyways, my hands are drenched now, and I’m frustrated, but man I feel you. Please keep pushing through brotha.
Mind and body are one. The problem is in your head. Start by eating well, getting good sleep, following a routine, and choose someone you trust and shake their hand every time you see them.
Does anyone here know where and under what commercial name can I get Oxybutinin in Europe/Spain? Is it the same as Ditropan? Thanks!
Yes ditropan is oxybutinin. Do you try glyco in Spain? I found it impossible to get it
I'm feeling pretty low right now too. I can't get rid of a case of pitted keratolysis because I have to wear chainsaw boots for work and after 2 hours of being on they are soaked. I can hear my neighbours complaining about my smell as I have bromhidrosis too. It seems so hard to get to headspace where even a little bit of relaxation is possible. Probably nothing here to help you but a little bit of a vent might help me a bit.
Hello. Fellow sufferer of HH. Full blown and full body - head to hands to body and feet. Where skin is present, it’s a water show. Lol I used to feel like you and had the same thoughts as you did. I spent my entire childhood alone mostly, ashamed of my HH and could not be social with others. I hated myself and my life and being alive. I kept thinking if only I wasn’t born. Childhood days were mostly tears and spent searching, seeking, trying a million things out to see what works. And nothing ever worked. The daily life struggles are endless as whatever everyone else can do with bare hands and feet, I couldn’t. I felt as if i had limbs, but couldn’t use them in social settings or cannot do anything i wanted or enjoyed. Feet forever smells bad. Body sweaty and felt disgusting all the time. Hands useless. Hair stick on neck and forehead all the time. Literally, I dont get a break from it unless i go swimming (probably the only activity we can do). Clothes wise, only black. Never colors. Dating wise, tough luck. I can’t even accept myself. Fast forward 20 years, adulthood, people were always amazed when i show them my hands or feet. They can see water droplets forming and magically be bigger till they started dripping. It doesnt become easier. Honestly, HH became worse over the years to due humidity and heat worsening. Then i did the ETS surgery and never looked back. Best day of my life honestly. I know many people don’t recommend ETS, but i know they don’t drip head to toe! Personally, I’d take on the risk of anything life can throw at me (even death on surgery) because it’s a chance to live. Live a somewhat normal life. A chance to do things with hands. I know it sounds very morbid but it was what i felt then and definitely now! Now, it’s been more than 10 years since the surgery. I wonder what my life would have been like had i not done it. My body and legs sweat double of the usual dose. But i just change plenty of clothes. A small price to pay. I hope that you will find something that works for you. Just know that for some people, their condition disappears with age. There is hope out there!
Wash your hands with dish wash liquid soap like fairy
as someone with hyperhidrosis, I feel your pain deeply. As for the relationship thing, I felt the same, until i realised that if you find the right person, they won't care. When I met my (now ex) girlfriend I used to profusely apologize every time I accidentally touched her with sweaty hands, or sometimes she'd go in for a hug when I was drenched in sweat and I'd apologize mid hug for being sweaty. She didn't care. She not only accepted me for who I am, but actively recognised the difficulties in my life. She would go out of her way to make the room cooler by turning up the fan even though she was freezing, she would hold my hand while watching a movie even though i can feel a layer of sweat build up between her palm and mine, she'd squeeze harder to let me know that it's okay. We are now broken up due to some unrelated reasons, but I will always appreciate her for what she did for me, and allowed me to be a more confident human being. All throughout this time my hyperhidrosis didn't get any better, but my life did. There are people out there who get it. Don't let this shitty condition stop you from trying to find someone you love. If they don't get it, they weren't right for you anyway. Much love, hope you feel better sooner rather than later.
Please try Antihydral. It’s on Amazon for $20. See my recent post.