Specialists explained when sweating is considered normal, what factors can increase it, and when it is worth worrying and looking for the cause of sweating. They also revealed which diseases can cause excessive sweating and what night sweating or suddenly changed sweat odor could mean, according to a BENU press release.
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What determines the amount of sweat?
According to Ramunė Uosienė, an expert at the Healthy Skin Institute pharmacy, sweating is a completely natural body reaction, the main purpose of which is to regulate body temperature: sweating occurs when it is hot, during exercise, stress, excitement, or even when eating spicy food.
“However, the amount of sweat is not the same for all people. It is influenced by genetics, age, body mass, hormone activity, and individual sweat gland activity. Increased sweating can be considered when it starts to interfere with daily life,” says R. Uosienė.
Most common causes of sweating
Even if it is not hot and a person is not exercising, many factors can increase sweating. One of the most common causes is stress and strong emotions. According to R. Uosienė, excitement, anxiety, or tension activates the sympathetic nervous system, which can increase sweating. In such cases, the palms, armpits, feet, or face sweat especially.
“Diet also has an influence – spicy food, hot drinks, or larger amounts of caffeine. For some people, alcohol has a similar effect,” notes R. Uosienė. “Sweating intensity can also be influenced by hormonal fluctuations. It often intensifies during adolescence and menopause, and with some thyroid disorders. Increased sweating can be caused or intensified by some antidepressants, painkillers, or hormonal preparations, as well as fever, infections, lack of sleep, overweight, and nicotine.”
Primary and secondary hyperhidrosis
Family doctor Viktorija Bleizgytė from Karoliniškės Polyclinic notes that if a person starts sweating excessively without a clear reason, and sweating cannot be explained by heat, physical exertion, or strong emotions, hyperhidrosis may be suspected – a condition characterized by excessive and difficult-to-control sweating.
“Primary hyperhidrosis usually manifests in certain body areas – armpits, palms, feet, or face. It often begins in youth and can be hereditary or related to individual body characteristics. Meanwhile, secondary hyperhidrosis usually presents as more generalized sweating of the whole body. In such cases, sweating may not be an independent problem but a symptom of another disease or body condition,” says V. Bleizgytė.
According to the doctor, this condition is diagnosed by evaluating the person’s symptoms and medical history; special questionnaires may also be used, and in some cases, the so-called starch and iodine test is performed. If secondary hyperhidrosis is suspected, the doctor may recommend additional tests to determine the possible cause of sweating.
Changed odor and night sweating
According to the doctor, under normal conditions, sweat is odorless, and unpleasant odor usually appears when sweat interacts with bacteria on the skin.
“Sweat odor can also be changed by certain foods or drinks, such as onions, garlic, spicy dishes, caffeine-containing drinks, or alcohol. Therefore, a short-term change in odor or sweating intensity should not necessarily cause concern,” says V. Bleizgytė.
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However, in some cases, night sweating or changed sweat odor may be related to certain health conditions, such as increased thyroid activity, diabetes, tuberculosis, some oncological diseases, hormonal changes, kidney or liver dysfunction.
“It is especially important not to ignore sweating if it appears suddenly, over a short period, involves the whole body, and its cause is unclear. Medical attention should also be sought if other symptoms appear – weakness, unexplained weight loss, or severe night sweating that soaks clothes and bedding,” says V. Bleizgytė.
Most common mistakes in fighting sweat
R. Uosienė notes that one of the most common mistakes in fighting excessive sweating is applying or spraying the product in a very thick layer hoping for a stronger effect: “It is more effective to use the product on clean and completely dry skin. Also, it is not advisable to immediately choose the strongest product. It is best to start with a milder option and assess the skin’s reaction. Skin sensitivity problems can also be aggravated by applying the product immediately after shaving or depilation.”
Another common mistake is trying to mask sweat odor with perfume or deodorant without removing the cause itself. R. Uosienė notes that too frequent or aggressive washing does not always help either, as hot water, strongly cleansing products, and intense skin rubbing can damage the skin’s protective barrier and cause irritation.
What to choose: deodorant or antiperspirant?
Although deodorant and antiperspirant are often understood as synonyms, according to R. Uosienė, these products differ. The main purpose of deodorant is to control unpleasant body odor, while antiperspirant reduces sweat secretion.
“For a person who sweats little and wants to control odor, deodorant is enough, but if the problem is not odor but excessive sweating, it is worth choosing an antiperspirant,” advises R. Uosienė.
Sweating treatment: when is it needed?
When sweating is not very excessive, it is first recommended to start with lifestyle adjustments – maintain personal hygiene, review diet, supplements, and medications, and apply stress management methods.
“If sweating is more intense and simpler measures are insufficient, medication treatment may be applied, for example, oral drugs that reduce sweating – anticholinergic preparations,” says V. Bleizgytė. “Other treatment methods are also possible, such as iontophoresis or botulinum toxin injections. If these measures are not effective, surgical treatment may be considered. In such cases, sweat glands may be removed or nerves transmitting signals to sweat glands in the most sweating body areas may be blocked.”
R. Uosienė reminds the most important rule: if the nature of sweating changes without a clear reason or it starts to significantly interfere with quality of life, one should not try stronger and stronger cosmetic products for a long time. “In such a case, it would be worth finding out why there is more sweating,” says R. Uosienė.
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