How to Treat and Control Excessive Facial Sweating
Do you sweat a lot? You may have excessive facial sweating but not aware about it. Get to know the causes, treatment and control of excessive facial sweating here.
In response to environmental changes, our body secretes sweat. The sweat regulates our body temperature and maintains inner body stability. This automatic impulse is carried out by our sympathetic nervous system, one of the subsystem of our autonomic nervous system.
In a relatively low percentage (between one to three percent) of the population, control of the sweat glands can sometimes go haywire, leading to excessive sweating that is beyond the normal body temperature regulation function. This disorder is known as hyperhidrosis.
Some hyperhidrosis may start early in one’s life and may be inherited from one or both parents, referred to as primary hyperhidrosis. The other classification of excessive sweating may result from a medical malady, sometimes brought about by thyroid problems, psychological stress, menopause, diabetes mellitus, or other conditions. This is known as secondary hyperhidrosis.
One of the manifestations of hyperhidrosis is excessive facial sweating that affects the face, scalp and neck. While it is medically very low risk, this condition is extremely intrusive as it is visibly evident during social interactions. Excessive facial sweating often leads to social embarrassment and a decline in the person’s quality of life.
People suffering from excessive facial sweating may find themselves sweating profusely just being in a crowd or when speaking to someone. It makes a person self-conscious and less sociable. Other people may even see persons with excessive facial sweating as often nervous and insecure.
There are various treatments available for hyperhidrosis depending on its classification. The medical illness causing secondary hyperhidrosis must be treated first to cure excessive sweating. In the case of primary hyperhidrosis, the following options are available:
a) Surgical procedures such as sweat gland suction and endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS)
b) Injection of Botox or botulinum toxin
c) Using water and electrical charge or iontophoresis
d) Drugs such as anticholinergic, drugs beta-blockers, or antidepressant
e) Sweat gland suction and endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS) surgery
f) Alternative medicine: homoeopathy, massage, acupuncture and phytotherapeutic drugs
g) Homoeopathy, massage, acupuncture and phytotherapeutic drugs as alternative medicine
h) Hypnosis or hypnotic induction
To control excessive sweating, avoid hot or humid environment and keep your workplace or home well-ventilated. Also, keep your face cool and dry as possible by regular using talc powder or loose compact powder, or by washing your face with cold water. Keep away from using facial creams or oily cosmetic products.
Living a well-balanced and healthy lifestyle can help relieve excessive sweating. It helps to avoid cigarettes, caffeine-rich coffee and tea, and such other anxiety-inducing food and beverage. Keep stressors at a minimal level or avoid them altogether to help manage hyperhidrosis.
You may feel constrained by excess sweat but fret not. For every problem, there’s always a solution or ways to manage and control the situation. Seek professional advise and start living your life the way you want to ” free from excess sweat!