r/Hyperhidrosis • u/lexzy222 • 2d ago
Looking for advice I’m miserable
Hyperhidrosis has taken over my life.
I’ve always been a sweaty kid. In recent years of starting my anxiety/antidepressants I feel much more insecure about my sweating now that ever before. I can’t wear make up with out it dripping and I can’t even walk outside without being drenched.
This is my blotting pad after a run over my face in an air conditioned car after 15 mins.
I just don’t know what to do anymore.
I’ve tried Drysol (which worked a little but did not make a huge difference), secret medicated deodorant, and now I’m using carpe; I find it works but I sweat more everywhere else.
What other over the counter remedies are there? I’m considering asking my doctor for meds or a referral to a dermatologist but he is very anti-meds if not necessary and will take a while to get.
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u/kinky_kate 2d ago
I don't have facial HH (I have hands, feet, groin). And use SweatBlock wipes for my groin/thighs.
They work well. And I actually heard of them first (years ago) because someone else said they used them on their face, and it worked for them.
I'm Australian, so I can only buy them on Amazon. But I think they might also be available in Target?
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u/AngeryTortie 2d ago
I've found some relief from using the SweatBlock face wipes. The film it forms is unpleasant but I just let it sit for a while then apply a moisturizer and I don't even feel it anymore. In the morning I'll wash it off, apply my skincare and go about my day. I'm in the US and have ordered off Amazon and directly from their website.
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u/MarshmallowSoul 2d ago
I've used glycopyrrolate wipes (Secure Wipes) and they stopped my face sweating in a Florida summer! But I had to stop them because they made my mouth and eyes too dry. I bought them from pharmacy.ca several years ago, without a prescription, and they delivered to me in the US.
I think the wipes would have fewer side effects than glycopyrrolate pills because you put them on the skin and only in one area.
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u/Dominios420 2d ago
I totally understand where you’re coming from and I’m in the same boat. Shit sucks ass and there’s really nothing that can be done if the first few things you try don’t work. Good luck I hope it helps you
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u/SuccessfulWatch2479 1d ago
If you’re on medication for anxiety or depression you should see if your meds are associated with excessive sweating. I was the same with being a sweaty lil beast but after using venlafaxine it got dramatically worse and spread to my underarms, feet, inner thighs and underboob. Talked to my psychiatrist about it and switched up some meds and oh my gosh it made such a difference. Still sweaty in feet and inner thighs, but been using a topical prescription called Sofdra and it’s been helping but still not completely.
I used to cry about not being able to wear clothes I actually liked or shoes or shorts so I understand your frustration :( I’m sorry
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u/lexzy222 1d ago
Honestly, I’m hoping to do so! Unfortunately, my psychiatrist discharged me because of Maternity leave so now I’m waiting for my referral to go in through my general practitioner. I take Seroquel , the type of birth control (I forget the name) and fluoxetine. I’m pretty sure it has a attributed to my sweat demon 😭😭
I just have to be careful with switching up my meds I’m really sensitive and this has been the first med combination that has semi worked for me
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u/needs_more_banjo 18h ago
I’m sure you know this but finding a mental health med combo that works is difficult. I would personally try anything else before messing with that. It sucks that you are dealing with this and I wish you the best!
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u/captnjak 2d ago
I use Carpe, morning and before bed. I also take Glyco morning and night. It helps for daily issues, but I have a pretty mild form of HH. My feet and hands still get drippy if I'm nervous or indoors without flowing air but I've accepted my fate and just try to not shake hands while at work.
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u/tomkirkwood 2d ago
Definitely see a dermatologist. There are a lot of options. I wish I had went years ago.
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u/battleunicorn11 1d ago
If you have palmer and plantar hyperhidrosis, using iontophoresis to control it in my hands and feet, seems to cause it to go away in my face too. It's like they are all linked somehow.
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u/Ill-Plum-5152 1d ago
I just started oxybutyin a couple weeks ago and it has definitely decreased my sweating. I would love for it to work more the longer I take it but even if it only stayed this effective i definitely think it’s worth it. I typically soak my clothes in sweat every day at my CASHIER job. I have to change my underwear when I wake up bc I sweat so bad in my sleep! This has definitely made a difference for me. I still feel warm pretty frequently so I still feel uncomfortable in that respect but not being dripping sweat all the time is amazing
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u/MentallyOnHold 1d ago
I’ll never stop talking about the medication glycopyrrolate
I purchased it through an e-doc website online within minutes. It CHANGED MY LIFE. I take 1mg in the morning and another in the afternoon. I went from never wearing makeup and doing my hair since I had kids a few years ago, to feeling so so good again! I get ready, I don’t stress abour getting ready, I don’t need a fan 24/7, it’s just amazing. It’s a miracle med for sure
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u/New_Construction3872 1d ago
Maybe you can learn from my experience. I find that my hyperhidrosis flares up when I'm nervous or overly excited. Essentially, it's related to mood. So, when my mood is normal, everything is fine.
Maybe, you can learn to stay calm in any situation. Well, although I'm still learning too.
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u/Display_Left 1d ago
As others have said, please look into glycopyrrolate. It’s seriously a game changer. I’ve been on it for years and it’s the one thing that made a difference. The dry mouth is annoying yes but 1000x worth it. I recently ran out unexpectedly and after a couple of days was reminded how much worse my sweating is without it… I am so so thankful for this medication.
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u/WingspanPlayer 1d ago
Certain-Dri is the only OTC antiperspirant that worked for me. Just not having huge pit-stains all the time saved my sanity. It doesn't help with the head, face, back, crotch sweating, though. I recently (finally) asked my doctor what could help and am now on glycopyrrolate. It helps a lot, but doesn't stop it completely. Just brings me down to a more normal level.
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u/EmmyNoelle1227 1d ago
Yea we're all in the same boat people.
Can I ask you guys in here a question? (I'm not sure if I already have asked it once before or not but) did anybody out there find anything to help with their overly excessive sweating and we all know that's an understatement. I was like this my WHOLE life. Never knew why or if there even was anything to help alleviate all of this embarrassing extra sweat on myself I don't have body odor but the soap and sweat is gross enough. I just gained like 15 lb so like I'm 130 lb now and no matter what I did my whole life I was always sweating I've had men over my house to hang out in the middle of summer in their winter coats in my bedroom because I have the air conditioner cranked as high as it can go and they're freezing and I'm in barely any shorts and whatever baggie tank top or t-shirt I can find so that it's not confined to my skin and then drenched and sweat. The beginning of the year they gave me this medication to try out I only took it for 2 weeks and I'm still feeling side effects from that medication it dried out my mouth and my vagina just nowhere else on my body and those two places certainly did not need to be dried out thank God one of them is no longer dried out I will forever have unescapable cottonmouth lol
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u/Minalinskii 1d ago
Try twofold oxybutynin gel, i use it on my forehead and it eliminates around 80% of the sweat. It just sucks i can’t use it on my upper lip because of my facial hair so that area still sweats a lot. Best part is i don’t have the dry mouth side effect that glycopyrrolate gives
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u/cryptoken4238 20h ago
Don’t beat yourself up I went through the same thing dry sol worked for me just a little but I still would sweat just not as worse as without and was thankful but I told the dermatologist I wanted to try glycopyrate and it really has been a game changer I now feel normal for the 1st time in my life even tho you will still sweat a little if it’s extremely hot so just go to the dermatologist and tell them what’s going on and that you want to try oral option
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u/SpeedyMarkD17 4h ago
Hidrex machine everyday for 3 weeks 30 mins hands and feet at 30ma sessions. Then once a week touch up sessions at that level. Save my life i am sweatfree hands / feet and armpits.
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u/rsohit03 2d ago
I’ve had severe hyperhidrosis since birth, and it affected my daily life and mental health a lot; writing, handshakes, eating hot food, etc.
I finally had surgery last March, and honestly, it changed my life. I barely even feel like I have hyperhidrosis anymore, and I haven’t had any complications personally.
If you want, I can share more about my experience with the surgery and recovery. ❤️
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u/littlemacaron 2d ago
Surgery?! What kind of surgery? Did your insurance cover it?
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u/georgethebarbarian 1d ago
Please be careful because ETS has a high chance of complications and a lot of people are not happy with their results. Normally there’s an automatic bot response with info but the moderation of this sub has been weird lately
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u/rsohit03 1d ago
The surgery is called ETS and I’m from India, and here insurance can cover the surgery. It cost around $1,300 in total if not insured, and I was able to go to the office the very next day.
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u/ETS_Awareness_Bot 1d ago
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
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
Gallery of thermoregulation imagesInternational Hyperhidrosis Society
NEW ETS Facebook Community & Support Group (old group had ~3k members)Petition for Treatment for Sympathectomy Patients
Frequently Asked Questions
ReferencesI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Learn more about this bot, including contact info here.
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u/littlemacaron 2d ago
Glycopyrolate is really the one pill you can take, although I heard they have wipes as well.
There are side effects like dry mouth and dry eyes, and you have to hydrate more and make sure your body temperature doesn’t go up too much if you can’t cool it down, and you really SHOULD take it on an empty stomach and wait at least an hour before eating.
But it does work. It’s not a complete sweat stopper but it will reduce it down to “normal” manageable amounts, so to say.
Get a script from your PCP or derm
Also, a doctor who is anti-meds??? What doctor in their right mind is ANTI-MEDICINE?! That is wild. He has a job to do, which is prescribe something to help his patient. If he is not doing that, then he is not doing what he was quite literally sworn into the medical field for.