PALMAR HYPERHIDROSIS: Causes and Simple Remedies for Sweaty Palms

Overview

Sweating is a normal part of everyday life, it is the body's mechanism of cooling in case of excessive heat, it is also produced when we are going through anxiety or nervousness. For sweaty palms, it may not always be a case of anxiety or nervousness but a daily ordeal which can badly impact one's daily life and cause them to withdraw from social events and many times lead to emotional or psychological distress.

Sweaty palms can be treated medically and also by simple home remedies. Read through this article to find out how.

Sweaty palms can be very inconvenient and sometimes embarrassing, especially when writing on a piece of paper and it becomes soaked up and rough, also, when faced with giving awkward slippery handshakes at social events. The first step to finding a cure for it is understanding what causes it.

Causes of sweaty palms

Palmar hyperhidrosis, is the medical term for 'sweaty palms' when it's not as a result of an underlined illness. 

Symptoms of Palmar hyperhidrosis include:

•  Excessive sweating, not a result of changes in body temperature or physical activity

• Sweating that affects the palms and fingers, though it can occur all over the hands.

• The palms regularly becoming cold and wet.

• Swelling of the fingers, in some cases.

Factors such as Obesity and menopause can affect how much or how often the body sweats, but what if the person isn't affected by these two factors?

For people who have sweaty palms, it is often noticeable in childhood, it then improves after a person turns 40, and usually stops after the age of 60.

However, in some cases, sweaty palms occur only as a result of anxiety, nervousness or heat.

Some causes of sweaty palms include:

• Prescription drug use, with the sweating as a side effect.

• Alcohol use disorder or drug addiction.

• Infections, tuberculosis or sepsis.

• Endocrine conditions, thyroid disorders and diabetes.

•Neurological conditions such as Parkinson's disease and a stroke.

• Cancer

Treatment and remedies

A person can treat hyperhidrosis without visiting the doctor, but if these steps don't work for you, then you must see a doctor.

1.  Watch out for triggers: It is good to properly study oneself and keep track of triggers. Avoid heated places, stay away from situations that lead to anxiety. Also, carefully take note if avoiding them helps your sweating condition in any way.

Other triggers may include:

• Alcohol

• Caffeine

• Spices

• Monosodium Glutamine (MSG)- food additive contained in Instant noodles, chips, frozen foods, condiments etc.

2. Antiperspirants: Using antiperspirants before bed and on dry skin may provide a surprising result. Be careful not to cover the hands after applying it.

Antiperspirants come in different strengths so, if regularly strengths antiperspirants don't work for you, you can consult a doctor or a pharmacist for clinical strength antiperspirants.

3. Natural remedies: Try out natural ways such as relaxation techniques or hypnosis.

When to see a doctor

If the home remedies don't work for you, then it's time to see a doctor. First, you have to tell the doctor the home remedies you've tried.

For a doctor to properly diagnose palmar hyperhidrosis, the patient must have had visible and excessive sweating for at least 6 months.

Conclusion

Sweaty Palms can be extremely frustrating when it becomes a problem to one's social life and affects one's emotional well-being. Following the remedies listed above should help you bounce back and enjoy life fully without any hindrance.

We would love for you to share your experience with us on how sweaty palms have affected you.

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