Are you afraid to shake someone’s hand because yours are all sweaty? This is fairly normal if you’re scared or stressed out, but if it happens often, you might be suffering from Hyperhydrosis.
Some sweat glands in the body produce sweat to flush out toxins - these are mostly located in the armpits, scalp and groin areas. Some others, which are located all over the body and are in greater concentration in the palms, soles of the feet and armpits, produce sweat that consists mainly of salt, electrolytes and water. In most people, this kind of sweating or perspiration acts as a mechanism to regulate the body temperature. However, this mechanism is overactive in those with Hyperhydrosis.
Known to affect one to two per cent of the population, Hyperhydrosis means ‘excessive sweating’, which is usually unpredictable. This could happen even when the temperature is cool or when you are resting, and as a result, your hands may be cold and clammy all the time.
Hyperhydrosis can be of two kinds. In cases of primary or focal Hyperhydrosis, people experience excessive sweating of the hands, feet and armpits. However, no medical cause can be found in majority of the cases, and therefore it seems to be hereditary. When the sweating is associated with another medical or psychological condition, it is called secondary hyperhydrosis.
These can range from anxiety, medication and substance abuse to cancer, lung disease, glucose control disorders and menopause.
Sweat dripping from your hands can slow you down considerably, starting from drenching your exam paper and smudging the ink to not being able to clasp something firmly with your
hands. So, it can lead to both physical discomfort as well as social embarrassment.
The amount of sweating can vary for each individual and also at different times. Carrying a cloth with you always is a good idea. Also, if the sweating is not much, talcum powder might save you from having to repeatedly wipe your hands.
However, for more severe cases, it would be advisable to seek medical aid.