Why palms sweat

But there is a medical condition called hyperhidrosis pronounced: hye-pur-hye-DROE-sis that can cause a person's palms, feet, armpits, and other parts of the body to sweat heavily. When a person has hyperhidrosis, it usually begins around puberty. A number of things can trigger the sweating, including alcohol, some medicines, hormones, spicy foods, stress, and conditions like diabetes.

The good news about hyperhidrosis is that doctors have several different options for treating it. The type of hyperhidrosis that usually affects the hands, feet, underarms or face causes at least one episode a week, during waking hours.

And the sweating usually occurs on both sides of the body. Seek immediate medical attention if your heavy sweating is accompanied by lightheadedness, chest pain or nausea. Your skin has two types of sweat glands: eccrine and apocrine.

Eccrine glands occur over most of your body and open directly onto the surface of your skin. Apocrine glands open into the hair follicle, leading to the surface of the skin. Apocrine glands develop in areas abundant in hair follicles, such as on your scalp, armpits and groin. Sweating is your body's mechanism to cool itself. Your nervous system automatically triggers your sweat glands when your body temperature rises. Sweating also normally occurs, especially on your palms, when you're nervous.

The most common form of hyperhidrosis is called primary focal essential hyperhidrosis. With this type, the nerves responsible for signaling your sweat glands become overactive, even though they haven't been triggered by physical activity or a rise in temperature.

With stress or nervousness, the problem becomes even worse. This type usually affects your palms and soles and sometimes your face. There is no medical cause for this type of hyperhidrosis.

It may have a hereditary component, because it sometimes runs in families. Other dermatologists use iontophoresis, which is the use of a low electric current to stop the sweat glands. It also brings temporary relief. For severe hyperhidrosis, doctors may recommend a surgical procedure known as endoscopic transthoracic sympathectomy. This surgery is the only way to stop hyperhidrosis permanently. If you are constantly plagued by sweaty palms and feet or armpits, you can take the following steps:.

Know what can cause excessive sweating and try to control these triggers. Font size. User name field is required Password field is required. Forgot password? Don't have an account? Sign up! News Video. Welcome back!

Set font size. Sweaty Palms and Feet: Coping Tips. The issue often becomes noticeable in childhood , improves after a person turns 40, and usually stops after the age of The sweating can sometimes cause emotional and psychological distress and interfere with daily activities.

A person with palmar hyperhidrosis experiences :. Meanwhile, sweaty palms can be a symptom of various health issues. Some of them include :. A person can take several steps at home to reduce sweating. However, it is important to stop using these methods if they seem to be causing irritation or an allergic reaction. Also, if a person sees a doctor for treatment, they should inform the doctor of any home remedies that they have tried or are using.

Antiperspirants are topical treatments that come in many strengths. Doctors can prescribe those that are even stronger. It is important to apply antiperspirants properly. A person may not be using regular antiperspirants correctly, leading them to buy stronger varieties unnecessarily.

To apply an antiperspirant to the hands correctly :. People have used various herbal remedies to treat excessive sweating. Some of these natural remedies include :. Others have suggested approaches such as acupuncture, hypnosis, and relaxation techniques.

However, very little scientific evidence indicates that these treatments stop excessive sweating. Heat, anxiety , and certain foods and drinks can trigger sweating. It may be a good idea to note down any potential triggers and see whether avoiding them helps. A person should also bring this information to a doctor, if they are seeking treatment.

Some ingredients that can trigger sweating include :. Learn more about ways to reduce sweating here. It is important to see a doctor if home remedies are not working or if sweaty palms are significantly impacting the quality of life.