Excessive sweating, or hyperhidrosis, is one of the most delicate problems women and men face. Most of all, the beautiful half of humanity is experiencing this. The causes of excessive sweating in women, as well as methods of getting rid of it, will be discussed in this article.
What is it, sweating?
To understand the causes of this condition, it is necessary to determine its physiological concept. The secretion by the sweat glands of a special secret is an important function of the body. In this way, the products of exchange come out. Therefore, a person sweats in a hot room or during sports.
Sweat glands work constantly, i.e., the secret is secreted regularly, but is not visible to the naked eye. But excessive production is noticeable, which can be a sign of serious violations. In the area of ​​excessive sweating, an unpleasant odor is felt, which appears as a result of the vital activity of pathogenic microflora. Bacteria that multiply in sweat not only cause an unpleasant odor, but also contribute to the onset of the inflammatory process.
Sometimes people have congenital hyperhidrosis, in which case this is a feature of the body. Special treatment is not required. The situation is alarming when a woman's secret production increased unexpectedly.
Common causes of excessive sweating
Factors that can cause such a condition must be divided into general, characteristic for men and women, as well as specific - only for the female sex. In this case, you can establish the exact causes of the pathology.
Increased sweating of the body is divided into:
- Idiopathic form. It occurs without special reasons.
- Secondary form. It is related to any disease.
Increased sweating can be caused by such pathologies:
- Diseases of the endocrine system. Hormonal malfunction, which causes an increase in the function of the endocrine organs, enhances the activity of sweat glands. As a result, hyperhidrosis develops. Such pathologies include diabetes mellitus, a violation of ovarian function.
- Infectious diseases, regardless of the pathogen (viruses, bacteria, fungi). Usually they occur with elevated temperature and are accompanied by increased sweating.
- Heart disease also causes hyperhidrosis. These include heart attack, stroke.
- Diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Disorders of metabolic processes in cartilage and articular tissues.
- Infectious or toxic poisoning is accompanied by increased sweating.
- Taking certain medications can cause hyperhidrosis, which is its side effect. These are the following drugs: insulin, morphine and others.
- Malignant tumors are also accompanied by increased sweating. This is lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease.
All these diseases are characteristic of both female and male representatives.
Factors causing the development of pathology in women
Why is sweating increased? There are factors that cause hyperhidrosis only in women. This is due to hormonal changes that occur in their body. These include:
- Pregnancy, especially in the first trimester, when the hormonal restructuring of the female body is most active.
- Before the onset of menstruation, due to changes in the hormonal background, there is not only fatigue, fatigue, but also bouts of sweating.
- During menopause, hormonal changes also occur in a woman’s body, therefore, along with bouts of lethargy and irritability, an increase in sweating also occurs.
This condition causes discomfort. In 15% of women, bouts of hyperhidrosis are especially pronounced and affect the usual way of life and performance.
Some causes of excessive sweating in women are classified as physiological. Any of them is accompanied by a restructuring of the hormonal background:
- During pregnancy, changes occur constantly. An increase in body weight also leads to increased sweating.
- In the postpartum period, a large amount of prolactin is produced, during menopause, estrogen production decreases.
After a certain period of time, all processes normalize and pass without medical intervention.
Why is sweating worse at night?
Hyperhidrosis at night is a common occurrence. In a woman, excessive sweating at night occurs as a result of:
- hormonal changes;
- stressful situations;
- neurosis
- autonomic dysfunction;
- sleep disturbances.
The work of sweat glands is regulated by the autonomic nervous system. When its activity is disturbed, along with other symptoms, sweating intensifies.
A change in the functioning of the nervous system can be caused by stressful situations and neurosis, so the symptoms of hyperhidrosis are aggravated at night.
In addition to physiological reasons, sweating can occur due to external factors - the quality of bedding, diet.
In hot weather, excessive sweating in women is a normal phenomenon that disappears within a short time.
If synthetic underwear is used, sweating may increase due to a lack of oxygen. The problem in this case is solved by replacing it with a natural one.
Separate episodes with increased sweating occur after a hearty dinner seasoned with hot spices (pepper, ginger, cinnamon). This condition is not considered a pathology, but only the body's response to food intake, causing an increase in temperature.
Pathology Diagnostics
Only a doctor can determine the cause of excessive sweating in a woman. To establish a diagnosis, it is best to visit a dermatologist.
It is also necessary to visit an endocrinologist, because some diseases of the thyroid gland also cause increased sweating. In women, hormones are checked.
Due to the fact that sometimes hyperhidrosis occurs during stress or neurosis, consulting a neurologist will be useful.
therapy Methods
After identifying the causes of excessive sweating in women, treatment will include the following methods:
- Pills that inhibit the activity of sweat glands. They must be used with caution due to side effects (constipation, dry mouth) and contraindications (glaucoma, etc.).
- Antiperspirants that temporarily block the secretion of sweat glands. The product is applied to clean and dry skin before bedtime. It is best if a specialist selects such funds.
- Ointments with a drying effect. These include Teymurov ointment, which is applied to pre-dried skin 2 times a day. She has no contraindications, so the tool is used for any part of the body.
- Botox injections. In the area of ​​excessive sweating, 10-20 injections are made to block the brain signals that are sent to the sweat glands. Therapy is repeated after six months.
- Iontophoresis. During the procedure, the palms and feet are lowered into the water through which electric current is passed. A wet pad is applied to the armpits. The process itself is completely painless, but can cause irritation of the skin. It takes several sessions during the week, lasting 20 minutes. Then the interval between them increases to 1-4 weeks.
- In case of hormonal disruptions, the doctor also prescribes special therapy.
- With surgical intervention, part of the sweat glands are removed through a small puncture. It is performed under local anesthesia.
When establishing the causes of excessive sweating, treatment consists of:
- Drug therapy.
- Physiotherapy.
- The use of special antiperspirants.
When a disease that causes increased sweating is established, hyperhidrosis completely disappears.
Physiotherapy Methods
An excellent effect in the treatment of excessive sweating in women is given by physiotherapeutic procedures. These include methods such as contrast showers and coniferous salt baths. They have a general strengthening effect and reduce the excitability of the nervous system.
Especially effective is electrosleep - a method that is based on the effect of low-frequency pulses on the brain. The procedure calms the nervous system and has a sedative effect.
One of the most famous methods is therapeutic electrophoresis, during which the problem areas are affected by electric current together with drugs. The result is dehydration of the area with increased sweating, and the active components penetrate the skin and reduce the production of sweat for up to 20 days.
Folk remedies
Increased sweating of the body is treated at home with decoctions of herbs. Two treatments are popular:
- the first is directed to the normalization of the nervous system by taking decoctions inside;
- the second in the form of compresses that are applied to the area of ​​increased sweating.
For internal use, herbs with a sedative effect are used:
- 2 tbsp. tablespoons lemon balm pour 500 ml of boiling water. Insist and drink 1/4 cup three times a day. Duration of admission is 2 weeks.
- 2 tbsp. tablespoons of a mixture of herbs (mint, sage, chamomile, lemon balm) pour 500 ml of hot water. Insist and drink 1/2 cup at bedtime for 2 weeks.
For the treatment of areas with increased sweating, oak bark has a positive effect. You can buy it at a pharmacy or assemble it yourself. When sweating, oak bark can be used as compresses or lotions.
To prepare the broth boil for a quarter of an hour 2 tbsp. tablespoons of raw materials and 500 ml of water. After cooling, gauze is moistened and applied to the area of ​​increased sweating for half an hour. Processing should be carried out in the morning and in the evening.
When the whole body sweats, use baths with a decoction of oak bark. To prepare the broth, take 100 g of raw materials and a liter of boiling water, insist. A bath is taken every day for a month.
Powder from oak bark is used as a means to reduce sweating. It is pre-crushed in a blender. Powder is effective in the treatment of feet and hands. To do this, it is poured into gloves or socks worn overnight.
An effective tool to combat increased sweating is soda. It has such special properties as the ability to absorb odors and moisture from the surrounding air. Before use, soda, water and a few drops of essential oil are mixed. The mixture is applied at bedtime for 15 minutes daily. After the procedure, rinse with water.
The main ways to reduce sweating
With hyperhidrosis, you need to spend a lot of time on body hygiene:
- swim daily, at least 2 times;
- take a contrast shower;
- shave hair in the armpit area;
- apply antiperspirants, deodorants and special powders;
- use vitamin complexes;
- eat spicy, fried and salty foods, as well as coffee and alcohol in limited quantities.
It is necessary to carefully select clothes and shoes:
- linen should be worn only from natural fabric, especially in the summer;
- purchase only cotton socks with a minimum content of artificial additives;
- shoes are best worn leather, because it lets air in and allows the skin to breathe.
Women need to dress according to the weather to prevent overheating.
Prevention
Prevention of excessive sweating in women is associated with the degree and form of hyperhidrosis. In all cases, a thorough examination and clarification of the exact diagnosis of concomitant diseases is necessary.
Separate prevention methods will help in this:
- Physical activity should be used only if there is a lack of physical activity. This is especially necessary for people who lead a sedentary lifestyle.
- Compliance with proper nutrition. A special diet is not needed, you should reduce the amount of sweet and savory foods consumed. Harmful products are also not recommended for inclusion in food.
- Personal hygiene. It includes daily showering, constant use of antiperspirants and toilet water, daily change of socks and linen, wearing clean clothes and shoes, inclusion of outfits made from natural fabrics in the wardrobe, especially in the summer.
Whatever the cause of excessive sweating, it is necessary to determine exactly what caused it, and begin the correct treatment.
Increased sweating in a woman is an unpleasant condition that gives her a lot of various inconveniences. Be sure to pay attention to this pathology, especially if it appeared unexpectedly. Establishing the exact cause of hyperhidrosis will allow a woman to get rid of him forever. For this, it is possible to use medicinal and physiotherapeutic agents, observing the rules of personal hygiene, proper nutrition and the use of traditional medicine recipes.