Sweating is something we expect to deal with in the summer heat, especially in Atlanta. But for some, unwanted sweating doesn’t stop when the weather cools down, and it isn’t limited to workouts either. If you struggle with unwanted or excessive sweating all year long, you might be surprised to learn that there are solutions out there.

At Dermatology Associates of Atlanta, our skin care specialists frequently help patients who are frustrated by daily sweat on their hands, feet, underarms, or other areas. Today, we’re here to help you understand more about this common problem and how you may be able to put it in the past.

Excessive Sweating and Hyperhidrosis

Normally, sweat has a very clear purpose for your body. When your body gets warm, generally because of hot weather or physical exertion, you sweat because when the air evaporates this sweat, it cools you down. Your nervous system triggers your sweat glands to release sweat when those temperature increases happen.

In some people, though, the nerves that trigger your sweat glands may be overactive and lead your body to sweat when you aren’t warm or you aren’t exercising. If this is happening, you may have a condition called hyperhidrosis. While hyperhidrosis isn’t medically dangerous, it can be a burden because it may cause embarrassment and physical discomfort along with stains on your clothing.

What Causes Excessive Sweating?

There is no known cause for hyperhidrosis or excessive sweating – we know that the nerves are over-actively triggering sweat, but we don’t know why. It does tend to run in families, though, and this suggests that there may be a genetic component.

It’s important to note that sometimes, excessive sweating can be caused by an underlying health issue too. Conditions like diabetes, thyroid conditions, certain nervous system disorders, and other medical issues can cause excessive sweating.

What Can You Do About Excessive Sweating?

If you struggle with excessive sweating, the first step is to get to the bottom of why it’s happening and make sure that it isn’t a sign of a medical condition. Schedule a dermatology appointment to discuss your excessive sweating, rule out underlying medical conditions, and determine if it is merely caused by overactive nerves. If there is a health problem causing your sweating, treating that condition may be able to relieve or reduce your excessive sweating.

If your sweating doesn’t have an underlying medical cause, there are treatments available to directly treat your unwanted sweating. Our board-certified dermatologists and physician assistants may prescribe medical-strength antiperspirants as an option, for example. We may also use Botox® injections to temporarily block the overactive nerve signals that are activating your sweat glands.

For a more long-term solution, we also offer miraDry® nonsurgical sweat reduction. MiraDry® is an FDA-approved, non-invasive technology that uses thermal energy to destroy the sweat glands in your underarms. Your body will still be able to sweat elsewhere, so you’ll still have the cooling abilities your body needs, but you will enjoy approximately 80% sweat reduction in your underarms. Best of all, the results are lifelong because the sweat glands do not regenerate.

Getting Help for Your Excessive Sweating

Excessive sweating is a frustrating issue, and while it usually doesn’t have serious medical implications, it’s enough of a problem to make anyone self-conscious, especially when they can’t excuse their sweating with the weather. To get to the bottom of your excessive sweating, call Dermatology Associates of Atlanta to schedule an appointment today. Follow us as well on Facebook and Instagram for more skin health tips.