Armpit › Sweating and hyperhidrosis
Sweating and hyperhidrosis
Everyone sweats, but hyperhidrosis means sweating much more than the body needs to cool down. It is common, harmless to health in itself, and treatable.
Not medical advice. This page is general information based on the NHS.
What is hyperhidrosis?
Hyperhidrosis is the medical name for excessive sweating. The NHS says it can happen for no obvious reason, can come from another health condition, or can be a side effect of medicine. It can affect the armpits, hands, feet or whole body. Armpit sweating is one of the most common forms.
Primary and secondary
Why it happens
Often there is no clear cause. If it comes with other symptoms, or starts after you began a new medicine, tell your doctor, because treating the underlying cause or changing the medicine may help. Whatever the cause, the treatments below can still be used.
Signs it may be more than normal
- Sweat soaks through clothing regularly
- You change clothes often or avoid certain colours
- It affects work, relationships or confidence
- Skin is sore from constant moisture
Self-help
- Use a stronger antiperspirant rather than a deodorant. The NHS says a pharmacist can supply these without prescription. See the difference.
- Wear loose-fitting clothes, and avoid tight clothing and synthetic fabrics, which the NHS lists as things to avoid.
- The NHS also suggests cutting down on alcohol and spicy food.
- Armpit shields (absorbent pads) are available from pharmacists.
Treatments the NHS lists
The NHS says a pharmacist can supply stronger antiperspirants and armpit shields. If no cause is found and these do not help, a specialist (dermatologist) may suggest:
- Tablets that reduce sweating
- A cream applied to the skin
- Iontophoresis: treating the area with a weak electric current passed through water or a wet pad
- Botox injections for armpit sweating (the NHS notes this may not be available on the NHS)
- Surgery, such as removal of the sweat glands
Each has benefits and side effects, which your doctor can explain.
Skin care for sweaty armpits
Constant dampness can cause irritation, fungal infection or intertrigo; see skin conditions. Heavy sweating can also make body odour worse.
Seeing the GP
The NHS advises seeing a GP if self-care is not helping, the sweating has lasted at least 6 months, it interferes with daily activities, it happens at least once a week or at night, you have a family history of excessive sweating, or you take medicine for another condition. Note when it started, where it happens, what you have tried and what medicines you take.
Living with it day to day
Carry a spare top, choose darker or patterned fabrics that hide marks, and wear an absorbent layer next to the skin. Plan antiperspirant use ahead of important occasions. Talk to your pharmacist about armpit shields, and to your GP if the sweating is affecting your confidence or mood.
Why the skin needs care
Constant dampness can irritate the skin, so dry thoroughly after washing. See skin conditions if you notice a persistent rash. Heavy sweating can also make body odour worse, and the NHS lists a sudden increase in sweating as a reason to see a GP about odour.
Frequently asked questions
What causes excessive underarm sweating?
The NHS says it can happen for no obvious reason, can be caused by another condition, or can be a side effect of a medicine.
What treatments are there?
Stronger antiperspirants from a pharmacist, and for some people tablets, creams, iontophoresis, Botox or surgery from a specialist, according to the NHS.
Should I worry about night sweats?
The NHS lists sweating at night as a reason to see a GP.