Why do I keep sweating?

Sweating is actually a reflection of the body's self-regulation in our lives. When the body feels particularly hot, it will cool down by sweating. At the same time, sweating can also expel toxins from the body. But the same principle still applies, everything has two sides. If the body sweats too much, which is not normal at all, it may mean that there is something wrong with the body. So why do you keep sweating?

The human body's sweat glands are secretory glands distributed in the dermis of the skin, with a long duct that directs the secretions (sweat) to the surface of the skin. Sweat glands are distributed on most of our body's epidermis, especially in the armpits, soles of feet, palms, and forehead.

Generally, healthy people will increase the secretion of sweat glands when exercising or encountering high temperatures. This is a physiological function to lower the rising body temperature. Therefore, obese people tend to sweat more than thin people. This is not because the former have a larger body surface area, but because obese people have a higher body weight and their body temperature is easily raised. In order to lower the high body temperature, they must regulate it by sweating more.

In addition to the above reasons, if someone sweats a lot when he or she does not sweat normally, it may be that there is a problem with the sweat glands. Localized excessive sweating may be caused by sympathetic nerve damage or abnormal reaction, which increases the secretion of choline acetate and causes the eccrine to secrete excessive sweat. Systemic hyperhidrosis can be an abnormal physiological reaction, or a symptom caused by certain diseases such as hyperthyroidism, diabetes and other endocrine diseases. It may also be caused by high blood pressure, menopause and the effects of adrenocortical hormones.

In addition, taking cold medicine to reduce fever and shock may also cause excessive sweating. When the brain is anemic, the blood flow in the brain is obstructed, the body temperature regulation center is stimulated, and sweating occurs excessively. Young children are also more likely to sweat due to their body shape.

Hyperhidrosis due to mental depression

Another type of hyperhidrosis is called localized hyperhidrosis, where the soles of the feet, armpits, forehead, and tip of the nose sweat easily. For example, your palms sweat when you are on an airplane or driving, and sweat pours down your face when you are speaking in public. This usually occurs when you are under mental stress or are overly moved.

In addition, there are also cases of unilateral sweating in the body. For patients with hemiplegia, the unconscious side will sweat excessively. And those with trauma, swelling, and inflammation of the cranial nervous system will also suffer from unilateral hyperhidrosis due to stimulation of the sympathetic nerves.

There are two types of hyperhidrosis: systemic and localized. People with systemic hyperhidrosis often have moist skin and experience paroxysmal sweating. Localized hyperhidrosis is common in the palms, soles, armpits, followed by the tip of the nose, forehead, pubic area, etc. It usually occurs in adolescence. Patients often have peripheral blood circulation dysfunction, such as cold, wet, cyanotic or pale skin of the hands and feet, and susceptibility to frostbite. Excessive sweating of the feet causes the soles of the feet to become soaked and white due to poor evaporation of sweat, often accompanied by foot odor. When the armpits and pubic areas are sweaty, the skin in these areas is thin and tender, and is often damp and rubbed, which can easily lead to abrasions and erythema, accompanied by folliculitis, furunculosis, etc.

1. Be nervous and avoid being nervous and emotionally excited. For mental and emotional problems, you can take oral medications such as oryzanol, bromide, and diazepam.

2. Anticholine drugs such as atropine, belladonna, propantheline, etc. taken orally have temporary effects. When the dose reaches the level that reduces sweat secretion, the patient will experience obvious side effects such as dry mouth, skin flushing, and palpitations.

3. For topical astringent drugs, you can apply 10% glutaraldehyde solution or 2%-4% formaldehyde solution. People with excessive sweating in the armpits can apply 20% aluminum chloride ethanol solution externally. The armpits should be wiped dry before use. Apply it externally every night before going to bed for 7 consecutive days. Patients with palmoplantar hyperhidrosis can also soak in 5% alum solution or compound copper sulfate solution; those with plantar hyperhidrosis should change socks frequently and wear shoes that are breathable and absorbent.

4. Iontophoresis therapy: Iontophoresis therapy using tap water and direct current is suitable for hyperhidrosis.

In addition to the above methods, current treatments for hyperhidrosis mostly target the sympathetic nervous system, such as surgery to ligate the sympathetic nerves and eliminate the sympathetic nerves' regulatory function on sweat glands, in order to achieve the effect of reducing sweating.