If you live with hyperhidrosis, a condition that causes excessive sweating, you’ll know that managing it can be a daily challenge. And when temperatures start to rise, those challenges often increase. For many people with hyperhidrosis, summer isn’t a time for sleeveless tops and sunny walks; it’s a season of discomfort, anxiety, and constantly changing clothes. But why does hot weather exacerbate hyperhidrosis?
Let’s take a closer look at what’s going on in your body and what you can do to cope during the warmer months.
Understanding Hyperhidrosis
Hyperhidrosis is more than just excessive sweating; it’s a medical condition that causes excessive sweating even when the body doesn’t require cooling. It can affect specific areas, such as the hands, feet, underarms, face, or groin, or it can be more generalised.
There are two main types of hyperhidrosis:
- Primary hyperhidrosis: starts in childhood or adolescence and tends to affect specific areas like the hands or armpits.
- Secondary hyperhidrosis: is caused by an underlying medical condition or a side effect of medication and usually results in sweating all over the body.
Either way, the sweating can be disruptive, embarrassing, and isolating, and it can feel significantly worse when it’s hot outside.
Why Heat Makes Sweating Even More Intense
Our bodies are designed to sweat when we need to cool down; it’s a natural part of our temperature regulation system. When it’s hot outside, everyone sweats more.
But for those with hyperhidrosis, the system is already overactive, so heat becomes a trigger that adds to the problem.
Here are some of the key reasons hot weather can make hyperhidrosis worse:
1. Increased Body Temperature
Heat naturally raises your body temperature, and your sweat glands respond by working overtime to try to bring it back down. If you have hyperhidrosis, your sweat glands are already hyperactive, and the added stimulus of hot weather can trigger them to overproduce sweat.
2. Humidity and Airflow
Sweat is supposed to evaporate off the skin to cool us down. But in humid conditions, evaporation is slower. This means you feel hotter for longer, which prompts your body to sweat even more. Lack of airflow or tight clothing in hot weather can also trap sweat, contributing to overheating and more perspiration.
3. Anxiety and Anticipation
Many people with hyperhidrosis feel anxious about sweating in public. Unfortunately, anxiety itself can trigger sweating. In hot weather, the worry about visible sweat patches or body odour can create a cycle of stress that leads to more sweating – even before you’ve stepped outside.
4. Dehydration and Salt Loss
Sweating excessively, especially in the heat, can lead to dehydration and a loss of electrolytes like sodium. This doesn’t directly make hyperhidrosis worse, but it can make you feel more fatigued, dizzy, or unwell, especially if you’re trying to stay active despite the heat.
How to Manage Hyperhidrosis in Hot Weather
While you may not be able to control the weather, there are practical steps you can take to reduce discomfort and stay more confident:
- Wear breathable, loose-fitting clothing: Natural fibres like cotton or linen can help wick moisture and promote airflow.
- Choose specialist antiperspirants: High-strength antiperspirants can help block sweat ducts and reduce wetness, even in warmer temperatures.
- Try iontophoresis: This is a non-invasive treatment that uses electrical currents to reduce excessive sweating, particularly effective for hands and feet.
- Stay cool: Use cooling towels, fans, or water sprays when you’re out and about, and seek shade or air-conditioned spaces where possible.
- Talk to your doctor: If sweating is significantly affecting your quality of life, there may be prescription treatments or other therapies that can help.
You’re Not Alone
Most people love the idea of a warm summer’s day, but for people with hyperhidrosis, the reality can be very different. If you find yourself avoiding social events, changing clothes multiple times a day, or feeling overwhelmed by the heat, know that you're not alone.
At SweatHelp, we’re here to support you with information, practical advice, and specialist products designed to help you manage hyperhidrosis every day, not just in summer.
You’re not alone, SweatHelp is here for you.
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