By Kristie Leong M.D.
Have you ever been afraid to shake someone's hand? Do you clasp your hands behind your back to hide your sweaty palms? Excessively sweaty palms are no laughing matter. Fortunately, there are ways to treat sweaty palms so you can enjoy shaking someone's hand or holding the hand of a loved one again. Here are some ways to control sweaty palms.
Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Step 1 - Try the Simplest Solution First.
A simple cure for sweaty palms that works well for some people is to use powder or cornstarch to soak up the excessive perspiration that ends up on their hands. The only problem with this technique is you need to keep reapplying it to prevent breakthrough sweating. If you have a mild problem with hyperhydrosis and don't mind carrying talcum powder or cornstarch with you, carry a container of it with you for a week and see if it keeps the problem under control. Be sure to apply the powder over your entire hand and between the fingers.
Step 2 - Use Antiperspirant.
Antiperspirant works well for underarm sweating and can also work for excessively sweaty palms. The key is to use an aluminum chlorohydrate based antiperspirant, not a deodorant. Antiperspirant may not be enough to control the symptoms if you have a severe case but this treatment is worth trying.
Step 3 - Learn to Control Stress Levels.
Learning to control stress can be an effective and natural way to reduce the incidence of sweaty palms. There are a variety of ways to do this including meditation, biofeedback, and yoga. In some people, acupuncture has also been shown to be an effective alternative treatment for excessively sweaty palms. In certain cases a prescription anti-anxiety medication taken at a low dose can successfully reduce the frequency and severity of palm sweating.
Step 4 - Rule Out Medical Reasons for Excessively Sweaty Palms.
Certain medical problems such as an overactive thyroid or an underlying infection can cause excessive sweating and should be ruled out particularly if the symptoms are of recent onset. Check with your doctor and get the appropriate blood tests run to rule out correctable medical causes for why your palms might sweat.
Step 5 - Ask Your Doctor about Prescription Medications.
There are two primary classes of prescription medications that may help in severe cases of hyperhydrosis. These are the beta blocker medications which are also used to treat hypertension and anti-cholinergics which are medications that affect the nerve supply to the palms. Both of these groups of medications have significant side effects meaning they should only be used in cases that don't respond to other measures. Ask your doctor if you are a candidate for one of these treatments.
Step 6 - If All Else Fails...
There are more extreme treatments for excessively sweaty palms that don't respond to the use of more conservative measures. These include use of botox injections, iontophoresis which involves using electrical current to block the function of the sweat glands in the palms, and, as a last resort, surgery. These are all treatments you should discuss with your doctor if you can't get relief through other means.
Recommended Read
If you'd like to learn more on how to stop sweating naturally, you might like this ebook titled 'Stop Sweating & Start Living'. This ebook is written by Mike Ramsey, an ex-sufferer of excessive sweating. He explains his experience on excessive sweating & how he found the cure naturally without wasting money on surgery. Mike also explains the step by step guide on how to stop excessive sweating naturally in less than 2 weeks. To learn more, visit www.preventsweating.com
