Does anyone else have this problem?

[__patiently_waiting]

Hi all,

Ever since I was in elementary school I've had this problem of excessive sweating. Hands, feet, pretty much my whole body sweats. Since the weather has been so hot this summer it has been very hard to control.

I have been to the doctor before and was diagnosed with hyperhidrosis. I was prescribed Drysol a few years back. It worked at first for about 3 weeks. After that it no longer worked and the sweating came back more aggressive than it was before.

I can't help but think about how this could affect me as a nursing student. This problem has held me back from doing so many things (including wearing certain colors), and at this point, I'm not sure what else to do. Has anyone else had or have this problem? If so, I would love advice on how you dealt with it.

Thanks in advance!

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

Go back to your physician. There are new treatments available for primary hyperhidrosis such as targeted Botox, newer medications and on the extreme end surgery to remove sweat glands and/or the nerves that stimulate sweat glands. Treatment differs for secondary hyperhidrosis such as that caused by brain injury/insult or hormonal imbalances/fluctuation.

Here's a link from the American Academy of Dermatologists regarding treatment options:

http://www.aad.org/dermatology-a-to-z/diseases-and-treatments/e---h/hyperhidrosis/hyperhidrosis-diagnosis-and-treatment

[vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN]

I learned about hyperhidrosis while in nursing school and jokingly self diagnosed myself with it. I was over 30 when I learned there's a name for this condition. I just laugh at myself when I leave a sweat mark on a table I touched or in a plastic chair I just got out of.

It didn't affect my work or school success, but I take special care to do the following:

I wear strong, clinical strength deodorant which I reapply in the middle of the day on my long days at school and work.

When I put on gloves, I often use a size or 2 larger in order for my hands not to stick to the gloves so I can actually get them on.

I take special care not to touch pills because my fingers will stick to them.

I rotate my work/school shoes every other day because they are wet at the end of the day and if I wear the same pair for 2 days in a row, the sweat will cause odor.

I put baking soda or powder in my shoes daily after work or school.

I use cushioned socks that are moisture wicking and breathable because if I wear thin socks, within a few hours they'll be soaking wet and my feet will hurt due to having no barrier between my foot and my shoe.

I don't worry about not wearing certain colors. I do try to monitor my anxiety level--tough as a new grad nurse--as that leads to more sweating.

I have been researching less oily Face moisturizers with SPF because I look like I was out exercising after about half a shift at work due to sweat / oiliness. (-; i also recently bought some lighter weight scrub tops hoping I'll feel less hot and sweat less in them.