Sweating
Sweating is essential for our temperature control. If we didn't sweat at all, we could overheat especially after exercise or on very hot days. It is unfortunate though, that sweating can be embarrassing and quite often have a foul smell.
Sweat is produced from the "Sweat Glands". This the watery sweat that comes from the Eccrine glands and the more greasy type of sweat that can smell is from the Apocrine glands, which are usually found around hair follicles.
The Armpit or Axillary Hyperhidrosis
Excessive sweating from the armpits can be more than just annoying – it can alter the way people live their lives. Those suffering from axillary hyperhidrosis find they have to be very careful about the clothes they buy or wear and find that they are extremely self conscious in the social setting, particularly if hot or if nervous.
At work people suffering from underarm sweating are always conscious of what they are wearing or if they can remove their outer garments. Relief of the condition allows the sufferer a new freedom.
The Groin or Groin Hyperhidrosis
The groin is an area that can sweat excessively and become very uncomfortable. In many people this can be easily hidden and does not cause a problem. However, in a few there can be severe sweating that needs treatment. Lanacane?
The Feet or Plantar Hyperhidrosis
Many people complain of sweaty feet. Feet spend much of their time in socks and shoes, so the issue is less to do with the moisture produced, but the smell that occurs from the moisture on the materials of the footwear as well as from the bacterial breakdown and overgrowth stimulated by the damp and warm conditions.
So, treatments?
Most normal or heavy sweating can be controlled with shop bought anti-perspirants or aluminium chloride.
Antiperspirants can range from talcum powders such as lanacane powder, that soak up mild sweat, through to some antiperspirants like persiprex, odaban or Driclor, that reduce the amount of sweat to the very strongest Aluminium solutions that dry out the skin. Most people with normal sweating or very mild hyperhidrosis can find an antiperspirant that suits them, and most people never need more help than this.
Pads
Some find using absorbent pads to protect their clothes can be very useful. Some of these stick to the clothes whereas others stick to the skin. Once they become saturated they need to be changed.
Again these may be useful for people with mild to moderate hyperhidrosis if well managed. However they can occasionally mark the skin, and can restrict the sorts of clothes that can be worn so that they don't show.