Since I was 12 years old I have lived with this. What can I do? I'm tired and no family doctor.
21-year-old woman
Excessive sweating on my hands, feet, genitals, buttocks and the whole back of my legs. It stings a lot on my feet and I can't stop scratching so it creates painful scabs. I also often get vaginitis due to the moisture in my genital area.
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David Maurier · a year ago
Hello!
Excessive sweating, or hyperhydrosis, is a natural condition that is quite common in children, adolescents and young adults. However, in about 10% of people, this problem will be the cause of another underlying problem that deserves to be investigated by a doctor.
Here are some things you might like to do to reduce symptoms:
- Washing daily with an antibacterial soap or cleanser
- Washing the affected areas frequently and drying them thoroughly afterwards to prevent the growth of fungus and bacteria
- Wear clean, air-permeable clothing made of natural fibers
- Avoid alcohol, spicy food, tea, coffee and herbal teas
- Avoid consuming large amounts of garlic and onions, as they give a strong odor to the sweat
- Stay well hydrated
In pharmacies, some products could be interesting. First of all, there are more powerful antiperspirants than the traditional ones, such as Drysol or Hydrosal. You could try using them on areas that produce a little more sweat to reduce its production.
For itching and redness, you could try a 0.5% or 1% hydrocortisone cream to be applied twice a day in the morning and evening if necessary on the most problematic areas. You can even ask your pharmacist to prescribe this medication so that the cost can be included in your insurance file!
Unfortunately, there is no miracle drug prescribed for hyerhydrosis. Some medications that have the side effect of reducing the activity of the glands that produce sweat can be tried if a doctor is willing to prescribe them (e.g. oxybutinin, gabapentin). If you don't have a family doctor, you can go to the "Bonjour-Santé" website to find medical clinics in the area that have availability!
Have I answered all your questions?
David Maurier, Pharmacist
21-year-old woman · a year ago
Thank you very much. However, there are certain places like my genitals and my buttocks where I could not possibly use any product. I've also tried drysol and it just gets worse. It's like this 24 hours a day... it's really unbearable.
David Maurier · a year ago
Indeed, there is no real option in pharmacies for genital symptoms. The non-pharmacological measures described above are therefore really to be favoured.
As for Drysol, it contains only aluminum chloride, an antiperspirant that blocks the glands that produce sweat. If it wasn't effective, you could still try Hydrosal, which would theoretically be a little more effective! It contains aluminum chloride but also salycylic acid, an agent that would increase the effectiveness of aluminum chloride.
If the symptoms are very uncomfortable despite the little tips described in my previous message and the use of Hydrosal, you could possibly benefit from a meeting with a doctor. As mentioned, some people with hyperhydrosis have an underlying cause that needs to be investigated.
21-year-old woman · a year ago
Okay, thank you very much for your advice!
David Maurier · a year ago
No problem, have a nice evening!
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