Do you sweat more than usual when you’re feeling nervous? If so, you may have a condition known as “hyperhidrosis,” and a number of treatments can help.
Sweat is a fact of life, but some people sweat more than others. This condition, which is known as hyperhidrosis, affects roughly 3% of people in the United States.
In some cases, hyperhidrosis stems from an anxiety disorder. By taking steps to manage your anxiety and your sweating issues, you can reduce your average sweat level and live a happier life.
How Anxiety, Stress, Sweat, and Hyperhidrosis Are Linked
The culprit behind anxiety-related sweating is your sympathetic nervous system. When you encounter a (real or perceived) threat, this system is responsible for triggering the fight-flight-freeze response.
If you fought or ran from a given threat, you would have to expend energy, raising your body temperature in the process. However, overheating would interfere with your ability to continue fighting or escaping. Because of that, your body’s sweat glands activate, producing sweat and keeping you cool.
Of course, just about everyone feels anxiety on occasion. However, people managing generalized anxiety disorder or another anxiety-related condition can be on near-constant watch for the signs of danger. That means these people may find themselves sweating more regularly than people without anxiety issues.
Sweating and Social Anxiety: What You Need to Know
In addition to people who have generalized anxiety disorder, hyperhidrosis is commonly seen in people with social anxiety disorder. According to the International Hyperhidrosis Society, up to 32% of all people with social anxiety deal are connected with hyperhidrosis.
People with a social phobia feel extremely nervous or stress about potential negative judgment or embarrassment. Because of that, they can be hesitant to speak in public, meet new people, or join groups.
As is the case with generalized anxiety, these fears can result in excessive sweating. Additionally, people who have social anxiety disorder may notice anxiety symptoms such as:
- Blushing (especially around your face)
- Lightheadedness
- Clammy hands
Anxiety sweat - Shortness of breath
- Head pain
- Trembling
- Nausea
It’s also worth remembering that sweating can cause negative feelings that closely resemble social anxiety. If you have a sweating problem, you may feel anxious or stress about people noticing and you may feel motivated to avoid social events as a result. In that case, taking steps to control your anxiety-induced hyperhidrosis should make it easier to socialize.
Hyperhidrosis and Other Forms of Anxiety
Generalized and social anxiety aren’t the only types of anxiety associated with sweating. Evidence also suggests that increased sweating can be seen in other anxiety disorders, including panic disorder and phobias.
People with panic disorder tend to sweat more than average (even in non-stressful situations). Meanwhile, people with phobias typically sweat more when facing the object or situation they fear.
Tips on Treating Anxiety-Related Sweating
There are two basic ways to treat hyperhidrosis tied to anxiety issues:
1. Controlling Sweating
If you’re living with hyperhidrosis, the thought of mentioning your sweating problems to a medical professional may be uncomfortable, especially if you have anxiety related to this topic. But since effective treatment can make it easier to manage this situation, it’s in your best interest to ask for support.
Depending on your circumstances, you may benefit from hyperhidrosis treatment options such as:
- Antiperspirants containing aluminum salts. Is your current antiperspirant struggling to control your sweating? If so, looking for an antiperspirant with a 10 to 20 percent higher concentration of aluminum chloride can help. If over-the-counter options aren’t getting the job done, a doctor or clinician can prescribe a stronger antiperspirant (though even this won’t deliver truly long-term sweat reduction).
- Topical/oral anticholinergics. These medications can block some cell signals, including those prompting glands to produce sweat. With that in mind, your healthcare professional could prescribe topical glycopyrrolate or oral oxybutynin as an off-label sweating treatment.
- Lontophoresis. When you go through this procedure, you’ll hold your hands, feet, and underarms underwater and get weak currents of electricity delivered to these body parts for up to 40 minutes. This process is believed to block sweat glands, but its effects are temporary.
- Botulinum toxin (Botox) injections. Botox is similar to anticholinergics in that it reduces sweating by blocking the release of acetylcholine. This treatment’s effects can last for up to two years.
2. Reducing Anxiety
While the treatments listed above can help you get your sweating (hyperhidrosis) under control, it’s equally important to address the true cause of this issue. For many people, that means taking steps to manage their anxiety problems.
Some steps you can use to reduce anxiety (and anxiety-related sweating) include:
- Utilizing relaxation techniques. If you start to feel nervous, relaxation techniques can help you manage your fears before they spiral out of control. Methods like deep breathing, guided imagery, and progressive muscle relaxation can all be helpful in situations like these.
- Staying cool. Anxious sweating isn’t caused by heat, but warmth can definitely make it worse. Consider taking precautions like dressing in layers, bringing a cold drink with you, and staying close to doors and windows.
- Finding the right antiperspirant. Is the fear of sweating a trigger for your anxiety? Regularly using an antiperspirant (and upgrading to a stronger brand if your current antiperspirant isn’t delivering results) might be enough to put your mind at ease.
- Distracting yourself. For the most part, focusing on your fears will only make them worse. Instead, try to focus on a positive distraction like music, a good book, or a short walk.
- Seeking professional support (if you need it). Sometimes, these steps won’t be enough to manage your anxiety. If this condition is seriously affecting your daily routine, ability to go to school/work, or overall mental health, it may be time to consider therapy or medication and management.
Get Help Controlling Your Hyperhidrosis
While the treatments described in this article can be beneficial, they aren’t the only steps you can or should take to reduce anxiety-related sweating. At Metropolitan Vein and Aesthetic Center, we offer a highly effective, FDA-approved hyperhidrosis treatment known as MiraDry®.
When you get this non-surgical hyperhidrosis treatment, we’ll use thermal energy to shut down osweat glands in your underarms permanently.
Along with that, patients at our clinic can counter excessive sweating and hyperhidrosis with the help of Botox injections. If you’re interested in either one of these services, contact us today!
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