Sweaty Palms

Sweaty palms are a common problem for many people from all walks of life. Excessive sweating of the palms, known as Palmer Hyperhidrosis, can be a particular nuisance and even embarrassing in business and social situations. It lies outside of our conscious control and there is often little we can do to stop it, in fact even worrying about its occurrence can trigger it, leading a vicious cycle for some.

What causes Sweaty Palms?

Hyperhidrosis is abnormally increased sweating, far beyond what is required for efficient regulation of body temperature; it often occurs during stressful situations or times of emotional tension. Hyperhidrosis can happen in the form of generalised sweating or as sweating localised to specific areas of the body, particularly the armpits, hands, feet, buttocks and groin, all areas with a high concentration of sweat glands.

The cause of sweaty palms, and all other forms of hyperhidrosis, is considered to be the over-action of the sympathetic nervous system (the part of our nervous system that governs the fight-or-flight response).

Sweaty palms can occur when we least want them to. Having no control over the situation is what can make the situation so unbearable. Apart from the obvious physical discomfort, the condition also has negative connotations attached to it. We are all familiar with the image of the nervous crook sitting in the corner, wringing his hands. Because of this, we have come to associate sweating with distrust. It is this fact that sweating palms are linked with lying, that some of us, particularly business men are keen to avoid the dreaded sweaty handshake.

Treatments for Sweaty Palms

There is no complete cure sweating of the palms but the are many products available that can help treat the condition.

A 10%-20% aluminium chloride antiperspirant is a great place to start. Aluminium chloride is present in most standard antiperspirants, but products such as Driclor, Anyhrol Forte, Perspirex and Odaban contain it at much higher levels, making them much more effective at treating excessive sweating. Driclor, Anhydrol Forte and Persirex are all roll-on antiperspirants, which makes them ideal for covering the palms, but they might prove difficult to apply if the problem lies between your fingers. If this is the case, Odaban Antiperspirant Pump Spray might be more suited to your needs, as this can be sprayed over the palm and between the fingers. Perspirex also make a handy antiperspirant hand and foot lotion that is easy to apply to all necessary areas. Neat make a similar cream that is a dual-action antiperspirant and emollient. Called Neat 3B Action Cream, it will also help protect against sweat rash and chafing.