Are you sweating? Facial sweating

Let’s start with a little biology review…

Why do we sweat?

By producing sweat, the body regulates its temperature and protects itself from overheating.

Sweat glands are divided into apocrine and eccrine . We describe them in more detail here , but let me just remind you that eccrine glands are present on the entire surface of the body and take an active part in the thermoregulation of the system. Apocrine glands are located in the armpits and genitals, and their secretion is responsible for the unpleasant smell of sweat.

What is hyperhidrosis?

Hyperhidrosis is extremely profuse sweating that exceeds the body's physiological needs.

Remember: we are talking about increased sweating . It is completely normal for sweat to run down your temples during physical exertion or just on a hot summer day. The problem is when the sweating is exceptionally profuse and worries you .

Excessive sweating is classified based on its distribution: systemic (when it affects the entire body) or focal (when it affects a selected part of the body). Additionally, we talk about primary hyperhidrosis (not resulting from any anomaly in the body, and therefore - of undefined origin) and secondary (being a consequence of a specific ailment or medication).

Excessive sweating on the face

Hyperhidrosis can also affect the face, as it has a large number of sweat glands on its surface.

Excessive sweating of the face (craniosacral hyperhidrosis) may result from an overactive sympathetic nervous system .

The sympathetic nervous system (also called the sympathetic system) stimulates the body to mobilize, or respond appropriately to a potential "threat." It determines the feeling of stress, and consequently - the accompanying acceleration of the heart rate , dilated pupils , or increased sweating .

The center in the brain that controls thermoregulation is the hypothalamus . Impulses are sent from it, which reach the eccrine glands via the ganglia of the sympathetic system. The secretion of sweat is determined by acetylcholine, which is a neurotransmitter of information.

What can cause facial sweating?

Excessive facial sweating may be associated with, among other things:

• the period of puberty,
• menopause ,
• mental disorders (anxiety, stress),
• diabetes,
• hyperthyroidism.

What increases sweating?

• High air humidity and high temperature ,
• severe stress ,
• feeling strong emotions such as fear, anxiety or anxiety,
• improper diet (intense, hot spices, sweets, fast food).

How to deal with excessive sweating?

The key to treating hyperhidrosis is to properly identify the underlying cause of the problem .

First of all, seek the opinion of a doctor . He will help you accurately define the cause, propose optimal treatment and advise how to deal with this problem on a daily basis.

In the treatment of hyperhidrosis, oral pharmacotherapy with the use of cholinolytics is used . They block the neurotransmission of acetylcholine. Preparations containing aluminum chloride are also used locally .

Some people struggling with excessive sweating decide to undergo specialist treatments , such as botulinum toxin injections (aka popular Botox). Botulinum toxin blocks the functions of the sweat glands, and the effect lasts on average from 6 to 12 months.

In addition, although it is most often a last resort, an endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy is performed – usually in the case of hyperhidrosis of the hands and armpits, but also of the face. What does it involve?

Two tubes are inserted into the patient's pleural cavity, which emit carbon dioxide - thanks to this, the sympathetic nerve can be isolated and clipped, which blocks the transmission of impulses to the sweat glands. At the moment, however, this is not a popular solution for craniosacral hyperhidrosis, but further studies are being conducted on this topic.

Home remedies for sweating?

Practices that can help you fight excessive sweating on your face on a daily basis include:

• drinking the right amount of water every day – optimal hydration is crucial for the functioning of the entire body;
• limiting intense, hot spices in your diet – cinnamon, chilli or ginger increase sweat secretion!

And most importantly: I know that this may be embarrassing or even embarrassing for you. However, remember that the problem of excessive sweating does not define you in any way. And with the right support, it can become just a memory!