Niva Pharmacy Logo
We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience. By clicking 'I Understand and Accept', you consent to our use of cookies.
I understand and accept
No, I don't want to use cookies
My Account
Control Panel
An example toast message
Do Something
Login
en
en
niva pharmacy logo
Menu
en
en
Change Language
Login
My Account
Control Panel
Pharmacy First
Services
Our Store
Care Homes
Health Advice
Order
Nominate Us
Log Out
Login
Login
en
en
Do Something
Login
en
en
niva pharmacy logo
Menu
en
en
Change Language
Login
My Account
Control Panel
Pharmacy First
Services
Our Store
Care Homes
Health Advice
Order
Nominate Us
Log Out
Login
Login
en
en
Excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis)

Excessive sweating is common and can affect the whole body or just certain areas. Sometimes it gets better with age but there are things you can do and treatments that can help.

What is excessive sweating?

It's normal to sweat if you get hot or do exercise, but you may be sweating excessively if you're sweating when your body does not need to cool down.

Excessive sweating can happen for no obvious reason, because of another condition you may have, or as a side effect of a medicine you're taking.

Things you can do to help with excessive sweating

Do

  • wear loose-fitting clothes to minimise signs of sweating

  • wear socks that absorb moisture and change your socks at least twice a day if possible

  • wear leather shoes and try to wear different shoes day to day

Don't

  • do not wear tight clothes or synthetic fabrics – for example, nylon

  • do not wear enclosed boots or sports shoes that may cause your feet to sweat more

  • do not do things that might make your sweating worse – for example, drinking alcohol or eating spicy food

A pharmacist can help with excessive sweating

You can see a pharmacist about excessive sweating. You can buy things without a prescription, such as:

  • stronger antiperspirants instead of deodorant
  • armpit or sweat shields to protect your clothing
  • foot powders for sweaty feet
  • soap substitutes that are more gentle on your skin

See a GP if you're sweating excessively and:

  • things you can do yourself are not helping
  • it's lasted for at least 6 months
  • it stops you from getting on with your daily activities
  • it happens at least once a week
  • it happens at night (you're having night sweats)
  • you have a family history of excessive sweating
  • you're taking medicine for another condition

The GP may refer you for tests if they think another condition may be causing your sweating.

Treating severe excessive sweating

If there's no obvious cause for your sweating, and nothing seems to be helping, then you may be referred to a specialist (dermatologist).

They may recommend other treatments that you can try, such as:

  • taking tablets that reduce sweating
  • treating the areas with a weak electric current passed through water or on a wet pad (iontophoresis)
  • having botox injections for sweating under the armpits (this may not be available on the NHS)
  • surgery – for example, removal of the sweat glands

If your sweating is caused by another condition, any treatment you may need will depend on what's causing it.

More information

Last Reviewed
23 November 2023
NHS websiteNHS website
niva pharmacy logo
Niva Pharmacy in Leicester offers a wide range of prescription and over-the-counter medications, as well as health and beauty products
Pharmacy GPHC Number: 1034164
Pharmacy Superintendent: Varsha Karia
GPHC Number: 2029788
Do Something
Do Something
Menu
Pharmacy First
All Pharmacy First Services
Earache
Impetigo
Insect Bite
Shingles
Sinusitis
Sore Throat
Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)
Pharmacy Services
Order Prescriptions
Care Homes
Health Advice
Opening Hours
Store Hours Unavailable
No store selected for opening hours
Loading Open Hours...
Niva Pharmacy © 2024
Privacy Policy