Whether it’s hot flushes or clammy chills, we explain all things sweating & share some foolproof ways for staying dry
Ever find yourself sweating like a marathon runner in a sauna? Turns out you’re not alone.
Sweating, also called perspiration, is a normal bodily function – something you’ll notice more when you get hot or exercise. But if you’re wondering how much is too much, don’t sweat it because we discuss all you need to know about excessive sweating and how to cool things down.
What is sweat & why do we do it?
Sweating is a natural process that helps regulate your body temperature, like cooling you down on a hot day so you don’t overheat. It’s a fluid that mainly consists of water and minerals and is produced in your sweat glands (found over most of the body), with higher concentrations in areas like your palms, soles of your feet, armpits and groin. They’re responsible for temperature regulation and keeping the skin moist and supple.
Sometimes when you exercise, eat spicy foods, are feeling stressed or if you have certain medical conditions, you may notice sweating more. But if you feel like you’re sweating excessively, read on as we cover this next.
What is excessive sweating?
Feeling the heat? Excessive sweating, also known as hyperhidrosis, is a common condition that causes a person to sweat more than what’s normal for them. It can either affect the whole body or certain areas, including the:
- Armpits
- Palms
- Soles of your feet
- Face
- Chest
- Groin
While there isn’t anything out there to determine what ‘normal’ sweating is, if you feel you’re experiencing increased sweating and it’s affecting your daily life, you may have hyperhidrosis.
Common things some people may avoid or find more difficult because of excessive sweating could include:
- Physical contact, such as shaking hands with someone
- Exercising for fear of sweating too much
- Everyday activities, like driving or holding certain objects
You may also find that you’re frequently showering and changing your clothes. If this is the case and it’s impacting your daily life and mental wellbeing, speak to your GP for advice and support.
What causes excessive sweating?
There are two types of excessive sweating, primary and secondary. Primary hyperhidrosis is when excessive sweating happens for no obvious reason, and it tends to affect localised areas (like the palms and armpits). Secondary hyperhidrosis is caused by certain life stages, emotional states, an underlying medical condition or a side effect of a medicine you may be taking.
Things that can cause secondary hyperhidrosis include:
- Hot flushes during pregnancy or menopause
- Feelings of anxiousness
- Certain infections
- Low blood sugar
- An overactive thyroid
If you’re worried about excessive sweating and it’s affecting your daily life, is persistent or you’re suddenly experiencing night sweats, speak to your GP.
Why do I sweat in my sleep?
It’s not uncommon to sweat a little bit during the night, especially if the room or your bedding is making you too hot. However, if you sweat so much that your nightwear and bedding are soaking wet, despite where you’re sleeping being cool, these are what’s known as night sweats.
They can affect both adults and children, and can be caused by a number of things, including:
- Menopause (hot flushes)
- Feelings of anxiousness
- Some infections like the flu
- Certain medicines like some antidepressants, steroids and painkillers
- Diabetes, as this can cause low blood sugar
- Alcohol or recreational drug use
It’s important to make an appointment with your GP if you have:
- Regular night sweats that wake you up
- Night time sweats as well as a high temperature (above 37°C), a cough or diarrhoea
- Night time sweats and you’re losing weight for no reason
What about cold sweats?
While sweating and feeling hot are associated with the likes of exercise, eating spicy foods and the menopause, cold sweats happen when you feel a chill while sweating excessively, regardless of how hot or cold your surroundings are.
Typically, you’ll experience cold sweats on your palms, armpits and soles of your feet, as opposed to your whole body.
Cold sweats can be caused by a number of things, but they’re often associated with your body’s ‘fight or flight’ response which is when your body feels the need to prepare for sudden or unexpected dangers.
You may have experienced cold sweats if:
- You’re feeling stressed or are experiencing feelings of anxiousness
- You have certain infections with a high fever, such as the flu
- You have a migraine
- You have low blood pressure or low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia)
- You’re feeling nauseous
- You feel you’re about to faint
- You have intense pain from an injury, like when you break a bone
If you notice anything unusual or you’re concerned about cold sweats, speak to your GP.
How to stop the sweat: Tips for managing excessive sweating
If you find you’re sweating a lot and want to take back control, fear not as we’ve got a few tips and tricks to help.
Do
- Use strong antiperspirants (these are different to deodorants as antiperspirants protect against both sweat and odour)
- Consider sweat shields for your underarms and feet
- Wear loose-fitting, breathable clothing
- Choose moisture-absorbing materials for socks, such as cotton
- Change your socks at least twice a day
- Stay hydrated to replace the fluids lost, as well as helping to regulate your body temperature
Don't
- Wear tight clothing or synthetic fabrics that will make you sweat more, like nylon
- Wear enclosed boots or shoes that can make your feet sweat more
- Do things that may make you sweat more, such as eating spicy foods and drinking alcohol
- Wear colours that show sweat more, like grey
- Skip regular showering – do this as often as you feel you need to
- Wear the same socks and shoes for too long or too often
Fun fact: Sweat doesn’t actually smell! The unpleasant body odour associated with sweat is actually caused by other factors such as sweat being broken down by bacteria on your body.
When to see a GP
If you’re concerned about your sweating, you can see a pharmacist who may be able to advise you on how to manage it. They may also recommend trying products that can be bought over-the-counter like:
- Stronger antiperspirants instead of deodorants
- Armpit or sweat shields to help protect your clothing
- Foot powders for sweaty feet
- Soap substitutes that are gentler on skin
Make an appointment with your GP if these methods, as well as our tips above, aren’t working and:
- Your sweating is persistent
- Your sweating stops you from getting on with your daily activities
- Excessive sweating happens at least once a week
- You’re experiencing night time sweats
- You have a family history of excessive sweating
- You're taking medicine for another condition
Frequently asked questions
Why am I suddenly sweating so much?
Sudden and excessive sweating can happen for a number of reasons, including:
- Primary hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating with no clear cause)
- Feelings of anxiousness
- Hot flushes during pregnancy or menopause
- Certain infections
- Low blood sugar
- An overactive thyroid
However, if you’re worried about excessive sweating and it’s affecting your daily life, is persistent or you’re suddenly experiencing night sweats, speak to your GP.
What medical conditions cause sweating?
Excessive sweating and night sweats can be triggered by a number of conditions such as:
- Some infections
- An overactive thyroid
- Metabolic disorders like diabetes
Excessive sweating could also be triggered by certain medicines.
Though they’re not medical conditions, the menopause and pregnancy can also cause hot flushes, as a result of hormonal changes.
If you are concerned about excessive sweating and it’s affecting your daily life, you have a medical condition or you’re taking certain medication that may cause excessive sweating, speak to your GP for advice. It’s important not to stop taking any prescribed medication without speaking to your doctor first.
Does sweating burn fat?
No, sweating itself doesn’t burn fat.
Our bodies burn fat when we do a combination of eating a healthy, balanced diet and exercise, particularly high-intensity interval training (HIIT), strength training and cardio-based exercises like running.
The NHS recommends doing at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week. For more advice, you can take a look at our Weight Management Health Hub. Make sure to speak to your GP before starting any new forms of exercise if you have an existing medical condition or have not exercised for some time.
Why am I sweating so much for no reason?
Excessive sweating, also known as hyperhidrosis, can happen for no obvious reason, or be as a result of the following (among many other causes):
- Feelings of anxiousness
- Hot flushes during pregnancy or menopause
- Certain infections
- Low blood sugar
- An overactive thyroid
You can find out more in the ‘What causes excessive sweating’ section of the article. However, if you’re concerned about excessive sweating or it’s affecting your daily life, make an appointment with your GP.
