Sweating is a fascinating, natural, and necessary function that helps regulate our body temperature. Excessive sweating, though, can be embarrassing. With offices in Nampa, and McCall, ID, Ryan S. Owsley, MD is a board-certified dermatologist who helps people with excessive sweating.
How Your Body Makes Sweat
Your body temperature is monitored by the hypothalamus of your brain. Part of your nervous system includes receptors that check your body temperature. When it is too high, signals are sent to your hypothalamus which then sends signals to your endocrine system. Hormones are released into your body to dilate your blood vessels, slow down your metabolism, and produce sweat.
When Sweating Becomes Excessive
Also known as hyperhidrosis, excessive sweating is more than having wet armpits or heavy perspiration after a hard workout. Hyperhidrosis describes a high level of perspiration on your palms, scalp, torso, feet, armpits, and face. You may also experience flushed skin on your face, even though you aren’t engaging in high-energy activities. People with hyperhidrosis perspire so much that it soaks through their clothing, and antiperspirants have little to no effect.
Are There Risk Factors for Hyperhidrosis?
Adults under 40 years old tend to be genetically predisposed to hyperhidrosis. Some medical conditions cause excessive sweating, such as diabetes, thyroid disorders, anxiety, menopause, infections, and some nervous system disorders.
What Triggers Hyperhidrosis?
You have millions of sweat glands in your body, but these are not necessarily the culprits behind your hyperhidrosis. The condition is more closely linked to irregular signals in the nervous system or overactivity in your endocrine system. As such, the profuse sweating may start when you are feeling anxious or with hormonal changes in the body, such as being pregnant or going through menopause. Having low blood sugar or an illness may trigger bouts of hyperhidrosis.
Can Hyperhidrosis Be Treated?
The good news is that Ryan S. Owsley, MD offers several treatment options for excessive sweating. He first determines if you have primary or secondary hyperhidrosis. If you have primary hyperhidrosis, he develops a treatment plan to control the perspiration, such as prescription antiperspirants, medication, a procedure to eliminate some of your sweat glands, or injections to block nerve signals to your sweat glands.
Are you looking for excessive sweating treatments in McCall, Nampa, ID, and nearby areas? Discuss your concerns with our board-certified dermatologist, Ryan S. Owsley, MD. Call Comprehensive Dermatology of Idaho today at (208) 467-7546 to schedule an appointment at our office in Nampa, or McCall, ID.