This is my problem too! I have to take certain medications to stay alive. Unfortunately, as time has gone by I've noticed they change how I sweat. The medications come out in my sweat and the smell is horrible and I never has this problem before. The more active I am and the hotter it is, the more I sweat the worse it is. I've solved the problem by switching to Dial which is an antibacterial soap and using Johnsons aloe baby powder which absorbs extra moisture. However I have found no solution for the swear glands above both ears which is where the problem is the worst. I can just shower and wash my hair and if I walk my dogs and start sweating my hair starts to smell bad as of I never showered or washed it at all! There's only so much you can wash your hair! It's starting to become weak and thin from being washed twice daily. In the past Prell Shampoo used to work incredibly well with hard water to get out any smell (including campfire smoke) and it left my hair incredibly clean. But this new problem of sweating out my meds and these 2 sections of sweat glands have beaten any and all attempts by me to keep it away. I've even had mild success applying baking soda to these areas after walking my dogs but the warmer it gets, the more I sweat the less it seems to work. It's extremely depressing and I have a lot worse things I have to deal with other than this. It makes me not want to be around people or go anywhere without applying perfume. No matter what I do I can still smell it and if I'm outside and I notice my scalp is starting to smell I feel like crawling into a hole to hide. I never thought in a million years I'd have to consider which way the wind is blowing before I stop to talk to someone. Most people don't understand what's going on or how hard I've fought against it. People are just too happy making fun and jumping to all the wrong conclusions. So I don't socialize at all because of it. All I have for companionship are my 2 dogs that know the real meaning of unconditional love. I think I'd die without them as I feel my life is meaningless without them.
Hi wormwoodbush,
I wanted to say hello because we seem to have a lot in common besides having lawn sprinklers on our heads. I am also on 15 meds and 4 "as needed" Rx's I have to start undergoing more tests tomorrow as my liver enzymes are showing something wrong.
I would love to be able to take a medication to stop all this embarrassing sweating. I'd love to be able to style my hair or even wear makeup now. Anyway, I guess you can only take so many meds before your system goes toxic and starts rebelling.
Your biotin advice was good. We have that in the US.
I wish you very much good luck in finding a solution.
Do you, by chance, also have Sjogren's Disease?
Hi
After reading your post on Oxybutilin I saw my doctor and told him what I'd read on craniofacial hyperhydosis I've been effected with really bad head and face sweats for years had many blood tests and nothing has been done to elevate the problem .
He gave me Propantheline Bromide 15mg 3 x a day . I have only had 4 tablets and I've hoovered right through my house dusted and not a drop of sweat š I have a dry mouth but I can cope with that . Thank you so much .š
Tina, I cannot thank you enough!!!!!! I have been suffering for eight years now. My face and head have been drenched so bad that I would go through a roll of paper towels when I was not in an airconditioned environment. I stumbled across your response and called my doctor. He prescribed this medicine for me, 5 mg. 2x daily, and I have been dry for 3 weeks now. Because of you, I have my life back! I was stressing about going to any activities this summer in the heat because I just couldn't do it anymore, but now I have been to so many picnics and the temps have been close to 90 degrees! I am not afraid to go outside anymore. My doctor was so excited to hear about this also. He has already started prescribing it to his other patients with the same problem. I told my cousin about it and she called her doctor and now she is dry too. Please know that you are incredible for taking the time to post on here and help so many people.
Hi David, thanks for sharing that.
Do you have to do the treatment every day? I mean after your first month where you saw the positive effect, do you have to keep doing the treatment or was it permanently solved?
Thanks so much
Pedro
Iāve been tormented with excessive head sweating for the last 20 years. it has ruined countless social events including my wedding in the most humiliating way I can imagine. I have spent many years avoiding even common social situations.
I have recently started to date again and go on job interviews. This condition is absolutely detrimental to both persuits.
After reading this discussion and others online I tried over the counter oxybutynin patches which did not help at all.
I went to the doctor and asked for a prescription of oxybutynin. The Dr was not familiar with this usage as it is off-label. I took printouts from this discussion and told him how much this condition affects my life. He was hesitant to prescribe it but did his own research and decided to let me try it. He prescribed up to two 5mg tablets per day.
It has absolutely and completely changed my life. I am able to do anything I want now without worrying about head/face sweating. I take Oxybutinyn only when I know Iāll need it, about an hour before a social situation, on an empty stomach. I take one 5mg tablet for most things, two if I anticipate heavy physical activity or extremely stressful situations. I can even stay dry when everyone else is sweating.
It does cause dry mouth and my contact lenses get dry so I carry eyedrops and a toothbrush /paste which both fit easily in my pocket. I donāt mind because my pockets used to be filled with washcloths to wipe away the sweat. Because it stops normal sweating I am careful not to let my body temperature get too hot. The Dr. also told me to be careful to urinate regularly even if I donāt feel the need to go as the Oxybutinyn reduces the feeling of a full bladder.
The tablets are not very expensive and I was able to get a discount using GoodRX to bring the price down even more. It costs less than a dollar for me to be able to enjoy social events like a normal person. Incredible!
BTW, I am really enjoying dating now and socializing, doing all the things Iāve missed out on for so long.
Andi, I am not a teenager nor a female but I can tell you I know exactly what your are going through. Maybe if you print some of this forum out and show it to your parents they will take you to a good dermatologist that can get you what you need to get this in tack better. There are a couple of medications that I have read up on that is supposed to help. I have the names written down but I have misplaced it, continue reading these post and you will find them. I have been seeing a phyco for this and it has done nothing but numb my brain. I am due an appt tomorrow but I have weaned myself off his meds because I canāt take it any longer. I have had these sweats for around 20 yrs now and they just seem to get worse. Wishing you all the luck your too young to have this problem being so young in life.
This medication only made me sleep. Couldnāt function. Didnāt help. Glad you got help.
I am 62 years old have suffered with cranial facial hyperhidrosis, along with extreme redness of the face, and body odor due to the excessive sweating for more than 20 years but could not get a diagnosis from any doctor. While researching excessive sweating of the head and face I ran across a forum that suggested OXYBUTYNIN as a treatment. my doctor was wiling to give it a try and Iāve been taking 10 mg daily for almost two years now and it has been a miracle drug for me! While it completely eliminated the sweating, it did not help the redness of my face. My sister suggested using sunscreen on my face. I was skeptical but tried it and it works. I also started taking a dietary supplement called Chlorofresh, an internal deodorant, and I no longer have the odor problem. All of these combined have given me a new life!
I completely understand what youāre going through. I am now 32 years old and have been dealing with this since I can remember. Itās embarrassing, it never makes sense eitherā¦like you said middle of winter. I feel your pain girl!
I just found this site to try and get some answers as well.
I apologize that I donāt have a solution for you and Iām so sorry youāre going through this. I did want to reply just to let you know that youāre not alone.
Hopefully we can get some answers together! Iām here if ya need to vent girl!
Devon
This is the answer i would have given to anyone a few months back, Oxybutenin had been my saviour however it one day just stopped working. I donāt know why and as iām apparently on the highest dose already (5mg twice daily) i have nowhere to go from here. I am in desperate need of help but have been told by my gp that thereās not much they can do as itās on my face. i literally look like iām melting and itās humiliating. iām at this point thinking iāll have to quit my job in hospitality. who wants to be met by that before they eat??? ;(