Hi, my name is Andi Thompson and I am a 15 year old teenage girl.
For the last 18 months or so I have been suffering with excessive sweating, but more specifically craniofacial hyperhidrosis.
I've researched on things that I can do to prevent it from happening, but I know that my parents wouldn't allow me to use drugs or botox or surgery to remove my sweat glands. I feel as though I am running out of options.
I don't know if I have anxiety issues as well, which is what my sweating may be linked to, but I am a very anxious person and the slightest thing could set me off into a panick.
The strange thing is, as stressed as I might be, I never never sweat in my own home, ONLY at school-or places where I don't feel comfortable (mainly school).
This is why I am terrified about going in to school every day, and even when it's a chilly winter day in December, I would step into the classroom and immediately begin to sweat.
People laugh, and whisper and talk about me. My own friends are starting to think me weird.
It affects my life so badly, I've had to stop going to orchestra as my hands get so sweaty it's hard to hold my violin.
Please, please, help me.
I am 43 year old male who is just comeing to terms with the effects of craniofacial hyeprhidrosis which started in my early 20's.
I realize I am responding a year after you posted this and have no real wisdom to add. Just felt I had to becasue the cranio facial hyperhidrosis is not so common.
Just to say that in particular I wish I didnt have the craniofacial hyperhidrosis as opposed to in other areas as I think its a lot more harder to deal with. Its taken away almost everything in my life.
I laughed when you descibed coming into a warm room after being out in the cold the change in temp sets of the hyperhidrosis. Thats me all over. People just staring at you wondering how you can be sweating buckets when its -5 outside.
I moved 13000 miles to live in a colder climate becasue I thought that would help.
I havent found a cure or really anything that helps (excpet the anti-perpisirants, which help a little)
The only thing I could say to you is start reading about an overactive sympaethic nervous system and see if there any clues there. After all my research I think thats were it all stems from.
I really wish I could help you but I cant....becasue I cant help myself.
Hi Andi36,
I have just found your sweating problem and wanted you to know you are not alone.
It is terrible you are experiencing the unusual sweating at such a young age.
I also have the problem of when the body changes temperature; by entering a room or putting on a sweater; anything temperature related will bring on a large sweat of the head, neck, face and arms.
Even lying in bed with a sheet over me and the body changes temperature will bring on a sweat.
I've now taken to having a wet face washer near me to wipe the excessive perspiration and always a hand towel.
Numerous tests show everything is fine but I have another ultra sound tomorrow to eliminate the adrenal and carcinoid artery ??
In the past doctors have always thought it was menapause and prescribed hormon tablets which seemed to control the glands.
this sort of problem make you want to hybinate and but there are lots of lovely, understanding people out there.
It is a shame there is not more written publicity on this type of problem to make people more acceptable and aware it can happen occur.
This week should show some results to my tests..
Sorry I haven't helped you with a remedy but wanted you to know you are not alone, I'll let you know if I find a cure to our problem.
Hang in there and please don't be embarrassed when you sweat; it seems we are a unique bunch
Hi Andi, I too suffer craniofacial hyperhydrosis (CFH), it's a pig of a condition and it can really mess up your life. One thing that I wish someone had told me when I was your age is that, everyone sweats, it's normal. Some, like us, just sweat more than is considered normal, but it does not make us freaks!! So my biggest helping hint for you is to do what I do and wear bandanas as sweat bands every day. Just plain old cotton square decorative bandanas, that you buy at clothing stores. Fold it first into a triangle. Then bring/fold the top point of the triangle down almost to the long bottom side of the triangle, leave it about half inch off the bottom. Then start at the top and fold the bandana into about 2 inch widths, until you have one long length. Put the middle to the middle of your forehead and tie it behind your head. Yes you will catch your hair. So I tie it and remove it immediately and tighten the knot then put it back on. I put mine on and bring it down to around my neck, pull yourmyr through and then put the bandana back up on my forehead, so it sits just on the hair line, then make sure it's behind my ears and I'm done, I usually have at least 2 folded at any time, as I use mine for at least 2 days, but sometimes I sweat so much, it doesn't dry by the next day, so I use the other one. Also, I try to coordinate colours with what I'm wearing. I have about 8-10 different bandanas, so I can coordinate them. I wear mine everyday, even if I'm just veging on the couch watching tv, it's gotten to the point that I feel naked without one one. If I don't wear one and break out in a sweat, my hair gets so wet, it literally drips! The bandana almost completely stops that from happening. I hope this has helped you. I've put quite a few CFH people onto it, and it's really helped them. I often carry a spare on hot or humid days as they get wringing wet! I'm also currently trialling clinical strength anti perspirants, they're expensive, but I'm finding medium level results so far. I apply to my upper lip, chin and forehead, also lower neck, chest and under my breasts, it's stopped me from chest sweating at night and slowed my upper lip and chin sweatinng noticeably. These clinical strength antiperspirants are newly available in the general shops in australia. Previously they were prescription only. I don't know what you have available in the UK. I wish you lots of luck, I'm 41 and have been CFH sweating for most of my living memory, I've been wearing the bandanas for the past 4 years and they've literally revolutionised my life! I'm no longer afraid to go out anywhere on a warm or hot day, and we have pretty warm weather here in Australia. So I really do know what you're going through. Please try the bandana thing and see how it goes, you've got nothing to lose. oh I also use scarves in winter, same principle, just fold up the middle and tie it up. Scarves are easier to coordinate and look fashionable in. But make sure you get cotton or at least absorbable material ones.
*....around my neck and pull MY HAIR through, and then put the bandana....
Is what that should have said lol
THE CURE IS HERE! I have suffered for 40 years with craniofacial hyperhydrosis, although it didn't have a name back then! Ladt Summer I read a blog from a sufferer in the US. She was successfully using oxybutlin. My Gp agreed to give it a try. It is actually for urinary incontinence - not a problem I had! It WORKS, i cannot tell you how fantastic it is to get my life back . 2 tablets taken an hour before I go out stops all my symptoms! They give NO side effects. Just take when needed, every day if needed! GET SOME. It dries out your mouth a bit, BIG
EAL, as if that matters.....fantastic remedy. Good luck
Please get your GP to prescribe OXYBUTILIN, a fantastic cure for C.H, having suffered for over 40 years, i now have my life back. It is prescribed for bladder incontinence, but works brilliantly on craniofacial hyperhydosis. I take 2 tablets an hour before I go out - no side effects at all, except a dry mouth,so I kerp a bottle of water or some mints handy! BRILLIANT,
Please get your GP to prescribe OXYBUTILIN, a fantastic cure for C.H, having suffered for over 40 years, i now have my life back. It is prescribed for bladder incontinence, but works brilliantly on craniofacial hyperhydosis. I take 2 tablets an hour before I go out - no side effects at all, except a dry mouth,so I kerp a bottle of water or some mints handy! BRILLIANT,
Please get your GP to prescribe OXYBUTILIN, a fantastic cure for C.H, having suffered for over 40 years, i now have my life back. It is prescribed for bladder incontinence, but works brilliantly on craniofacial hyperhydosis. I take 2 tablets an hour before I go out - no side effects at all, except a dry mouth,so I kerp a bottle of water or some mints handy! BRILLIANT,
Hi Tinaj1962
Thanks for the suggestion. Unfortunately oxybutinin interacts with other meds I take, as well as that, I already suffer dry mouth from some of my meds, so I'd be reluctant to take anything else to make that worse. I've read studies on oxybutinin and CFH, and I know it works in most cases. I just dont want to take any more meds, I already take 15 prescription meds and some of them are what's making my CFH so bad, as well as a genetic predisposition. I hope it keeps working well for you though. Go to your pharmacy and get mouth spray or gel or even chewing gum, specifically designed for dry mouth problems. In Australia we have Hamiltons brand and Biotene brand, I like the Biotene better, it lasts longer than Hamiltons in the mouth. I prefer the Biotene mouth spray above all else, I also like the mouth gel. I didn't think the gum was much good, I also tried the mouth wash, it's good, but it doesn't last long. They even have toothpaste! I highly recommend you try and find them or something similar if you're suffering dry mouth problems. Good luck
Hi ,
it sounds to me like you are sufferring from hyperhidrosis,but you should have a doctor diagnose it. I have or I had the same problem with constant,excessive sweating. normal, everyday situations were always embarassing for me - who wants to shake hands when they are dripping wet ? I was becoming more and more socially isolated and I really didn' know who I could turn to that would understand my situation and help me with my problem . I tried all the "household " remedies , tried deodorants and seriously thought about having surgery. But the thought of having my sweat glands removed scared me.Then while searching for info on the net I read information about Iontophoresis. I decided to try out one of these machines ,the Idromed 5 PS,. I admit that the price at first seemed very high ,but I soon found out that the machine is worth every cent! The machine arrived promptly and I started the treatments by putting my hands in the water tubs that have electrodes that bring a light electric current to the water. I did this every day for about twenty minutes. Idid it evenings while watching tv. already after just a few sessions i started feeling results and after a little more than a month I was totally dry ! I still can't believe that my problem was so easy to solve !I feel great and I feel free from my old sweat panic attacks.I can recommend testing the Iontophoresis therapy to anyone who suffered as I did .
Hi Andi and All,
Im 34 and have suffered with Craniofacial Hyperhidrosis for 10 years. The first few years I self-diagnosed myself as "going crazy", "high intake of salt", and "highly anxious". I then tried counseling, hoping for a quick-fix drug, which did not happen. Finally I researched to no end and found what appears to be THE solution for those of us seriously affected by hyperhidrosis... Micro-ETS (Endoscopic Thoracic Sympathectomy) currently only performed by Dr. David Nielsen. Look him up, confer with his staff, observe testimonials. It appears to be the one and only safe solution, besides prayer.
Best Wishes.
HI,
Does this condition exist in the absence of visible sweat? Every summer for the last 23 years, I experience a sweaty body odor that is IMMEDIATELY set off when I encounter humidity. However, the sweat is not visible.
Hi Pamela81695,
I experience the same. However, I smell like sweat AS SOON as I encounter humid temps. But visible sweat/perspiration is not present. It's extremely embarassing and I dread summer time.
Does this sound familiar?
Thank you Nay. I have Appt with Endrocrin Dr next week. I have cold skin sweating and at night dripping wet. It comes on for no reason but notice when I'm anxious I break out. I don't have an armpit problem but did as a teen with sweating palms and under arms. I had a sever bout of anxiety in my early twenties (Argaraphobia)!while in a bad marriage. I don't take any prescribed drugs and I'm 74. No depression just anxious.
tinaj1962 you are a life saver!!!! Managed to get my GP to prescribe OXYBUTYNIN. The results are just unbelievable. After 20 + years of suffering with this and trying every cure under the sun , these little blue pills are working so effectively. Only 5 mg every other day and the fountain in the top of my head has stopped. Its only been a week since I first took them but it feels like a life time. First thing I did when I realized that the were working is quit my menial job and applied for an IT job and got it. (I have degree but I have never been able to get a job with it because I look like herion addict detoxing when I am in an interview....streams of water pouring from head.....no one would hire me.)
I just say it again THANK YOU for takeing the time reply to my post and for you help!
Hi nichole62297
Very sorry but my condition is the opposite. I have loads of very visible sweat but there really is no odor from it. However like you humidity does make me sweat (or used to until I discovered OXYBUTYNIN) However I dont know enough to say whether it might be of help to you.
I received a newsletter from the Hyperhidrosis Society and there are two new drugs coming out - one is a topical which is definitely not good for the head and the other is a combo oral treatment TheraVido is the manufacturef and you want to go on their website and read about THVD-102.
Hi Andi,
It sounds like you have a social anxiety...your head and face and hands perspire when you face a social situation.
Share what you so clearly wrote with your parents. Consider a dermatologist to address the perspiration and consider a counselor to guide you in social coping skills. Remember, way before you were born, your parents attended school and also experienced uncomfortable situations.
Andi, knowing that you feel uncomfortable is a very good beginning. Knowing where you feel uncomfortable is also valuable. You just need to dig a bit deeper and define "uncomfortable" For example: I dislike going to school because the other kids make me feel inferior to them ..is it school that makes you uncomfortable or do the teachers at school make you uncomfortable or do the other kids poke fun at you...
After you narrow things down then you will have a direction to head towards a solution.
And something important...when online use only your first name, never your location, never an address, never a telephone number. Thank you, I want you to be safe.
I am here to listen.
kind regards
judith
Hi Andi,
It sounds like you have a social anxiety...your head and face and hands perspire when you face a social situation.
Share what you so clearly wrote with your parents. Consider a dermatologist to address the perspiration and consider a counselor to guide you in social coping skills. Remember, way before you were born, your parents attended school and also experienced uncomfortable situations.
Andi, knowing that you feel uncomfortable is a very good beginning. Knowing where you feel uncomfortable is also valuable. You just need to dig a bit deeper and define "uncomfortable" For example: I dislike going to school because the other kids make me feel inferior to them ..is it school that makes you uncomfortable or do the teachers at school make you uncomfortable or do the other kids poke fun at you...
After you narrow things down then you will have a direction to head towards a solution.
And something important...when online use only your first name, never your location, never an address, never a telephone number. Thank you, I want you to be safe.
I am here to listen.
kind regards
judith