When You Should See the Doctor About Sweating
You sweat. Your mother sweats. Your friend sweats. Your brother sweats. I sweat. We all sweat! Sweating only becomes an issue when you’re sweating excessively and often. When a person sweats excessively, there is a chance he/she has hyperhidrosis, for which there is no definitive cure. However, there are a lot of treatments for excessive sweat that can help you live more comfortably with your sweat.
Forty-nine percent of people who have excessive sweat haven’t talked to a doctor about it. Why? Well, many people don’t realize they may have an actual condition or that what they’re experiencing is treatable. Although it isn’t curable, you can still treat and manage your symptoms.
How do you know whether or not you should see a doctor for your sweating? Well, do you sweat through your shirts a lot? Do you sweat all day and night? Does sweating affect your job, daily activities or social life? Do you still sweat when it’s cold out? Do you sweat for no reason? Does your sweating give you anxiety? If you answered yes to any of these, there’s a chance you could have hyperhidrosis, and the best person to talk to about this is a doctor.
Everyone sweats differently, and a doctor can determine if what you’re experiencing is “normal” or not. When it comes to hyperhidrosis, different doctors can treat you including your general practitioner, dermatologist, a neurologist, and a surgeon.
It’s always good to start with your primary doctor. He or she will listen to your symptoms and determine what to do next. You may be given a prescription for an antiperspirant or medication. A dermatologist is more familiar with sweating conditions and may prescribe you medication, antiperspirants, or give you Botox, or iontophoresis treatment. A neurologist may give you Botox or medication. A surgeon can do all the treatments the other doctors do, as well as endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS) surgery.
Your doctor will determine the right treatment for you based on your history, age, and current symptoms.
Have you decided that it is time to talk to your doctor about your excessive sweating? Congratulations. You won’t regret it. Talking to a doctor is the first step in helping yourself to sweat less.
If you need a doctor, Dr. Peter Mikhail is a Tampa hyperhidrosis physician and surgeon with offices in Tampa and New Port Richey, Florida. Dr. Mikhail will review your hyperhidrosis symptoms to determine the best treatment plan for you. To book a consult, click our Tampa hyperhidrosis treatment contact page or call 727-312-4844.
