Excessive Perspiration Information

When underarm perspiration becomes a problem

Perspiration,more commonly referred to as sweat, is a way for the body to deal with the heat generated from body movement/exercise or the temperature in the environment. The average adult sweats a little more than one quart of fluid per day. However, a person who suffers from hyperhidrosis(excessive perspiration) of the armpits will sweat for no apparent reason or when a stressful situation occurs, like a first date, exam, job interview or presentation. These scenarios serve to aggravate the condition. This often requires a person to change his or her clothes several times a day to help avoid the presence of embarrassing wetness and stains as well as fear of body odor.

According to the Certain Dri Perspiration PollTM, 45 percent of American adults report perspiration is either "sometimes" or "often" a problem for them and 42 percent of this group said they worry about having body odor. In addition, 18 percent (nearly 18 million) also indicated that excessive perspiration has ruined some of their clothes. Some people sweat so profusely that their problem falls into the realm of a medical condition called axillary hyperhidrosis (excessive underarm sweating), which can be a debilitating condition on an emotional, social and functional level.

Forty percent of the time there is a family/genetic history. Axillary hyperhidrosis can also be associated with palmar hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating of the hands), plantar hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating of the feet) or it can be present on its own. Hyperhidrosis, as a medical condition, occurs in up to three percent of the American population, yet millions more people feel that their sweating is still bothersome, even if it has not been diagnosed as a medical problem.