January 09, 2011

Millions of sweat glands in the human body work in unison to keep us cool. However, sometimes, those glands get a little too active, and the result is hyperhydrosis, excessive sweating. The Doctors explain why you perspire and why sweat leaves stains on clothes.

Excessive Sweating Solutions

If you suffer from excessive sweating, there are a variety of options to prevent the problem. Here are some possible solutions you can ask your doctor about:

Jennifer, 21, has tried different types of deodorants to lessen her sweating, and found that only men’s deodorant works. “[I don’t] like smelling like a man or an onion!”

Plastic surgeon Dr. Drew Ordon examines Jennifer and injects Botox armpits. The Botox inhibits the sweat glands by affecting the nerves that cause the gland muscles to contract. The treatment lasts about three to six months and needs to be repeated for lasting effects.

Night Sweats

OB/GYN Dr. Lisa Masterson explains night sweats and how to treat them. 

Excessive sweaters can also undergo a surgical procedure called Vaser to eliminate hyperhidrosis for good!
See sisters Ginger and Amanda undergo the Vaser procedure.

Dr. Ordon explains the difference between how deodorant, antiperspirant and the Vaser procedure work.

Plastic surgeon Dr. Warren Hankins explains that doctors have found that Accusculpt, a YAG laser used for liposuction procedures, also works to reduce sweating. The laser targets sweat glands in the armpit and reduces sweating by 75 percent.

Dr. Hankins demonstrates the Accusculpt procedure on pig tissue.

Sweat Odor
Recurring body odor can be a frustrating and embarrassing problem. "It's a natural phenomenon," Dr. Ordon says. "We all sweat, and the bacteria that live on our body like that sweat. They consume that sweat and actually form that bad odor. It's not the sweat itself; it's the bacteria feeding on the sweat." To curb the offending odor, use a combination of antiperspirant and deodorant. "I actually use two separate products, one and then the other," Dr. Ordon says.

Certain foods and drinks, such as curry and vodka, can cause your body to release odors, as well.

Amber, 32, says she sweats so heavily at night and gives off a strange odor, leaving stains on her sheets and shirts. Her husband complains that the odor is reminiscent of cat urine.

The kidneys filter toxins and waste. If your kidneys are not functioning properly,
urea, the kidneys' waste product, can build up and cause a stench. A kidney issue, however, is not the only cause of an odor.

"The most common reason is people are eating too much protein," Dr. Travis says. "One of the things you want to do is make sure you are getting enough carbohydrates and drink plenty of fluids."

If changing your diet does not work, see your doctor. He or she may recommend a blood urea nitrogen test to determine the cause of the problem.

Why Sweat Smells

Dr. Travis demonstrates what happens when we sweat and why it often gives off a foul odor.

Dr. Travis says that the stench, which can be similar to ammonia, is caused by urea, a byproduct of amino acids and proteins broken down in the body. If urea builds up in your system, it can come out through your sweat pores and cause the ammonia-like smell. Urea is acidic, which is the reason for the stains on Amber's sheets and shirts.

Excessive Sweating "Down There"
Hyperhidrosis can occur anywhere in the body, including the groin area. For women, excessive sweating in the groin can increase the risk of yeast infections.
The Doctors explain how to remedy this embarrassing situation.

"What you need to do is talk your doctor about it to find out what's causing it," OB/GYN Dr. Lisa Masterson says. "It could be something like an endocrine disorder, which could be your thyroid, or it could be a hormone imbalance or a pituitary imbalance. You need to go through all that to make sure there's not some other, better way to treat it."

Underarm Rescue
Do you get red, itchy armpits? Dr. Travis explains that when skin reacts in this manner, the clinical term is contact dermatitis. It's an allergic reaction characterized by red, itchy skin, or in more extreme cases, blisters or scales. 

Contact dermatitis can be caused by many agents, such as antiperspirants, detergents, soaps, perfumes, dyes and clothing. Many people are allergic to aluminum as well, which is commonly found in antiperspirants and deodorants.

Combat contact dermatitis by trying:
• Aluminum-free antiperspirants or deodorants
• Natural crystal and salt mineral antiperspirants
• Baby powder
• Over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream

Is Deodorant Dangerous?
