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Excessive head and face sweating

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gill22568
gill22568

I am 63 and for the last 22 years have suffered with excessive sweating on my head and face, which seems to be getting worse.  This is uncomfortable and embarrassing.  If I do anything even slightly energetic (hoovering, ironing etc.) it is worse, and it takes a long time for me to cool down.  I was referred to a dermatologist who prescribed pills, which just dried up my eyes (red, sore and bloodshot within 30 mins) and mouth (making it impossible to eat or even speak).  She point blank refused to consider any other treatment, even telling me botox does not work for the face, which i know is untrue.  This condition, to other people, seems trivial but it is not.  In the summer I cannot go outside, so I can't even play with my grandchildren.  I certainly couldn't go out shopping or to a social event, the sweat drips off me and my hair is drenched within minutes.  I obviously cannot use make-up, or even have a decent hairstyle, which zaps the confidence.  I do have a thyroid problem but that is well controlled.  I am a little overweight but not much.  I have other non-related medical conditions (arthritis, fibromyalgia).  Has anyone any experience of the new gadget around which includes a mask for the face, plugged into a machine - sorry I can't remember the name of it.  I know they are very expensive but I am desperate.  Any helpful tips would be great.  Thank you. 

29 likes, 808 replies

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  • wormwoodbush
    wormwoodbush gill22568

    Posted

    Hi gill, I too suffer this, as well as fibromyalgia and arthritis. Mine is genetic, medication related and fibromyalgia related. I have no doubt yours will be partly fibromyalgia related too. You can get a prescription product called glycopyrrolate in topical form that helps with craniofacial hyperhydrosis, which is what we have. I'm yet to try it, but all the reading I've done is positive and side effects are minimal to nil as you're applying the medication rather than ingesting it. I can't take any meds that dry me up, as I'm already on similar ones for other reasons. So I manage my sweating without meds. I wear colorful bandanas everyday, folded up to be about a 2 inch wide strip and I wear them on my upper forehead just on and below the hairline. It's pretty simple, just get a normal square cotton (cotton is best) bandana and fold into a triangle. Bring the top point of the triangle down to meet the middle of the bottom straight section, then roll/fold from the top town in about 2 inch widths till its one long strip, put in place, tie behind your head and you're done. I do find tying it a bit awkward, but I solved this by tying it moderately tight, removing the whole thing, getting the hair uncaught from the knot and then slip it back on. To avoid looking like a hippy, pull it down to your neck, pull all hair through and put it back on so it's under your hair. Looks pretty much like a headband then. It absorbs sweat all day and stops my hair and face from dripping. Sometimes I need to change it in hot weather, but mostly it lasts all day. I keep 2 on the go as it often takes 2 days for one to dry. I wear mine 2-3x each before washing, but that's dictated by smell. Hope this helps. -Ros
    • gill22568
      gill22568 wormwoodbush

      Posted

      Thank you, and I'm so glad you have relief from this dreadful condition.  Sadly, i find that putting anything on my head makes the problem worse, it's confusing, because they say we should wear hats to keep the heat from escaping in cold weather, and with me they do just that, so the heat is trapped and the problem worse.  I did make myself a light towelling bandana once, lasted about 5 seconds!  But thank you for trying to help me.  I just had my hair cut really short, but within minutes of 'over-heating' my hair was drenched.  Cheers, Gill
    • wormwoodbush
      wormwoodbush gill22568

      Posted

      Gill, I'm not sure where you live, but I'm Australian and as most people know we have just about the hottest summers of any country on the planet. I sweat all year round, even in the dead of winter, but in summer my life is unbearable. We get many days above 30 degrees Celsius and some over 40! The cotton rolled bandanas last me through a summer day where I'm sedentary, I often need to change if I'm active, but in the really dry heat (which most of the heat thankfully is in southern parts of Australia) the bandana often dries up partly so it lasts all day. Honestly give it a try, I can soak a face flannel by mopping my face all day if I don't wear the bandana, but with it, my hair usually stays dry and the sweat rarely gets past it. Like you I barely sweat from my armpits or hands. But I sweat badly from my shoulders, back, groin and behind the knees. It's so debilitating as you can't go out in public with it. I have to wear a singlet or two shirts in summer so the sweat doesn't soak the top shirt too much, but then I get too hot! I don't think people really understand how debilitating craniofacial hyperhydrosis is! Ask your doc about the glycopyrrolate lotion and wipes, I'm going to get some next time I see my GP as I've had enough and I can't take oxybutynin because of other meds I'm on. The electro face stimulation device is expensive from what I've heard and you must continue treatment at whatever intervals they recommend for you, for life and I believe the sessions take a while to complete. The glycopyrrolate can be obtained on prescription so costs the same as any other meds and you can put it on and miss days and it will still work. It can be worn under make up and takes as long as face cream to apply. Hence I've decided which treatment I want. I think you said you were told they can't botox sweat glands on the head/face, that's crap, I've read studies on that form of treatment. Plus botox in it's traditional use for eliminating face wrinkles. Find another specialist if you want to go the botox method, apart from the expense, I've heard it's very effective. Good luck hun
    • jran
      jran wormwoodbush

      Posted

      Hi Gill and wormwood I am from Oz too,have the same sweating problem more pronounced after a warm shower i have tried cold but its too cold then. but i cant even sit at desk without on sweating back of head.Its very embarrassing i play bridge & i have to sit under air con at the coolest table so i dont sweat and thats in air cond room. I take Noten for Blood pressure & thyroxine for thyroid and just started on Lexapro. I get anxious and stressed easily so i hope that helps me. When i walk and run i dont sweat any more than others, actually i sweat worse when not active, its weird you would think i would.I had Botox in Thailand in August, didnt seem to help in any way over there or here. I tried dri clor that burns my skin on face and underarms chaff. I put foundation on and it seems worse after i do that too. Any info and help would be greatly appreciated.

      Cheers

    • jonathan3845
      jonathan3845 wormwoodbush

      Posted

      I am glad this works for you but I can say I know it does not work for everyone. I am 36 years old and when I sit in an air conditioned house I still have a fan pointed at my head. I work and a lot of the time outside so I have to adapt. I do use bandanas but I go through about 15 or more a day and that is only because there is not enough time to swap them out as much as needed. I think they are soaked in about 5 minutes and then it is steaming down my face yet again. this can be in the middle of winter as well. I'm not sure what to do about it but it is all I have for now.

    • Luckysjoy
      Luckysjoy wormwoodbush

      Posted

      Thanks so much for a suggestion

      I too suffer from this endlessly in the past couple years. I am 55 years old and I too have RA and Fibromyalgia and neuropathy and I did somewhat attribute this to my fibro.

      But this is far beyond a "flare"

      It is so embarrassing

      I live in a small community complex where there are a lot of elderly here as the housing is for elderly and disabled. Myself being the latter.

      My huge embarrassment was about 8 of us went out for a meal a few months ago in winter.

      At the restaurant is was removing my outer shirt. Hair soaked underneath and sweat pouring down my face eyes lip nose it was so embarrassingBID had to excuse myself to go outside to cool down I need help with this.

      I live in the southwest of England.

    • Dana58
      Dana58 gill22568

      Posted

      Hi all I have the same complaint and having been suffering since 1998. My Doctors first put it down to me being over weight but after a Gastric bypass in 2003 they had no answer as it got worse. Since I have many medical problems related to a work accident to my lower spine in 1994 they have been blaming it on medication. They dont know thats the truth. I have been researching this for years. I have people come to my home and are appalled at the sweat running down my face straight down my nose into my cooking. Its so embarrising. I have tried pills but they add to my Dry Mouth Syndrome thats e as ting away my teeth. I plan to go out but before I get there my makeup had disappeared. One Doctor said to me I dint wear makeup and I said well you are not as old as me. I could have killed her. I am from Australia also and the heat is terrible but using airconitioners in winter??. I have been recomended to having Botox in the sweat glands in the top of your Head some say will work but at $500 gor botox and $500 for the Doctor to inject it. Im so bad now as it has excellerated. I will try anything as it has moved fown to my neck and my tops are soaked. Headbands sounded good but I ring them out consistently. Hey I said to my Neaurologist that has the body have a thermostat. Yes we do. Well it sounds like it is broken. When the muscles in our body start to move it causes heat in our body. The more we move which can just be lifting our arms the heat in our body moves up into the top of the head where it escapes. The issue is moving muscles cause heat!!!. I have been looking through Goigle and there a couple of know problems that relate to this but when you talj to Doctors etc they think you mean people that have excessive sweating on their hands and under arms etc. Why dont they send us to the rite people. Anyway good luck all. I am almost 60yrs now and they dont want to find out what is this problem or care.

      Now a tip to those like me that sometimes you like to go out and look nice. Makeup that stays on longer I found one that is excellent. I cant tell you the brand I dont think but its originally from New Zealand. Ion the Ads show it covering tatoos. I put the concealer on a sponge and find its easy to move over your face with only using a small amount and it drys and stays on almost all night with a small blotting with mens hankerchiefs. (Soft) when needed. Its only about $22 Aus. a tube. Lasts for ages. You could put powder over the top but I like that look.

      Keep in touch incase someone finds out what is causing this. Its definately a Neaurological problem but what? I am so happy to be able to read these post to see I am not the only one who is putting up with this debilitating problem. Love you all Dana x

    • susan28264
      susan28264 Luckysjoy

      Posted

      Hi Lucksjoy.  I live in a very similar situation to you in sheltered bungalows with elderly and disabled.  I am 59 with Fibromyalgia and OA amongst other problems like Diabetes.  I am so embarrassed every  time I go out anywhere.  My head just pours and it runs down my face and neck and down onto my chest and back.  My clothes get soaked.  I often carry small towels with me but it is so soul destroying.  I put on my face and do my hair and often have to dry it again before I go out and still it pores out of me.  If you feel my forehead it is usually cold and clammy.  I can even get it just sat, calmly reading a book and all of a sudden I am wet.  I am going to see my doctor now I have found this forum as I had never met anybody before that had this problem.  I cannot go on like this.  Thank you to the lady that started the thread. 

      I too live in the South West of England near Shepton Mallet

    • becky56566
      becky56566 wormwoodbush

      Posted

      I do this also.  But now I'm finding I can literally wring it out after 90 mins.

    • congraz75
      congraz75 wormwoodbush

      Posted

      bandanas are the only thing that help me look halfway normal throughout the day. I will look into CBD oils and the glycopy…  I'm trying to get off all prescription meds and have just one left to get off.Prescriptions can cause the sweats too, plus so manty other depletions of nutrients in our bodies.  Just don't want prescriptions and support Pharma that is taking over the world.  (another rant for a different forum!  haha)  Good luck to all!

    • KandiG
      KandiG Dana58

      Posted

      I just turned 60 and I have RA and Fybromyalga also. I work at CVS and it is terrible at work. I swear at home and in the winter as well. I hate it!! I work with the public and I have a little fan around my neck and I still sweat terribly. People say things about it or say things about hot flashes. I'm thinking this is no hot flash. I would rather it be hot flashes. I'm ready to put my notice in because I cant stand it. So with the pain and the sweating and the fatigue it is debilitating. People don't understand. I hope I can find a solution to all of this. I hope and pray everyone of you that suffer with the same thing can find solutions! God bless! 💞

  • bonnie59245
    bonnie59245 gill22568

    Posted

    Hi gill, I am in the same position you are with the sweating of my face and hair. No one seems to have any answers. This keeps me from doing almost everything I enjoy. I to have fibromyalgia, have had it for 15 years. I can be doing nothing and all of a sudden I start sweating and it gets so bad most of the time that I am dripping. I am really at a loss on how to get help with this. Any info you might have would be greatly appreciated.
    • gill22568
      gill22568 bonnie59245

      Posted

      Hi Bonnie, I wish i could pass on some tips for you, this condition stops me from doing the things i enjoy too, but if i do find something i will definitely let you know.  Best wishes, Gill
    • wormwoodbush
      wormwoodbush bonnie59245

      Posted

      Bonnie, try the folded bandana I mentioned in my original reply to Gill. It's worth a try, it helps me immensely!
    • drennen_92505
      drennen_92505 bonnie59245

      Posted

      I posted an all to familiar story earlier. I have read many of these posts. We all have about the same issues. Extreme sweating from the face and head. There are two common threads with mist if us. Fibromyalgia and arthritis. I'm not sure what would cause the swearing problem with either of these problems unless there's s medication that would be the cause. I've had fibromyalgia for 25 years. I no longer take any meds because of my kidneys. I have had this sweating issue since I was 25 years old. My mother had the same problem. I'm going to speak to my Dr about the two suggestions to help the sweating. I live in So California. We have hot weather almost year round. This summer has been over 100+ ... I sweat even when it's cooler if I do anything.

    • jackiek101
      jackiek101 bonnie59245

      Posted

      That's me exactly..

      I started Oxybutilin today but it makes me feel funny. I'll try again tomorrow.

    • congraz75
      congraz75 jackiek101

      Posted

      Are you still using the OXYB?  I have read several people saying it is a very drowsy dizzy feeling..
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