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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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  • altygirl
    altygirl gill22568

    Posted

    I just thought of one question before my appointments, if anyone see this in time.

    Has anyone taken the med (Oxybutinin) just at times you really need it?  My husband and I have a business and go to networking events.  I dread them because I know I'll end up in a sweat.  Just wondered if it's something you have to take regularly, or whether you can take it as needed?

    Thanks!

  • ladybugtwo
    ladybugtwo gill22568

    Posted

    I'm finally getting closer to a cause for my excessive overheating.  My physician feels it could most likely be due to a nerve disorder.  Before I ended chemotherapy 7 years ago, the head and neck sweats as well extreme sensitivity to heat began and has continued.  I was diagnosed with neuropothy in my leg and foot which is chemo induced nerve damage.  I am scheduled for an EMG/Nerve conduction study to obtain a more complete diagnosis as well as severity of nerve damage.  At this point I am still not aware of any cure or help with the overheating and sweats, but I feel hopeful I'm on the right track.

  • dorel
    dorel gill22568

    Posted

    I know what you are talking about. I sweat so bad from the top of my head down just passed my breasts. I went to buy groceries yesterday and I was wearing a bee neck shirt and I was showing wetnessat the vee and down. Fortunately I don't sweat under my arms or it would have really been a pretty picture. So embarrassed plus had to ask for a paper towel to dry my face. It's been this way for many years. I remember my mom having the same problem. I am 74 and sometimes think of getting a part time job then knowing how I sweat so much nobody would hire me. My hair too is soaked along wit face and shirt. Not happy

  • mohankrish09013
    mohankrish09013 gill22568

    Posted

    So Sorry to hear your case. I am also having thyroid and heavy sewatting issue. I am 31 i started observing heavy sweatting when i was 25. And after 6 years i got thyroid. May be these are all intereleated. Doctors need to do more work on this. My head and face, neck sweats a lot when it is hot. I am taking thyroid pills. But the heavy sweat is very uncomfortable when i go outside. My hair becomes stickly face becomes very bad. Looking for aolution. I dont even know, wheater i can call it as disease. My wife told me it could be a disease and asked me to check with a doctor.

  • susan79098
    susan79098 gill22568

    Posted

    Hi i cant believe what i just read im 49 and suffer from same thing just face and hair drenched unfortunately i still work full time and have to go out like that your right its embarrasing but i dont think there is much oyt there for this ive heard of diffetent types of treatment but cant remember them remember your not alone x
    • gail50725
      gail50725 susan79098

      Posted

      Hi Susan, yes it is certainly embarrasing. I haven't heard of a cure yet. Nothing that I've tried has worked... so I guess we just keep our eyes and ears open (if they're not full of perspiration) haha!!!!

      Cheers for now!

    • carrie358
      carrie358 gail50725

      Posted

      Hi gail50725

      I like your little joke there! !

      Yes, we need to keep our sense of humour with this affliction, can't let it make us depressed although I know it's not easy to live with .xx

    • carrie358
      carrie358

      Posted

      Thank you so very much for all the information people have posted. It's off to the docs in the morning for me !!

  • mollydoug
    mollydoug gill22568

    Posted

    Hello all! You have NO IDEA how happy I am to find  a group that has the same problem that I have had just about my entire life. I'm 55, and my mom said as a baby my head would actually sweat in the crib! Thyroid and all has always checked out fine. I've never been able to find a doctor that seemed to care to help this annoying and ebarassing condition. One merely recommended I try aerosol deodorant/anti-perspirant...ON MY HEAD AND FACE? So I was over the moon to see many people had positive results to Oxybutilyn (sp?). I've been on it about a week now and am sad to say I've really not seen improvement. I don't have the bottle with me right now, so I am uncertain of the dosage, but I'm pretty sure it would be the lowest, 5mg. I take one tablet, once a day, in the morning. I'd really appreciate any input - should I take more than one? Should I take at night? should I ask for higher dosage? ANY information you can provide will be very helpful. Thank you!

    • altygirl
      altygirl mollydoug

      Posted

      Hello all!  Mollydoug, I was so delighted too to find this group, even though I now live in America so my med is different.  I wasn't a sweaty baby apparently, but started to get hot very easily when I was a young teen.  It's got a lot worse in the past few years (I'm 57 now).  I finally saw a dermatologist recently (and it was hard to find one who dealt with hyperhidrosis of the head/face) but she told me it was quite common and prescribed Glycopyrrolate, which is also for people with bladder control problem, like the med you mention is, I think.  I can take up to three tablets a day but one has been helping me a lot.  I noticed a difference fairly quickly so maybe your doctor can change the dose?  If you take more than the prescription you'll run out and then be back to square one!  It's a pain, isn't it. 

    • mollydoug
      mollydoug altygirl

      Posted

      altygirl, thanks for the recommendation! I'll give my doctor a call this afternoon to ask about Glycopyrrolate! Can you tell me what dosage and how often you take it? Glad to hear you've had pretty quick results, fingers crossed it will help me too.

    • mollydoug
      mollydoug

      Posted

      Oops, forgive me altygirl...I see you can take up to 3 a day, but one has been helping you! Sorry I missed that the first time.

       

  • Racingirl911
    Racingirl911 gill22568

    Posted

    I realize that you posted you question quite a while ago, but I truly hope that you were successful in your quest to manage your head and face excessive sweating. I have just begun my own journey to do so as well. I have been dealing with the same problem for approximately 15 years. I am so very tired of this problem quite literally running my life. I have gotten to the point that I seldom even go anywhere, because I can spend hours curling and styling my hair, and it can be ruined in the time it takes to just walk from my house to my car. My hair flattens and my makeup starts running down my face. So, why even try to leave my house.

    Oh! I apologize for going off on a tangent! I guess I've never really believed that there are others out there who suffer with the same thing I have been unsuccessfully dealing with for so very long.

    • altygirl
      altygirl Racingirl911

      Posted

      Good luck!  I completely understand the hair thing!  I used to blow dry my hair straighter and in no time it was damp and wavy again.  I actually have it straightened now which helps a lot, but my new med (Glycopyrrolate) is really helping. 

      It's so, so reassuring to find that you're not alone in this smile

    • Haymil
      Haymil Racingirl911

      Posted

      Your story is the same as mine! I'm so happy I found this site. I raced to my Doctor and explained all the information I found on here. She checked with her Dr books and happily prescribed the medication. It worked from the first day and there after. One happy camper here!

    • mollydoug
      mollydoug Haymil

      Posted

      Hi there Haymil! Isn't it amazing to realize you aren't the only person on the planet with this annoying problem?! Glad to hear you've had great success. Which med worked for you immediately? I've been taking the Oxybutynin for almost 2 weeks (5mg/1xday) and haven't seen any improvementsad. I have a call into my doctor asking to change my Rx to the Glycopyrrolate - but she hasn't called it in for me yet.

    • Racingirl911
      Racingirl911 altygirl

      Posted

      Yes, it really IS reassuring to know that I am not the only person dealing with excessive sweating! Thank you!!
    • Racingirl911
      Racingirl911 Haymil

      Posted

      You are absolutely right—this is an amazing website!! This forum allows us to not only support each other emotionally, but it also allows us to share things we have found that has helped us!! 👍🏼👍🏼😊

    • carrie358
      carrie358 Racingirl911

      Posted

      Hi. Oh how relieved I am to find out that there is help available for my excessive head, neck,face and body sweating. I never mention it to anyone because I thought it was only me. I am so familiar with the makeup running down my face scenario and my hair constantly dripping with sweat. I just love my fans. I have two in each room of the house !! I am 58yrs and have had this for over 20 yrs. I have mentioned it to docs before but no help was forthcoming. I had all the blood tests for thyroid,hormone,diabetes, etc and as you all know, most doctors don't know why. Anyway, thanks for reading and good luck to all of you in finding a way to control this awful life changing sweaty problem xx

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