Excessive head and face sweating
Posted , 301 users are following.
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
WV-USA-MaeMae gill22568
Posted
Seeing your post gives me hope!!! I have been dealing with everything you and others describe, profuse head, face and chest sweating. My doctor put me on hormones, thinking it is from menopause. It changed nothing. I am 58/F with major depression and severe fibromyalgia. Until our winter temps get below 40 degrees F when I open my bedroom window, my air conditioning runs nonstop. (Got hubby heavy duty electric blanket.
I cannot wait for tomorrow to come so I can call my doctor to order oxybuynin. After going to the mall yesterday and literally having to wring my hair out 3 times, I have to do something.
Thanks for sharing, everyone!!!
Elisa
altygirl WV-USA-MaeMae
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Racingirl911 gill22568
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Hello my fellow ESHAFS!!
What?! You've never heard of "ESHAFS"??!! I'm shocked!😲 {tee hee!!!!}
ESHAFS stands for "Excessive Sweating of Head And Face Sufferers", DUH!!!🙄 😂😂
Okay, time to get serious. Have any of you, or do any of you know someone who has found a doctor who uses BOTOX to help with excessive sweating, specifically just the head and face?? (And, it would REALLY be cool if you know a doctor(s) who practices in Ohio!)
By the way, I can not thank you all enough for sharing your own experiences (good or bad) in this forum!! After reading just a few of your stories, I have actually begun to feel as though a huge weight is beginning to be lifted off of my chest! And, for THAT, I will be eternally grateful! God bless each and every one of you!!!
altygirl Racingirl911
Posted
Hello Racinggirl911! When I found a dermatologist who dealt with ESHAFS (!) she told me that she has never seen a situation where insurace will cover botox for the head/face. She knows of people who had it done but paid out of pocket. I'm in Boston but I don't suppose it would be any different for you. If you're able to pay out of pocket you might be lucky!
kerri56 gill22568
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chris34121 gill22568
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Hi there
I am 38
Stocky guy but very active
I have always had extreme sweating and just delt with it
But summer is now here
And omg . Its off the wall
My sweating has hit such an extremely super crazy
Its beyond any doleratable level
This pass week at work my.head is just pooring.i was reading here and people where talking about measureing it in grams:"
)))))))))))))))))))))
Welll it would be more like litters for. me
I sweat just poors if i got paper work to do its soaked
Cant even.work.its floods my eyes
Shirt is dripping underware soaked man i even think if it gets hot enough ill flood my shoes
I am a very very big drinker and not alcohol but pop water juice i drink way more then i eat anyday
Me and wife have trouble being sexual case if i go on top ill poir a water fall on her
Today i went shopping for clithes and it just wouldnt stop
It wasnt even that hot . But.my shirt was soaked everyone was looking i could ieven.see the embrasment in my wife
I would rake my hand and swipe my hand from eyebrows over top out to the back my hand would be soaked i could a flow run down my back
Even think it flowed down my but crack
I am feed up
Its gross uncomfortable embarissing and shamfull
My poor qute wife
She never ssid a thing but could just see the sweet
When i was paying could just see the cashiers looking at me in discuss
And you my think i am over doing it but sadly not
Got no clue what to.do
Today it burnt the skin my be from sun to but top of my eyebrows has two blond white lines edgei g around my eyes and brow and around that skin is like a redish with hint of purple
Werid colour
And is now burning
And with all this heat sweat when working hard active witch is often the more i go the mire st top of neck where head meets just under the bump in back of skull about 2 to 3 inches in diamter
Turns ice ice ice cold
And to anyone that will daee get close
Cant belive it they explan it like touching ice
At whits end i work suler hard but have wide three boys dog cat bills cars
Dont just have money to just spend at prices i have seen
Not sure what to do
Even at work this mornig be fore shopping
Was in shop building a backet for transport witch i run
And not a live in truck driver home every second night work many hours at shop
Pysical work
But garage was closed and it was cool
Was drilling.holes with a drill press
So basicly puliing a lever down and standing
My saftey glasses where soaked foggex dripping sweet pooring in eyes.couldnt even see
Saw my boss watching.
Just staring
Its getting so bad i was starting to get worried he was going to say something stop me
Cause ralky its a bad safty issue
What the hell can i do
Cause with what i see
Its going to start costing
Wife jobs
Freinds
I even think i sweeted so much it bleached my shur
Guess to domeone reading this could take ut as i was makeing fun of being a jerk
But this is truley
Truly true
And yes i am a big guy nope not a fat lazy job
I clinb.latrers walk mills
Dint eat mc donalds fast foods
Like most truckers
I.eat lots of subway
Sandwitches
Vegtables
Always been.big
I have many guys i work with that eat 60 times more then me
They cant belive it
What can i do
anne42438 chris34121
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ltanya59218 gill22568
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Racingirl911 ltanya59218
Posted
Hi Itanya59219! I'm unclear as to exactly who you are directing your question to. Perhaps you can clarify? 😊
rebecca62804 gill22568
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I just found this site! I went to the Dr. a year ago and he diagnosed me with Hyperhydrosis also, when I looked it up I didn't think I had this... as I only sweat on my head and face and some of my upper torso and ONLY when it is warm/hot and humid. Not in the winter.. he prescribed the Oxybutrin(sp?) also and I filled the prescription but never took it as I did not want to take another pill and it is listed as a bladder control medicine and I take a diuretic for my blood pressure... seemed like not a good idea. However, now that summer is back in the USA I am sweating again! I don't have this problem in the winter, even in a heated home? I have contacted the Dr. after reading through this post and I am going to start the medication if he says it is still OK. Thank you so much for this Post!
Racingirl911 rebecca62804
Posted
I would also like you to know that there are some dermatologists who can treat this problem with Botox injections at several places that ultimately will stop the sweat glands from working. As I just learned about this recently, I have not found a doctor yet. I live in Ohio, so I plan on checking out the doctors at the OSU Medical Center. It is a teaching hospital, so it's more likely that I'll find a few doctors who will treat my excessive head, face and neck sweating.
I cannot tell you, and anyone else who happens along this website, how very relieved I feel to know that I am not the only person who's life is pretty much controlled by this horrible problem. I hate that you know how I feel, because I would not wish this on anyone...😪
mollydoug Racingirl911
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Racingirl911, I also live in Ohio (near Akron, OH) so if/when you find out that the doctors at OSU Medical Center have an option(s), please keep me posted! Just as you said, I was certain that I was the only person who struggled with this horrible problem - amazing to find we aren't alone! My life has been pretty much dictated by this issue for as long as I can remember.
Racingirl911 mollydoug
Posted
Hello Molly!
Yes, it sure is great to know that I'm not alone, too! And, you can bet I will be posting any info I can get from OSU! We must support each other, because I'm betting that everyone here doesn't get a whole lot of support and/or understanding from family and friends.
You said you're around the the Akron area. I'm almost on the other side of Ohio (a little south of Lima). You are actually closer to a place that is usually light years ahead of even OSU--Cleveland Clinic! I'm willing to bet that their dermatology department is doing, or has been doing the Botox procedure for quite a while! So, how about this...I'll check out OSU (I have an appointment there next week), and then you can get a hold of Cleveland Clinic's dermatology department, and we will meet back here to share whatever info we may have! And, it probably won't surprise you when I tell you that my excessive head and face sweating runs my life SO much, that I have no problem driving the 3 and a half to 4 hours it takes me to get to Cleveland Clinic to have that Botox treatment!
By the way, I will reply here to my own original post, and I'm guessing that you should also reply here, because I must have set up something that alerts me via my email when someone replies on my post. But, to be on the safe side, I will check back here by the middle of next week (which will be after my OSU appointment--which, unfortunately, has nothing to do with my sweating issues.).
Good hunting, Molly!!!👍🏼👍🏼😁
diana91800 Racingirl911
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Hello ladies - I'm from Akron as well. I did botox and it helps ONLY. maybe 30% The other drugs Proanthine tabs and Oxybutrin(sp?) - I tried the Oxy but my mouth was so dry and I couldn't speak and don't know whether this was worse than the sweating or not. If you get Botox you have to go to a neurologist and should search who does the botox specifically for the head and face as well. Insurance pays for under arm sweating and feet and handsl When I start It's hard to breath at times and my nose runs like crazy. Diana
mollydoug Racingirl911
Posted
Sorry for my late reply Racingirl911 - somehow I missed your most recent message until today. I will check with Cleveland Clinic to see if they offer any suggestions for our problem. I've heard so many mixed reviews on Botox as help for this - but I'm willing to give anything a try! Like you, I'd happily drive 4 hours (or more!) if I found something that would help. Let's keep one another (and others) posted as to our findings! The last few days here have been miserable for me, temps in the 90's with high humidity, UGH!
mollydoug diana91800
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Racingirl911 mollydoug
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Hi!
Yeah, I hear ya with regards to high temps with high humidity.😱 I am retired, so when it gets this hot I just stay inside my air conditioned house! 😥
Let me know when you talk to Cleveland Clinic! I am SO crossing my fingers that you find good news!! 👍🏼👍🏼😁😁
I'm not sure if I told you exactly when my appointment with a Lima dermatologist who, I was told by his staff that he has experience with Botox treatment, is on June 26th. I will let you know what happens then. I pray that he will be able to do away with my face and head excessive sweating. I'm 60 y/o, and have been dealing with this for almost 20 years, so I'm absolutely ready to try anything just to get my life back!
barb67 Racingirl911
Posted
I just have a general question. Does this "excessive face, neck and head" sweating have an actual name? I've had MRI's, scans, etc and all I've been told is everything looks normal.
Do any of you experience your face turning bright red on one side and (in my case) white on the other? The line is exactly down the middle of my face, nose and chin. Since no one has given me a diagnosis - they say: "That's weird, you'll have to live with it or I don't know." Very depressing😩😩
bill09319 barb67
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