Hands and feet sweating can be a normal phenomenon, or it can be caused by hyperhidrosis. Sweat is secreted by sweat glands and can be affected by factors such as stress, temperature, and environment. If there are no other abnormalities in the body, special treatment is generally not required. If it is still easy to sweat even when the temperature is suitable, the possibility of hyperhidrosis needs to be excluded.
1. What causes hands and feet to sweat? Normal sweating of hands and feet is a normal physiological reaction. However, excessive sweating of hands and feet is a functional local abnormal hyperhidrosis of unknown cause. Excessive sweating of hands and feet is also known as "palmar hyperhidrosis" or "pedal hyperhidrosis." The secretion of sweat glands is controlled by the sympathetic nerves, and palmar hyperhidrosis is caused by excessive tension of the sympathetic nerves for unknown reasons, such as tension, excitement, stress, or high temperatures in summer, which lead to abnormal increases in palm sweating. It can also be caused by sympathetic nerve damage or abnormal response, increased acetylcholine secretion, resulting in excessive sweat secretion from small sweat glands. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, excessive sweating of hands and feet is caused by dysfunction of the spleen and stomach.
2. Treatment for excessive sweating of hands and feet To cure excessive sweating of hands and feet, it is first necessary to identify the cause and determine whether it is pathological hyperhidrosis. Pathological hyperhidrosis is caused by certain diseases, such as tuberculosis, rickets, partial hyperthyroidism, diabetes, and mental disorders, which can lead to secondary palmar hyperhidrosis. However, pathological hyperhidrosis is accompanied by other symptoms besides excessive sweating. Excluding pathological diseases, the most effective methods to cure excessive sweating of hands and feet are herbal medicine treatment and surgical treatment. Other methods such as iontophoresis and antiperspirants can only temporarily suppress excessive sweating and cannot fundamentally solve the problem. It is recommended to avoid smoking and alcohol, and eat less spicy and heavy-flavored foods. For sweating caused by damp-heat in the spleen and stomach, Traditional Chinese Medicine recommends using herbal formulas such as Sanren Tang (Three Kernel Decoction) and Shenfu Baishu Powder (Ginseng and Atractylodes Macrocephala Powder). It is also recommended to eat more yam, barley, and Atractylodes Macrocephala.
