Hyperhidrosis is the medical term for the condition of excessive sweating.
There are a number of people around the world who face this problem.
They always have a feeling of dampness on their feet, hands, armpits, chest and other parts of the face.
The severity on different parts may differ from person to person.
There are some people who have the tendency of having more sweat on their feet while others who have it more on their palms and hands.
The problem of hyperhidrosis can be really embarrassing.
Sitting in a business meeting or with relatives and having a round wet patch on your shirt can be really upsetting.
Not being able to shake hands with another person because your hands are mostly sweaty cannot be a very pleasant feeling.
Remembering to wipe your hands with a towel before picking up a paper so that you do not leave any damp handprints can be annoying.
Thus, it becomes important that you understand the causes and the treatment for the problem.
Hyperhidrosis is common.
Palmar hyperhidrosis is the most common form wherein people have sweaty hands.
It is believed that hyperhidrosis is caused because of the over activity of the sympathetic nervous system.
It is often hard to control sweating.
Sweating is embarrassing as well as not anticipated.
Normal sweating is important for thermal regulation.
However, there are a number of people who have sweating that exceeds the physiological thermal needs of the body.
People who have more than required levels of sweat are suffering from hyperhidrosis.
The problem of hyperhidrosis in inherited in almost every ethnic group.
Apart from the maceration of skin, hyperhidrosis can also have severe physiological consequences like cold and clammy hands, skin infections and dehydration.
The emotional life of a person can also be majorly disturbed.
The cause for excessive sweating can be explained.
The hypothalamus, a part of the brain that regulates functions with relation to sweat sends sensory signals to the sweat nerves.
The sweat glands further receive these signals from the sweat nerves which are a part of the sympathetic nervous system located in the chest cavity.
The sweat glands after receiving the signals generate sweat.
When a person is suffering from hyperhidrosis, the sweat glands do not obey the signals and produce a significant volume of sweat that comes out of your underarms, face, feet or palms.
The people who suffer from hyperhidrosis are fully aware of their condition and constantly try to look for ways that can help solve their problem.
They try and change their lifestyle in order to put up with the problem.
With the advancements in medicine, there have been a number of treatments which help you cure the problem of excessive sweating.
It is always recommended that you opt for natural methods to cure the affliction.
Natural deodorants are one such solution that you might want to try.
They are environmentally friendly and a good answer to the problem of body odor.
You could either purchase an over the counter natural deodorant or prepare one at home.
There are several benefits of using natural deodorants:

1. Their hypoallergenic nature has been confirmed by tests.
   
2. They do not leave any stains
3. They maintain a shelf life of 10-12 months
4. They solve the problem of odor by inhibiting bacterial growth and no by blocking the pores of the skin.
   

It is possible that the natural deodorants you purchase for the market do not give you any relief.
In such a case, you could use the following two recipes to create your own natural deodorants:

1. Baking Soda Powder and Cornstarch Mixture: Baking soda immediately helps in the evaporation of sweat.
   This is because sweat is acidic and baking soda is alkaline.
   When the two come in contact, gas is created which evaporates.
   A hundred percent natural deodorant can be prepared by mixing equal quantities of cornstarch and baking soda.
   A few drops of essential oil may be added to have a scent smell.
   This needs to be applied on dry underarms.
   
2. Liquid deodorant: For those who prefer a deodorant in liquid form, tea with aromatic herbs may be used.
   Dilute this mineral water and add a few drops of essential oil for the scent.
   Lavender or eucalyptus could be added to hinder the growth of bacteria.
   

Doctors may prescribe you anti-cholinergic drugs.
These may help reduce the sweat but these should be consumed only if they do not have any side effects to your body.
Doctors may also suggest you with surgery to remove the sweat glands which are overactive.
There are a large number of specialists who recommend a surgical procedure called endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS).
This is widely advertised as a cure for hyperhidrosis.
This procedure interferes with the functions of the sympathetic nerves because of which excessive sweat occurs without causing any harm to the nerves or surrounding organs.
However, it is important to understand that ETS has a major side effect.
This has been seen in almost all patients who have undergone the treatment.
The person starts suffering from compensatory sweating.
This means that if you get the procedure done on your underarms, you will start seeing excessive sweat on your cheat, torso, thighs and legs.
This can be troublesome in the long run since you wouldn't want one frustration to begin another.
The most effective and less harmful treatment that has been used is Iontophoresis.
The first step of the treatment requires you to place the part you want to get treated in a bath of tap water.
A very small electrical current is passed in water for 15 minutes.
The feeling may have some skin irritation or burning sensation.
The treatment is not suitable for those who are going to be pregnant or have a heart pacemaker.
A session will have to be taken every few days and in case you feel that the treatment is helping you, you may purchase the equipment for use at home.