Palmar-Plantar Hyperhidrosis: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment | Incheon Hyperhidrosis

Hello, this is Baeknokdam Korean Medicine Clinic.

Sweat that won't stop, regardless of my will.
When someone extends a hand for a handshake,
I instinctively hide my own.

Sweat drops fall onto important exam papers, causing the paper to wrinkle,
On days I wear gray clothes, I worry my armpits might get wet,
preventing me from comfortably lifting my arms.

“When I get nervous, sweat drips from my hands.
Fearing people might find it unpleasant,
I've developed a habit of always hiding my hands.
I feel like I'm becoming too withdrawn.”

Understanding Hyperhidrosis

Hyperhidrosis is not simply having a sweaty constitution.
It's a troublesome problem that fills the most ordinary and important moments like handshakes, writing, presentations, and dates
with discomfort and anxiety, eroding one's self-confidence.

Our Body's 'Faucet' is Broken

Sweat is our body's natural cooling system for regulating body temperature.
When the body heats up, the brain's 'faucet' (autonomic nervous system) opens,
releasing sweat and cooling the body.

Normally, this faucet should open only when needed
and remain tightly closed otherwise.
However, hyperhidrosis is like this faucet being broken, unable to close tightly,
and continuously leaking water (sweat).

Causes of Hyperhidrosis

Even in comfortable situations where one is not particularly hot or nervous,
the nervous system sends unnecessary 'sweat!' signals to the sweat glands,
producing excessive perspiration.
This is a functional abnormality of the autonomic nervous system that cannot be controlled by will.

Traditional Korean Medicine Perspective

'When 'internal heat' overflows, or 'external gates' are loose,'
Traditional Korean Medicine views sweat as the body's moisture exiting through the 'skin's gates (sweat pores)'.

Hyperhidrosis is diagnosed as an imbalance in this process.
Firstly, it occurs when there is excessive 'unnecessary heat' inside the body, which pushes moisture out.
Heat due to emotional 'heart fire' (心火, simhwa) or stress is typical.
Often, the chest or palms feel stuffy and hot, leading to sweating.

Secondly, it occurs when the 'skin's gates' that regulate sweat become loose, allowing sweat to leak out spontaneously.
This signifies a state of 'Qi deficiency' (氣虛, giheo), where the body's fundamental energy (Qi) is insufficient.
Even slight movement can cause sweating, and one easily experiences fatigue and lethargy.

Traditional Korean Medicine Treatment

Therefore, Traditional Korean Medicine treatment does not simply suppress sweat,
but focuses on helping the body regulate sweat secretion normally through addressing the root causes, either by 'clearing unnecessary internal heat (淸熱, cheongyeol)'
or 'firmly closing loosened gates (固表斂汗, gopyoryeomhan)'

3 Habits to Manage Uncontrollable Sweating

It is important to reduce factors that stimulate sweat glands in daily life and find emotional stability.

Habit 1: Emotional Calm

Tension and anxiety are the biggest factors stimulating the sympathetic nervous system and promoting sweat secretion.
It is necessary to practice relaxing your mind through meditation or deep diaphragmatic breathing,
and managing anticipatory anxiety about 'what if I sweat?'

Habit 2: Body Temperature Regulation

It is best to avoid situations where your body temperature rises rapidly.
Wear cool, breathable clothes,
and be mindful of consuming excessively spicy or hot foods to maintain stable body temperature.

Habit 3: Avoid Trigger Foods

Caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, and similar substances are typical agents that excite the nervous system and can increase sweat secretion.
If you are struggling with sweat, it is advisable to temporarily steer clear of such stimulating foods and recreational items.

Conclusion

Will you give up 'opportunities' because of 'sweat'?
Ignoring uncontrollable sweat is not merely enduring discomfort.

It is the path of 'avoidance.'
Avoiding important meetings due to fear of handshakes,
missing out on good opportunities because of dreading presentations,
and becoming increasingly isolated as social interactions themselves feel burdensome—
it is a path where you yourself limit your social potential.

Your world becomes increasingly narrow because of sweat.
But now, recognizing that this is not merely a matter of constitution but a problem of bodily imbalance,
and actively managing it,
is a choice that goes beyond simply reducing sweat—it's about regaining lost confidence,
shaking hands with the world without fear and fully seizing opportunities,
reclaiming a free life.

#Hyperhidrosis #HandAndFootHyperhidrosis #PalmarPlantarHyperhidrosis