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Excessive sweating face which is not in sync with the temperature of your environment or your level of activity can cause you significant social anxiety. This article will share with you several treatments and home remedies for this problem.
What Causes Profuse Sweating on Face?
Profuse sweating on face is a problem that many people around the world have to deal with at some point in their lives. For others it is a constant struggle that mark their day-to-day life. So, what causes profuse sweating on face?
Well, sweating is first of all a normal bodily function that helps the body to stay cool. Your face is covered with eccrine glands which may start producing sweat as early as one day of age. This happens when the body detects an increase in temperature due to factors such as:
- Hot weather
- Exercise e.g. it is normal to have beads of sweat covering and flowing from your forehead when running on the treadmill
- Stress, anxiety, anger and other emotional situations
Sweating prevents overheating of the body. As the sweat evaporates from your skin surface, it draws latent heat of vaporization from your body, thus cooling it down.
If you sweat even when the above triggering factors are not present, leading to beads of sweat on your face, then could be suffering from craniofacial hyperhidrosis.
Hyperhidrosis is a general term for a condition characterized by “…excessive and unpredictable sweating with no apparent reason in most cases” [Medline Plus].
Although hyperhidrosis can affect the entire body in some cases (secondary hyperhidrosis as a result of an underlying illnesses like malignant tumors, Parkinson’s disease, infections, heart disease, and hyperthyroidism), it tends to affect four major areas namely palms, soles, armpits, and face.
When excessive sweating occurs on the face, head or scalp, the condition is referred to as craniofacial hyperhidrosis. Craniofacial hyperhidrosis is the rarest variant of hyperhidrosis.
Excessive Sweating Face and Head
Craniofacial hyperhidrosis can affect the face as well as head and scalp. So don’t be surprised if you feel sweat rivulets running down your temple as you enjoy a movie at the cinema with your other half as one of our readers describes his symptoms.
How to Stop Facial Sweating (Prevent)
Facial sweating is often more annoying and embarrassing than other variations of excessive sweating, i.e. armpit sweating, palmar sweating, and feet sweating.
Even people who experience excessive sweating in these other parts of the body may find facial sweating the most bothersome since the face is the most prominent part of the body and is usually how we present ourselves to others.
All is not lost though with the advancement of in treatment of hyperhidrosis. Here is how to stop facial sweating:
Antiperspirants: Using antiperspirants is the first line of action against excess sweating. These are topical preparations that help to plus the sweat ducts and thus reduce sweating. Antiperspirants vary from mild over-the-counter antiperspirants to stronger prescription-strength antiperspirants.
Antiperspirants should not be confused with deodorants which only help to reduce body odor (by masking it) bur don’t prevent sweating. Some products may however contain both antiperspirants (usually containing aluminum salts such as aluminum chloride and aluminum chloride hexahydrate) and deodorants. Antiperspirants may cause irritation in some patients and may not be a long term solution.
Medications: Systemic medications called anticholinergics may as well be used to stop excessive facial sweating. These are usually taken orally and work by preventing the stimulation of sweat glands (by interfering with how nerve signals are sent to sweat glands). They are however associated with numerous side-effects such as constipation, blurry vision, and dry mouth which make this treatment option unsuitable for long-term treatment.
The option may however be useful for those people seeking a temporary solution for facial hyperhidrosis in order to avoid embarrassment or discomfort during an important event e.g. wedding, office PowerPoint presentation, or a performance.
Botox: Botox involves getting injections of Botulinum toxin type A to temporarily block the nerves that stimulate sweating.
Although Botox is typically used for excess armpit sweating (or axillary hyperhidrosis), The International Hyperhidrosis Society says that it can as well be used for facial sweating but recommends looking for an experienced practitioner since it “requires skill”.
One major side-effect often associated with treatment of facial hyperhidrosis with Botox is forehead asymmetry that usually result when the Botulinum toxins (Botox) diffuse into the facial muscles but as the International Hyperhidrosis Society says, this problem is usually temporary and can as well be corrected (balanced out) using additional injections.
Treatment for Excessive Sweating on Face
What is the best treatment for excessive sweating on face? Well, this will vary depending on the extent of your problem, but as The International Hyperhidrosis Society says, the first line of action for craniofacial hyperhidrosis should be topical treatment with antiperspirants.
Work your way up from the mild over-the-counter antiperspirants for face (with sodium chloride as the main ingredient) to clinical-strength antiperspirants (which are also sold over-the-counter) and finally the stronger prescription-strength antiperspirants (with aluminum chloride hexahydrate) which are only given on prescription.
If these options fail or are found to be too irritating to your skin, especially given the sensitive nature of the facial skin, you may then discuss other options such as oral medications and Botox with your doctor.
Home Remedies for Excessive Sweating on Face
Excessive facial sweating during exercise, hot weather, or stressful situations e.g. during a presentation or a dramatic performance, but if a characteristic of your day-to-day lives, then you may want to take some intervention measures to not only try to reduce the amount of sweat but also dry the sweat produced from your skin. You may find the following home remedies for excessive sweating on face helpful:
Apple cider vinegar: Apple cider vinegar is a common ingredient in home remedies and some folk will swear to its effectiveness in reducing sweating on the face. Using this remedy is as easy as taking a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar once a day for one week.
Alternatively you can mix it with organic honey in a ratio of 1:1 e.g. 1 teaspoon honey and 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar before taking it on empty stomach three times day for one week.
Talc powder: applying talc powder also helps to keep your face dry by absorbing excess swear. A good face powder will as well do the job. Some people even apply face powder as the foundation for their makeup.
Green grams: Green grams can also help to reduce sweating of the face.
- Roast some green grams, grind them into fine powder.
- Pour a little milk into the powder to make a fine paste.
- Apply the paste on your face and leave it on for 20 minutes or so
- Rinse your face with water
- Repeat for a couple weeks and you will see a notable improvement in facial sweating
Sage tea: Rich in vitamin B, sage tea is also touted to help reduce sweating. Simply take a cup of sage tea once a day for a week or wash your face with the tea.
Witch hazel: Witch hazel has natural astringent properties which help to tighten the pores and reduce sweating. Simply apply a little witch hazel to your face everyday using a small cotton ball over a period of one week and you will be able to see notable improvement.
