My overactive sweat glands started disrupting my life when I was so young that I don't even remember how old I was at the time. I only have vague, half-suppressed memories of other kids teasing me, pinching their noses and grimacing. Elementary school was a bad time for me, and even in high school, I would skip classes when having a really bad sweat day.
Things got only marginally better afterwards.
I had no idea that what I have is a medical condition until I started surfing for the anti-sweating tips online a few years ago, and discovered the truth about my excessive sweating. Living with hyperhidrosis did not become easier because of that, but on some psychological level, I was relieved to get a real name for my condition. It was then when I first went to the dermatologist, who directed me on how to best treat hyperhidrosis. I refused to take any medications, and instead focused on other treatments, like sweat-stopping shirts and underwear, antiperspirants, natural remedies and iontophoresis.
I had planned to order a Drionic Underarm, but at the last minute changed my mind and ordered a Hidrex PSP 1000 device instead. I sort of regret this now, because Hidrex is making my skin sensitive and is not entirely painless. I found some tips online, which mention petroleum jelly and hint that maybe I should set the pulsed current as low as 60% pulse width. I will try this and hope it goes better. If nothing else, iontophoresis treatments are still much better than trying to prevent underarm sweating with baby powder and antiperspirants alone.
It needs to be said that surfing on the Internet has helped me a lot, because I found a lot of useful advices. All that makes me think that life today – in the Information Age – is easier for us hyperhidrosis patients. I, for one, feel full of gratitude. I am thankful for the knowledge that what I have is hyperhidrosis – I am not just some strange sweaty guy. And I am thankful for the chance to share my social and psychological pain with others in online communities.
– Leonard
