home Thyroid Sweating of the head in women. Why the face and head sweat: possible causes of discomfort. Pharmaceutical drugs for hyperhidrosis

Sweating of the head in women. Why the face and head sweat: possible causes of discomfort. Pharmaceutical drugs for hyperhidrosis

What's in the article:

Experts call increased, excessive sweating at normal temperatures hyperhidrosis. With this disease, the head and face sweat a lot, which is a pathology and requires serious treatment, including surgery. For effective treatment, it is important to find out the reasons why the head and face sweat a lot. This pathology affects both men and women.

Types of disease

Experts divide hyperhidrosis into 2 main types:

Primary, in which excessive sweating manifests itself in the patient since childhood and is an individual physiological feature of the functioning of his body. Pathologically, excessive sweating gradually increases over the years and reaches its maximum manifestation by 16 - 22 years.
Secondary (acquired) manifests itself as a result of disturbances in the functioning of the body, indicating the course of the disease.

Only a doctor can determine the type of hyperhidrosis based on tests and a history of diseases.

Main symptoms

Regardless of the type of pathology, hyperhidrosis is manifested by the following symptoms:

Very profuse sweating, even at rest,
The appearance of perspiration and sweat on the face, neck, forehead, above the upper lip, on the palms,
During sweating, the patient feels hot flashes, a feeling of heat, the face turns red,
Increased anxiety, nervous tension, disturbance of emotional state,
The sweat released has a strong, unpleasant odor.
Headaches, loss of coordination, loss of strength, and darkening of the eyes may occur.

These symptoms indicate the presence of pathology in the body and require immediate consultation with a doctor and proper treatment. Women are recommended to undergo additional examination at the antenatal clinic. Since symptoms that are harmless at first glance may indicate disorders in the woman’s reproductive system.

Causes of hyperhidrosis

The pathological nature of why the head sweats is indicated by the sudden appearance of increased sweating, accompanied by accompanying symptoms.

The main reasons for the development of hyperhidrosis are:

disorders of the endocrine system (diabetes mellitus, metabolic disorders, hormonal imbalance),
vegetative pathological conditions - vegetative-vascular dystonia, hypotension, hypertension, hypertension, impaired blood microcirculation in blood vessels,
oncological diseases,
infectious, inflammatory (fungal, bacterial, viral) diseases,
changes in hormonal levels due to the onset of puberty, pregnancy, menopause,
disturbances in the functioning of the central nervous system, emotional stress, fear,
allergic reactions to taking certain types of medications,
hereditary predisposition to the disease.

A qualified specialist, a general practitioner, can determine the true cause. Early diagnosis and proper treatment are the key to a quick and effective recovery.

Factors

Factors that provoke hyperhidrosis include:

presence of bad habits - smoking, regular consumption of strong alcoholic drinks, drugs,
drinking hot tonic drinks - black tea, coffee,
abuse of hot spices, salt,
poor hygiene (bathing in hot water),
use of synthetic bedding, clothing,
the use of cosmetics that are unsuitable for your skin type, of poor quality and containing harmful chemicals.

Factors that cause the head and face to sweat a lot are always accompanied by symptoms of hyperhidrosis and are pathological in nature.

Diagnostics and medical examination

Diagnostic medical measures aimed at identifying the main causes will help you find out why your head and face sweat a lot and what to do.

For this, the patient is prescribed:

taking a general blood test, as well as blood tests for sugar and thyroid hormones (TSH, T3, T4, TPO). Women additionally donate blood for the sex hormones testosterone, estradiol, and progesterone.
Analysis of urine,
Electrocardiogram, in some cases MRI and CT,
Ultrasound of the thyroid gland, and for women also of the pelvic organs,
If necessary, x-ray.

Based on the data obtained, the doctor finds out the reason why the head and face sweat excessively and prescribes treatment. If increased sweating is a consequence of serious illnesses, complex treatment is prescribed, which includes medication, physiotherapeutic measures, vitamin therapy, and elimination of sweating.

If women's head and face sweat a lot, a consultation with a gynecologist is additionally required. If the disease is a consequence of hormonal changes (pregnancy, menopause), then treatment is aimed at eliminating the symptoms of increased sweating, and the use of serious medications is not required.

Treatment

If the head sweats a lot with primary hyperhidrosis, then drug treatment is not required. The main treatment is aimed at eliminating the unpleasant symptoms of the disease. For this we recommend:

Improve your diet, eliminate fatty, fried, spicy foods, salt, spices and herbs. Increase the amount of plant foods in your diet (vegetables, fruits, herbs), sea fish, low-fat fermented milk products, still mineral water,
For hygiene procedures and washing, use warm, slightly cool water, and immediately after washing use an antiperspirant,
Wash your hair more often with cool water and rinse with decoctions of medicinal plants (calendula, chamomile, burdock root, nettle),
Drink teas from sedative medicinal plants - lemon balm, mint, thyme, chamomile, linden,
Physiotherapeutic procedures (iontophoresis),
Taking multivitamin preparations, especially vitamins C, E, group B.

If the head, neck and face of women sweat a lot, it is recommended to daily wipe the problem area with ice cubes made from green tea, chamomile, calendula, and oak bark. Injections of Botox and Dysport are possible to block the sebaceous glands and reduce sweating.

Treatment for sweaty head and face due to secondary hyperhidrosis is carried out using a conservative method, and in especially severe cases - surgical intervention.

a gentle diet with a large amount of plant-based natural food, helping to reduce excess body weight and improve metabolism,
taking sedatives (Persen, Novo-Passit, motherwort tincture),
taking medications that block sweat glands and eliminate excessive sweating (Oxybutynin, Glycopyrrolate, Novitropan). They can only be taken on the advice of a doctor,
baths with decoctions of oak bark, mint, sage, lemon balm, calendula.
Taking homonal drugs in case of disruption of the endocrine and reproductive systems,
Botox injections allow you to block the increased activity of the sebaceous glands for several months.

If the effect of conservative treatment is insufficient, surgical intervention is used, which permanently eliminates the problem of excessive sweating of the head and face. However, this method is radical and entails complications. Surgical removal of sweat glands is carried out in 2 ways:

Endoscopic sympathectomy - in which sweat glands and nerve endings are removed. The production of sweat by these glands stops forever.
Thoractoscopic sympathectomy, in which the nerve endings are pinched by cutting the muscles and skin. This method is more traumatic, has serious complications and contraindications.

To prevent complications (damage to other nerve fibers) and side effects, sympathectomy should only be performed in a medical facility by a highly qualified surgeon.

Contraindications for sympathectomy are:

Chronic diseases
Thrombophlebitis, varicose veins,
The period of pregnancy and breastfeeding,

The patient's age is under 28 years.

Removal of nerve fibers is carried out only on the recommendation of a doctor when other treatment methods have not been successful.

Prevention

When asked what to do if the head and face sweat a lot, especially in women, it is necessary to direct all efforts to clarify the reason why this pathology appeared.

If the cause of increased sweating is not a disease, but a lifestyle, it is necessary to take measures to eliminate all provoking factors.

By following some preventive measures, you can avoid the problem of a sweaty face, palms, and head. For example:

Drink warm drinks, avoiding hot strong coffee, black tea,
Include in your diet foods rich in potassium, iron, vitamins B, C, E,
Get enough sleep, at least 8 hours,
Avoid stressful situations that provoke the release of adrenaline and increase sweating,
Regularly drink sedative teas (melissa, mint, thyme, valerian),
Use cool water to wash your hair.

Only a qualified doctor can determine the exact reason why and what to do if the head and facial part sweats very much. It is necessary to promptly seek medical help and carry out all recommended tests and diagnostic measures. Women are not recommended to self-medicate and take medications on their own, as they can aggravate the problem and make it difficult for the doctor to determine the diagnosis and the exact cause of the problem. It is important to understand that the head sweats due to changes in the body. And only a doctor can prescribe competent, comprehensive and effective treatment.

The article was checked by a practicing family doctor, Elizaveta Anatolyevna Krizhanovskaya, 5 years of experience

Hyperhidrosis of the head is a special pathology when excessive sweating occurs at normal temperatures.

The head and face can sweat heavily in men and women equally often.

A person immediately has a question - what to do? Which doctors to consult and how to cure this problem.

To answer this question, it is necessary to understand the causes of the pathology.

Letters from our readers

Subject: I got rid of hyperhidrosis!

To: Site Administration

Christina
Moscow

I have recovered from excessive sweating. I tried powders, Formagel, Teymurov ointment - nothing helped.

It is still unknown what exactly causes this pathological condition. However, there are concomitant diseases that, as a result or in conjunction with which, may cause hyperhidrosis of the face and scalp.

These are the following states:

pregnancy;
allergic reactions;
vegetative-vascular dystonia;
traumatic brain injury;
side effect from the use of drugs;
poisoning, unhealthy diet;
state of stress, depression, nervous disorder;
oncological diseases;
high blood pressure;
excess weight;
increased body temperature;
metabolic disease;
chronic forms of various infections;
excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages and drugs;
hormonal causes: diabetes, menopause, thyroid disease.

Excessive sweating is also a symptom of dangerous diseases such as:

AIDS;
tuberculosis;
lymphogranulosis;
hypoglycemia.

Increased sweating is a normal condition when playing sports, lifting heavy objects, and in the summer. But some people produce a large amount of sweat even at a comfortable air temperature. Increased sweating, as a rule, causes increased difficulties in everyday life for any person who is faced with this problem.

In addition to physically uncomfortable health, patients with such a pathology often develop a nervous system disorder, permanent stress and depression, due to the fact that others pay attention to their excessive sweating.

With hyperhidrosis, the face (mainly the forehead, temples, nose) and head (including the part covered with hair) sweat heavily. Red spots from sweat most often appear on the face.

Severe sweating of the head and face as a separate disease is diagnosed quite often.

Facial sweating or increased sweating on the head can only occur at night. In this case, it is worth undergoing examinations for the presence of diseases such as tuberculosis, lymphogranulosis, AIDS, as well as reflex pathology (throwing the contents of the stomach into the esophagus).

Severe sweating of the head and face during sleep is caused by problems with the thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism), a decrease in the amount of sugar in the blood (hypoglycemia), and withdrawal of alcohol or drugs due to addiction.

Very often, severe sweating of the head and face occurs in women during menopause.

In a situation where the head and face sweat, the doctor may diagnose craniofacial hyperhidrosis.

This diagnosis gives the following symptoms:

sweating in large quantities;
severe sweating on the head, forehead, cheeks, nose, lips and neck;
the patient feels intense heat;
redness of the skin;
the patient feels constant nervousness;
release of an unpleasant odor, which is caused by the proliferation of microorganisms in a humid environment.

There are also accompanying symptoms - headaches, dizziness, loss of strength, hot flashes.

If you notice similar symptoms in yourself, you should not delay your visit to the therapist. Sometimes a person does not even think about the occurrence of any diseases in his body, but often they cause severe sweating.

The therapist will give referrals to more specialized specialists. An endocrinologist should be visited, especially if, with excessive sweating, there is also lacrimation, fever, hot flashes, chills, and an enlarged thyroid gland.

You should contact an oncologist if, along with severe sweating of the head and face, new growths appear in various areas of the skin.

If there is a cough, decreased performance and hyperhidrosis is diagnosed, then a disease such as tuberculosis is suspected, and a consultation with a phthisiatrician is prescribed.

Survey

When a patient suffers from excessive sweating of the head and face, he is first prescribed a general diagnosis to exclude or confirm the presence of pathology.

These are various studies:

blood;
ultrasound examination of the thyroid gland;
electrocardiogram.

Often, severe sweating of the head and face in both women and men is a symptom of some more serious illness, i.e. hyperhidrosis is secondary. If there is such a suspicion, further treatment is prescribed for the primary disease, for which the therapist refers a specialist to a consultation.

One of the first to visit is an endocrinologist. Sweating of the head and face can occur with some endocrine diseases. With diffuse toxic goiter, the thyroid gland is enlarged in front, the patient also experiences lacrimation, nervousness, increased sweating, and bulging eyes.

In diabetes mellitus, the head and face, as well as the rest of the upper body, sweat very much; on the contrary, dry skin is observed below. During menopause, women experience severe sweating throughout the body, including the head and face.

Some oncological pathologies cause hyperhidrosis of the head and face, so with similar symptoms the patient may be referred to an oncologist for a series of studies.

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Infections may cause the head and face to sweat, which are treated by an infectious disease specialist. These are diseases such as:

malaria;
flu;
hepatitis;
ARVI.

Many neurological pathologies can cause excessive sweating (for example, Parkinson's disease). If a person reacts very emotionally to various situations that are uncomfortable for him, he may begin to experience severe sweating of the head and face due to nervousness. A psychiatrist or psychotherapist deals with such conditions. Patients are prescribed sedatives, after taking which, as a rule, hyperhidrosis goes away.

In case of acute poisoning (food, chemical), there are manifestations of increased sweating of the head and face. These situations are dealt with by toxicologists who clean the blood and lavage the stomach. With effective treatment of poisoning, hyperhidrosis also disappears.

Emergency cardiac pathologies (myocardial infarction) are accompanied by sweating of the face and head. Accordingly, with a successful outcome, hyperhidrosis also goes away.

Selection of effective treatment

In all of the above cases, hyperhidrosis is of a secondary type, but if the studies performed do not show any abnormalities, a diagnosis of primary hyperhidrosis is made. Its treatment is carried out by a dermatologist, who determines the degree of morbidity and prescribes a treatment method:

antiperspirants;
iontophoresis;
Botox, Dysport

The definitive treatment for hyperhidrosis is surgery. During the operation, the nerve that is responsible for sweating is removed. Surgery is recommended if previous conservative methods do not produce results.

You should not eat excessively hot or salty foods.
Exclude teas, coffee, cocoa, chocolate, carbonated drinks, because they include elements that provoke increased sweating.
It is necessary to include in your diet a sufficient amount of vegetables and fruits, especially those containing vitamin C.

In case of excessive sweating of the face and head, it is necessary to follow the rules of hygiene:

change bed linen more often;
iron it before use;
create a comfortable atmosphere in the apartment (ventilate it more often, use a humidifier, air conditioner).

It is necessary to use antiperspirants containing aluminum chloride.

With the help of sweat, the human body cools down and removes toxins. When it is secreted normally, a person practically does not notice it, except in hot weather, when the sweat glands work more actively.

But if sweat is released especially actively without external reasons, then you should think about the state of your health. Most people have a sweaty head if the temperature around them is high or during physical activity, but if an adult’s head sweats during sleep, this may indicate disorders of the autonomic system or endocrine pathologies.

Head and face sweat - reasons

The most likely and common cause of head fogging without objective reasons is autonomic disorders. The fact is that this system is responsible for the body’s reaction to external factors - for example, meteosensitivity is a direct consequence of VSD. If the autonomic system fails, this can cause increased activity of the sweat glands, including on the head, for no apparent reason.

The next possible cause of head fogging is endocrine disorders. Both with hypothyroidism and thyrotoxicosis, a person may experience profuse sweating, but if the reason for such a symptom with hypothyroidism is that the metabolism is slowed down and fluid is retained in the body, then with thyrotoxicosis the opposite happens - accelerated metabolism, increased rhythm of work of all systems leads to constant thirst and sweating.

Often these two reasons coincide.

This pathology can also be caused by:

local hyperhidrosis;
excess weight;
menopause (which is also associated with hormonal changes in the body).

What to do if an adult has a very sweaty head?

If your head sweats a lot, then this is a reason to consult a specialist to find the cause.

First of all, you should not underestimate the capabilities of the autonomic system, and therefore take measures to improve its health:

Also examine the body for endocrine diseases - for this you need to take blood tests for the hormones T4 and T3. If a disease is detected, the doctor will prescribe a medication that normalizes the amount of hormones, and within a month the situation will improve.

If present, you should get rid of unnecessary pounds.

If your blood pressure is high, make sure that it does not increase - regularly take medications that help remove excess fluid from the body and thin the blood.

Excessive sweating is often observed in people with oily skin. Hyperhidrosis of the face and head develops due to excessive activity of the sweat glands located in the corresponding areas.

Severe sweating of the face and head, or hyperhidrosis, is not dangerous to health and causes psychological rather than physical discomfort. As a rule, increased sweating is observed at the boundaries of hair growth, that is, in the forehead and back of the head. In hot weather, sweat production on the scalp increases significantly.

As a rule, increased sweating is observed in the following situations:

playing sports and any other physical activity;
stressful situations;
night sleep;
hot weather.

In most cases, with scalp hyperhidrosis, there is increased sweating in other parts of the body, such as the palms.

Excessive sweating of the head in women often becomes the cause of complexes, against the background of which the development of neuroses and depressive states is possible. Excessive sweating in the hot season causes serious discomfort and makes women doubt their attractiveness.

Causes

For severe sweating of the head, the reasons are as follows:

disruption of the nervous system;
excessive activity of the sweat glands;
vegetative-vascular dystonia;
the presence of a chronic source of infection in the body;
hormonal imbalances;
a number of chronic diseases.

Severe sweating can occur due to the characteristics of the human nervous system. This problem is often faced by timid people who tend to acutely experience any emotional tension and stress.

Hyperhidrosis is often observed with dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system, which is responsible for regulating sweat production.

In the presence of a chronic source of infection, hyperhidrosis is an attempt by the body to get rid of the disease through increased sweat production.

Increased sweating is often observed against the background of hormonal changes in the body. This problem is often faced by adolescents, as well as women during pregnancy and menopause. The problem can also arise due to pathologies of the thyroid gland.

However, severe sweating of the head and face does not always indicate pathologies. Often, hyperhidrosis is a congenital feature of the body, in which the number of sweat glands or the intensity of their work increases.

Diagnostics

Before starting treatment, you must consult a doctor and undergo a comprehensive examination. If impaired sweating is associated with any malfunctions in the body, it is necessary to identify the problem and begin to treat it. Otherwise, treatment of hyperhidrosis will not bring results.

First of all, a patient facing this problem needs to consult a dermatologist. Dermatologists often refer patients to a neurologist and endocrinologist to rule out pathologies of the nervous system and thyroid gland.

Based on the results of a comprehensive examination, optimal treatment methods are selected.

Treatment principle

For scalp hyperhidrosis, treatment is prescribed only after identifying the cause of the disease. As a rule, treatment is aimed at normalizing all processes occurring in the body.

Conservative therapy includes the following measures:

taking sedative medications;
taking general restoratives;
normalization of diet;
treatment of the scalp and face;
physiotherapeutic treatment.

Treatment begins only after the elimination of the main factor that triggered the development of excessive sweating. If the examination reveals a pathology of the thyroid gland, treatment is prescribed and adjusted by an endocrinologist.

Often, excessive sweating develops against the background of chronic diseases of internal organs and metabolic disorders. In this case, you should proceed to treatment of hyperhidrosis only after getting rid of the underlying disease.

Normalization of nervous system activity

As medical practice shows, hyperhidrosis of the head and face occurs in timid and restless people who do not know how to relax and deal with stress. Often, taking sedatives and psychotherapy helps get rid of the problem.

For this purpose, herbal medicines that are not addictive are prescribed. It is recommended to take such drugs in a course. They help increase resistance to stress and normalize night sleep.

Your doctor may recommend mild sedatives, such as tincture of peony, motherwort, or valerian. However, in case of serious disorders of the nervous system, the patient needs to consult a neurologist or psychiatrist, who will prescribe comprehensive treatment.

General strengthening drugs help normalize all body functions. This treatment is often prescribed in cases where excessive sweating occurs against the background of VSD, decreased immunity, or diseases of the nervous system. For this purpose, patients are advised to take vitamin complexes.

Equally important in treatment is normalizing the diet and getting rid of bad habits. Often, increased sweating of the head is observed in obese people with metabolic disorders.

Symptomatic treatment

Symptomatic treatment of the problem consists of treating the skin with special medicinal antiperspirants. Such drugs are selected only by a doctor. The product is used in a course, it is applied to the scalp and face before bedtime. As a rule, after a course of treatment, sweating normalizes for up to several months, and then the treatment is repeated.

At home, darsonvalization of problem areas with excessive sweating may also be recommended. This procedure involves using a special device, the operating principle of which is based on microcurrent effects. As a result of this treatment, the scalp stops sweating heavily over the next few months.

Your doctor may also recommend special Botox injections. During the procedure, a special drug is injected into the area of the sweat glands to reduce sweat production. This method of treatment allows you to forget about the problem for up to six months, but then the procedure will have to be repeated.

Hyperhidrosis can cause serious psychological discomfort. If the patient has a high forehead, the problem is clearly visible to others, which does not add self-confidence. Patients are often prescribed a course of psychotherapy in order to get rid of complexes associated with excessive sweating.

Sweating is a normal physiological process that helps control thermoregulation in the body. However, when sweating of the head in women occurs constantly or at night, it is worth thinking about possible violations. In such cases, it is recommended to consult a doctor, since sweating may be a harbinger of a serious abnormality.

Causes of increased sweating on the head in women

Pathological influence on the development of hyperhidrosis

The secondary form of hyperhidrosis develops due to pathological processes occurring in the body. Such deviations often pose a serious threat to human health, so excessive sweating in this case, from the point of view of doctors, is more dangerous. A clear sign of such hyperhidrosis is sweating at night. The reasons that cause increased sweat production are:

What are the symptoms of scalp hyperhidrosis?

With secondary hyperhidrosis, the head and face sweat a lot, which is the main alarming sign. However, there are different situations, and you need to be able to figure out when to see a doctor and when to use traditional methods. The main symptoms include:

Generalized sweating. It appears in various parts of the body, not just the head.
Profuse sweating at night. Increased sweating at night does not occur on its own.
Asymmetry of sweating. Unilateral sweating may indicate a nervous imbalance.
The intensity of sweat secretion. When sweating gives way to dryness and vice versa, it is recommended to urgently consult with your doctor.
Sweating when taking pills. In this case, you should consult your doctor about a possible side effect.

How to diagnose pathology?

If alarming signs develop, an immediate consultation with a doctor is required, who will conduct a comprehensive examination, consisting of the following measures:

detailed medical history;
thorough examination of the patient;
general examination of blood and urine;
thyroid examination;
blood sugar level analysis;
X-ray of the chest cavity;
CT, MRI and other examinations based on the situation.

Basic treatment methods for sweating of the head

How effective is surgery?

Together with your doctor, you need to choose a treatment method so as not to aggravate the problem.

The main surgical methods include:

Manipulations in the cervical and chest area. They influence the symptomatic nerve using chemicals and electricity. The nerve blockage occurs permanently or with possible recovery, the decision is made by the doctor during the operation.
Endoscopic surgery. They have the highest success rate in the treatment of scalp hyperhidrosis. Subsequently, the patient does not have postoperative scars, and the person is discharged the next day. Small holes are punctured in the scalp, into which an endoscope and a mini-camera penetrate.
Operations through the skin. The intervention occurs only under the scalp.

The course of treatment is prescribed only by a doctor based on the diagnostic results.