Excessive back perspiration

Back sweating usually occurs during intense physical activity, after a big scare, in the summer or in case of fever. When sweating becomes excessive, it is called hyperhidrosis of the back. It is simply a sign of oversweating.

Oversweating

Sweating is a natural phenomenon necessary for our body. It is in fact responsible for several functions, including body thermoregulation.

Oversweating, also known as hyperhidrosis, is a phenomenon that affects between 0.6 and 2.8%^(1),(2) of the population. It is excessive perspiration, in other words the amount of sweat produced exceeds that required for the thermoregulation of our body. Hyperhidrosis can be localized or affect the whole body.

It is not always easy to identify its causes. In most cases it appears for no particular reason in childhood or adolescence. But it can also be triggered by numerous factors:

• Physical effort
• Being overweight or poor dietary habits
• Stress
• A hormonal disorder
• Certain medical conditions, including diabetes
• Certain medicinal treatments
• And even heredity

Are there solutions for back oversweating?

If you experience excessive back perspiration, there are some things you can do to help prevent it, for example choosing clothes made of natural fibres or cotton to let the skin breathe.

There are also products available in pharmacies that put sweat glands to rest for several days, thus preventing sweat release. These are called antiperspirants. They come in different forms depending on the area to be treated.

In case of hyperhidrosis of the back, you will find antiperspirants in lotion form easier to apply than a roll-on or stick.

(1) Stolman LP. Treatment of hyperhidrosis. Dermatol Clin 1998;16:863-9
(2) Münchau A, Bhatia KP. Uses of botulinum toxin injection in medicine today. BMJ 2000;320:161-5