PLEASE HELP: excessive sweating
Female, 21, 5'0" 150 lbs, no known physical health issues, some mental health issues under control with basic SSRIs.
Hey all. I desperately need help with this silly-sounding medical issue that no one takes seriously. I know what you're thinking — it's just sweat — but this is actually ruining my life and I need an immediate solution.
So I've always run hot. I'm the type of gal who wears shorts and no coat when there's snow on the ground. Over the past four or five years, tho, I have developed an issue with excessive sweating that seems to be getting worse with time. Nowadays, it only takes fifteen minutes of very light physical activity (I'm talking like a leisurely walk) for me to become absolutely soaked in sweat. This happens regardless of the weather, even in winter, and I wear shorts and tank tops every day. Often, I have to bring a change of clothes with me to school/work or go into the bathroom for extended periods to try to try off.
The thing is — I can't stress this enough — that my hands, feet, and armpits do not sweat almost at all, unlike typical cases of hyperhidrosis. The major problem is my head and face (scalp, forehead, temples, upper lip), but I also sweat excessively from my chest, back, and thighs. It is so bad that sweat will pool in my ears and tear ducts, no matter how often I wipe it. My clothes become positively drenched. Again, all it takes for this to happen is a fifteen minute walk in cold weather. My body doesn't return to a normal temperature (and the sweating doesn't stop, until I am seated in an air conditioned area for thirty minutes. Then I feel normal again.
This issue is embarrassing, time consuming, and incredibly annoying. I've changed my life and routines a lot to accommodate taking care of/cleaning up the sweat or trying not to sweat. Several doctors have been unwilling to help. Please — I need an immediate solution!
Posted Sep 1, 2026, 4:35 PM UTC