Sweating is a very natural and important function of our body. For most people, sweating can be an uncomfortable thing, especially if we are somewhere public and we're not actually wanting to put up a sweat.

Believe it or not, there is a disorder called anhidrosis which prevents the sufferer from sweating at all - that means, not one drop of sweat. This disease is so dangerous and life-threatening that any and all activities that may cause their body to heat up could cause them to suffer heatstroke.

Sweating Has Very Important Functions Other Than Cooling Us Off

The process of sweating is called homeostasis. It is designed to keep our body cool. Our body usually stays at around 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. If it gets above that temperature, then we begin to sweat in order to shed some of that excessive heat. But cooling us off is only one of the important functions.

Beyond keeping us cool, sweat also helps our immune system out alot. Our body uses sweat to expel poisons and toxins from our body that would otherwise kill us if they accumulated. Many viruses can't survive in temperatures above 98 degrees Fahrenheit, So our body must maintain this relatively high temperature.

Sweating also provides your body with this kind of protection:

• Fight skin infections via antimicrobial properties and reduce kidney stones

• Help rid your body of bisphenol-A (BPA) and phthalates

• Clean the pores, which will help eliminate blackheads and acne

When Are You Sweating Too Much

If you notice that you sweat way more than others do, especially when you are not involved in strenuous activities like exercise or hard labour, you may suffer from a rare disorder called .

Hyperhidrosis can occur to anyone for a number of reasons. Some of the most common factors are neurologic, endocrine, infectious, and other systemic diseases. Nevertheless, a handful of sufferers experiences excessive sweating nearly every waking hour of the day, no matter what the weather conditions are or if they have been doing any rigorous activities.

Though the numbers differ in respect to how many people actually suffer from this problem, the numbers are from three to eight million, depending on which source you read. In America, only 40 percent of sufferers actually ask a doctor about it. This is why it is hard to know for sure how many people actually suffer from Hyperhidrosis.

The Different Types of Hyperhidrosis

When asking, “What is hyperhidrosis,” the answer can be a little broad. Sometimes the symptoms can be unnoticeable to most. For example, if every time you are working with your hands, such as using an ink pen or pencil, and your palms are sweating the whole time, this could be palmoplantar hyperhidrosis. This can also happen with the soles of the feet.

While some people find it hard to grip a steering wheel or use hand tools due to palmoplantar hyperhidrosis, others suffer from axillary hyperhidrosis, which is excessive sweating of the underarm area. This can cause the individual to suffer socially, as their clothing is oftentimes stained by sweat, causing embarrassment and discomfort.

How to Treat Hyperhidrosis

If you find that you suffer from heavy sweating of the hands, feet, underarms, or even the face, you don't need to try and cover it up. Get medical treatment for it. A number of doctors and physicians are capable of treating Hyperhidrosis. Some of the methods include:

• Special over the counter antiperspirant that contains aluminum chloride (for example Certain Dri)

• Stronger prescription antiperspirant containing aluminum chloride hexahydrate

• Using a device called Iontophoresis that passes ionized tap water through the skin using direct electricity

• Taking Anticholinergics which is an oral medication that reduces sweating

• Getting a Botox treatment for treating excessive axillary (underarm) sweating

• Employing a technique called MiraDry that uses microwave energy to permanently kill sweat glands

• Using lasers that kill the underarm glands

• Surgery called thoracic sympathectomy may be considered as a last resort