Yoga: Yes, it's for people with hyperhidrosis too!

I had an epiphany during a recent yoga class. No, I didn't attain nirvana or a state of total consciousness. And maybe epiphany is too strong a word...here's what happened: I saw an attractive young woman with a happy aura doing yoga in her socks. The teacher suggested that she remove her socks, and she said "No, I need to keep them on...my feet slip around too much." Her statement was matter-of-fact and absent of any shame or self-consciousness. The teacher said something along the lines of "yes, that happens a lot."

After the class, I spoke with the sweaty-footed yogini. We swapped tips on how to prevent skids on the mat. I use a little towel at the top of my mat, and I have one mat in particular that seems to absorb sweat while remaining sticky. There are also yoga towels that have a rubber backing that clings to the mat.

I had avoided yoga for so long because I didn't want to be embarassed by my sweaty feet, but if anything, yoga has improved my hyperhidrosis.

Love,
Tiara

What inspires you? What takes you outside of yourself?

One of the hardest parts about hyperhidrosis, at least for me, is that I find myself in an ultra-self-conscious state of mind. Someone near me could be having a nervous breakdown, choking on a pine nut or something, and I'm wondering if the black marks left by wet shoe leather are showing. So one of my best strategies is to focus on things and people outside of myself. It doesn't always work, but over time, it has helped.

Here are some of the readings that particularly help me:
1) Teachings on Love by Thich Nhat Hanh
2) Tara Brach's Radical Acceptance
3) The Onion (because laughter is medicine)

What inspires you and takes you outside of yourself? Does that help slow down the sweating?

By142's Moisture Absorb--has anyone tried it?

Thanks to Heather for sending me a tip about a new hyperhidrosis product, By142 Moisture Absorb, which is supposed to absorb wetness on your hands or feet. One question...where does the moisture go?

Has anyone heard of this product or tried it? Will I finally be able to wear strappy sandals without sliding out of them, or is it another HH scam? It costs $30 for 1.7 ounces...rather pricey, but if it worked, I would pay.

Here's a link to the product:

http://www.by142.com/products/moisture_ABSORB.html

Looks like you can buy it online but Nordstrom's also sells it.

Please keep the tips coming!

Love,
Tiara

Hyperhidrosis study

Does anyone know anything about an August 2007 study of hyperhidrosis that was published in Dermatologic Surgery Journal? The full study is not available online.

A Comprehensive Approach to the Recognition, Diagnosis, and Severity-Based Treatment of Focal Hyperhidrosis
Solish, N., et al. - The objective was to establish clinical guidelines for the recognition, diagnosis, and treatment of primary focal hyperhidrosis...Conclusion: These guidelines offer a rapid method to assess disease severity and to treat primary focal hyperhidrosis according to severity [more...]

Dermatologic Surgery, 08/03/07

Attention Nintendo Wii gamers: Now there is an improved strap that could help sweaty-palmed gamers hold the remote. Visit the stopsweatyhands blog for more information.

Love,
Old-Fashioned Tiara (who doesn't game but stands in solidarity with all sweaty-palmed gamers--and who kicked butt in Ms. PacMan in the 1980s though today she can't beat her husband at the game, though she can beat him at SkiBall)

Back-to-school sweat tips

The International Hyperhidrosis Society just published a great article, Back-to-School Sweat Tips. I remember how I agonized over the start of the school year--is there any way I can hide my sweat? I had lots of strategies: wearing only white shirts, not raising my hand in class, not doing activities that might require me to raise my hand or shake/hold hands with others. Unfortunately, those strategies also meant missing out on joyful experiences. So if you're in school and reading this blog, please check out the sweat tips article--and don't deprive yourself of the joy that we all deserve. I have been so inspired and blessed to hear from many young people with hyperhidrosis who are not letting their sweating get in the way of their life.

Summer sweat tips from the International Hyperhidrosis society. For foot sweat, I tried Summer Soles, and it seems to help a lot. I still haven't graduated to wearing sandals to work. Today it was 95 degrees out and I wore thick socks. According to the IHS article, temperatures inside socks and shoes can reach up to 120 degrees in the summer. I can believe it!


Summersoles web site -- http://www.summersoles.com/

Please send some your best wishes to M., a very thoughtful and intelligent teenager who wrote to me about her axillary hyperhidrosis.

She had four questions:

1) does sage help reduce HH?
2) "Have you ever heard of caldacin powder? Someone posted it in Yahoo Answers as a solution for sweaty armpits but it sounds too good to be true. Apparently if you cover your hand in that powder and dip it in water, it comes out dry. But you can't find it on wikipedia or any search engine."

3) And have you ever heard of 'Stop Sweating and Start Living", which is some ebook with tips on how you can stop axillary hyperhidrosis with some kind of natural herb (I'm thinking sage, maybe?). BUt it costs 30 dollars, so it might be a scam...

4) Do you know if there is any kind of blog like yours for axillary hyperhidrosis? I urgently need someone with AH to talk to.

Wish I knew the answers but I don't...can anyone help?

Medical industry pushes most profitable hyperhidrosis treatments

If deodarant doesn't stop the excess sweat on your hands, feet, or under your arms, then your next best option is iontophoresis. It's a non-invasive, highly effective treatment with an initial investment of approximately $500 and a few doctors office visits to learn how to give yourself treatments with the Fischer Galvanic unit.

Yet, has anyone had any luck finding a dermatologist who will give you iontophoresis treatment and training? You can find dozens of doctors who will inject expensive Botox into your hands and feet, and welcome you back every few months for follow-up injections. This could cost you a few thousand every year. If you were a doctor looking to make money, it's a no-brainer to offer Botox rather than iontophoresis. Huge profit margin and guaranteed repeat business.

I think the International Hyperhidrosis Society is doing great work, but I wish they would encourage more doctors to offer iontophoresis treatment, or publish a directory of doctors who do. Because I have yet to find one in my large city.

"The Secret" may not be Secret deodarant

Interesting discussion on the cool blog notmartha.com about Secret Clinical Strength deodorant.