Body Temperature: Sweating & Coldness / Question
Published: December 8, 2003
Dear TeenHealthFX,
I sweat really, really bad every second of the day I have to re-add deodorant every half hour but I still smell! I'm way too embarrassed to tell a doctor let alone my mom! So I just stay home all day (I home school, because it started last year so I told my mom I was having problems with the kids there, which I wasn't just an excuse to not have to deal with all the sweating and it getting out that I have B.O.) and now I'm getting so depressed! And when I do go out I sweat so I stay away from people so they can't smell me I'm so unhappy! Is there any over-the-counter stuff I can take so I don't have to go to my doctor? Sorry it's so long...and I'm at the age where I like boys a lot and I just can't talk to them because I smell!
Signed: Sweating And A Lot Of B.O.
Dear Sweating And A Lot Of B.O.,
TeenHealthFX is sorry to hear about your sweating problem, but rest assured that you are not alone in this, as many teenagers suffer from this condition (medically referred to as hyperhidrosis). You say that you are too embarrassed to talk to your mother or doctor, but it is really important that you do so. Not only can excessive sweating be a symptom of an underlying medical condition, it is also something that a doctor might be able to treat with medication. Doctors are used to dealing with sensitive issues, and most will do their best to make you feel at ease about your problem.
Sweating actually performs an important function in cooling the body. It helps the body get rid of excess heat by evaporation, which is necessary to keep the body functioning properly. But, when the body begins to overproduce sweat it can become a problem.
Until you can see a doctor, which FX truly recommends that you do, make sure that you use an antiperspirant and not just a deodorant. A deodorant masks body odor while an antiperspirant reduces the flow of perspiration. Antiperspirants and deodorants come in many different forms, including creams; roll-ons and aerosols- the creams and roll-ons tend to be more effective.
After examining you, your doctor can decide how best to treat you- there are some medications and prescription creams that can reduce sweating a great deal- for a little more information about that, you can check out Sweat Way Too Much. In addition, other teens have written to FX about this topic, so you might want to check out some of the other entries under Body Temperature: Sweating and Coldness as well. It is really important for you to see your physician as soon as possible because you should be out enjoying your teenage years and not being unhappy about body odor, especially as it is a truly treatable condition. If you do not have a physician and live in the Northern New Jersey area you can call 973.889.6350 for an appointment.
Signed: TeenHealthFX
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