VerySweatyBetty.com

When it comes to sweaty skin, it can become quite a nuisance if your palms or feet are sweating profusely. There are actually many reasons why the skin will sweat.
First off, there are many benefits to having sweat on the skin. Even though have sweat may seem unattractive to many, when you sweat you are releasing unwanted bacteria and toxins from your body.
If you’re an active person who likes to move around a lot or follow a exercise plan religiously, then you’re going to sweat even more, but it’s good for you to do so.

Sweat’s benefits to skin

When it comes to some of the side effects to having sweating, one of the greatest perks includes having youthful and beautiful skin.
With all of the bacteria locked and trapped in the pores of your skin, the sweat manages to wash all of the bacteria away instantly. Sweating is by far the best way to keep bacteria from getting out of control.
Some of the other great and surprising benefits of sweating is that the more you sweat, the more weight you lose, believe it or not. Many people may not realize it, but sweat also contributes to weight loss immensely.

Other benefits

Another great benefit is that sweating can also be a wonderful aide on the overall cardiovascular system. As the body begins to sweat, the heart tends to increase the circulation flow and in turn, making the body experience long-term health benefits.
Sweat contains a minimal amount of antibiotics that can help improve the skin’s overall clarity, health and texture. The benefits of sweating seem endless another one being that when you sweat, the pores become unclogged from the skin, giving your skin that soft and healthy glow.

Unfortunately, if your body sweats too much/profusely, then there is a chance that your skin will most likely age much faster than if the skin wasn’t sweating quite as much. There are ways to reduce the sweat, such as taking dietary supplements and even making a healthy and beneficial diet plan.
Sweat may not be the only method to keep your skin looking healthy and beautiful as many people opt to consult a dermatologist, this is a professional skin expert who can advise you personally on what may be best for you. Another thing that you should definitely consider doing at home is maintaining a healthy diet, as well as drinking a lot of water.

This article was written by health fanatic and freelance writer Jem. Writing from a dermatology website, he is concerned with people’s lack of knowledge when it comes to their health. You can follow Jem now to find out more on Twitter at @writerjem.

Thank you for your blog Lisa! It sounds very familiar to me, with friends like that, who needs enemies? **big hugs**

Me and my annoying friend hyperhidrosis i cant get rid of.

I wake up suddenly with my hair stuck to my face and my pj’s clinging to my body, I throw the duvet off and jump out of my sweaty bed. Glancing at the temperature I see 12 degrees today in my house…..yet it still feels like 30 degrees as i’m burning up. Grab a cold drink, sit down and calm myself down.

Time to get ready for the day….highs of 15 degrees today. White t-shirt, jeans and thin black cardi. I fling the bathroom window wide open, feeling the cold air on my face whilst brushing my teeth. Start applying my make up, I’m tempted to turn my mini fan on but I battle through this morning. Scrape my hair back and clip the loose hair back. I wish I could straighten my hair but this friend of mine doesn’t let me straighten it and if he does within 10 minutes of walking out the door he has made it a curly wet mess.

Grab my bag, and pull my coat on…..attempting to look normal and avoid catching a cold. I’m running late for my doctors appointment, a 10 minute brisk walk and i’m there. Now I could be wrong but I’m sure I have walked into a sauna…..I quickly strip down to my t-shirt and push open a window. Only to get moaned at by an old lady complaining its cold with the window open. I want to scream at her, she’s sitting there in her coat rosy cheeked, I’m sitting there in a t-shirt sweat pouring everywhere. I stumble into the doctors room and get through my appointment in a soggy mess. I can’t bare to put my coat on so walk come without it on.

Strip down for 10 minutes before I need to leave for my follow up dermatologists appointment. Surprise surprise Im sure the doctor made them turn the heating off and open all the windows so its cold in the waiting room. I get called in, instructed to strip and told Im not sweating. Plucking up the courage to tell her to shove her hand in my undies when a male nurse flies in and I back out. My pills didn’t work. Her response? It’s only sweating you are just going to have to live with it. Oh how much I wished something like freaky Friday would have happened right then!!

I head into town finding it unbearable. I find it ironic that the shops turn their heating on to encourage custom. Any hot shops don’t get my custom I walk straight out.

Get the phone call about my car. It’s not worth fixing…..the sweat pours just thinking of the stressful few days to follow. Arrive at the garage to pay the man just in a t-shirt, he comments about how I must be freezing. I brush it off and get out of there as quick as I can.

Finally home, I chuck on some joggers and a vest. Time to start on dinner. Fling the kitchen windows wide open, prepare my kitchen towel to dab my face and crack on. Eventually get though cooking.

Bath time, my favourite part of the day. I let the cold water run into the bath 5 minutes before i get out. Sit down in my towel drying off and get into my pyjamas.

Bed time with half my body outside of the duvet and half my body under the duvet I finally get to sleep. Another day over in what seems like a hell hole.

My name is Lisa and I’m a generalized sweater, my friend hyperhidrosis insists on introducing himself first every day.

I want to personally thank a new member for allowing us to post her story.  She knows how important this is for us all in raising awareness on this awful skin disease, that brings us all misery every day of our lives. 

This is a very moving story of inspiration, bravery and courage. 
We want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts….

Anne and Beverly xxx

If you want to join in our cause on, “Raising Awareness” Join the cause, we have a section in the forum for this HAC, Hyperhidrosis Awareness Campaign, good things are happening. 

I always say lots of little voices can make one big one.  If you want to join our cause then please send your story to our very own Beverly at betty@verysweatybetty.com   She will be glad to post it on our front page and if requested all will be confidential.  Thanks for helping us here at Very Sweaty Betty, your friendly sweaty support group.

Vicki’s story,

Hello all,

I have been asking for members help to try and get the awareness out for all to see and to encourage a guest blog on a day in their lives or a certain story you can share with us that shows what it is like.

I came up with the perfect title and many have agreed with me that it is perfect…how much has treatment really changed in the last 10 years?!  Not much.  ETS is less and being banned in certain countries around the world. 

I would love to feature your story and let people see how we suffer from this awful affliction.

Think about it and get writing

Our first guest blog is our very own Denise, she is such a talented lady and an amazing friend.  Denise also invented the Wrapps,  www.coolwrapps.com which have saved many of us from embarrassing situations.   Denise is a very talented writer also, enjoy.

The Dark Ages, Living with Hyperhidrosis

For many of us, we have discovered that most health care providers are wholly unable to understand what it is to be the patient. Largely because, they are the Doctor and have spent years of their lives learning about body parts. Sadly, that is reflected in treatment of the current ailment, sprained ankle, migrain headache, or broken bone that necessitated your visit. You are simply a body part, to be attended to. The whole person insignificant. This is the American way; to treat pregnancy as a disease; while we have managed to turn our birth rate into one that rivals any third world nation in the world. How did things come to be this way? Moreover, is there anything we do to change it? It will be an uphill battle, but having lived for as long as you have with Hyperhidrosis, can you think of any better training?

A while back, Dr. Oz did another segment on hh. The advise to those of us suffering from HH was simple: “wear a little extra deoderant and don’t worry about it.”   Though I had sent Dr. Oz an email on a previous occasion, this was too much. I wrote  Dr. Oz a letter asking him to please refrain from doing any more segments on HH.   I asked Dr. Oz how many times in a day did he advise the application of deoderant on the scalp, back, back of the knees, etc.   Explained to Dr. Oz that I understood he did not believe in HH.

I had a doctor (here where I live,) who did not believe in depression, and refused to write me a prescription for antidepressants.   I understand Dr. Oz does not believe in HH, this other doctor did not believe in depression. But it is still hurtful to those of us who suffered from either, or both.   So please stop doing segments on HH, it is only hurting us as you do not have a clue.

I sent the letter to his TV show, in New York, and it was returned to me, unopened, with a big black question mark by my name on the return address.   I immediately looked up his work adress, and enclosed an other note on top of the unopened, returned letter about how he really knew how to make his viewers feel important, and put it back in the mail. No, I have not heard from him. I do not expect to. He is an important man, a Doctor, for crying out loud.   He does not have time to listen to his viewers, he has to do a surgery, a show. He is a busy man, much to busy to learn that he does not know what he is talking about.   Why should he listen to his viewers or patients? We did not go to medical school, he did. And that appears to be the prevailing attitude of most doctors, the M.D. stands for Major Diety. It does not, and I am so tired of this attitude. The medical community can not even decide if drinking coffee is good or bad for us, for crying out loud. Why do doctors have the right to decide which disease they believe in, or treat? Why? This I do not know.   I do know, that it is difficult to find a decent doctor, one that will listen. And if it takes raising our voices to be heard, or voting with our feet, each of us must decide which course of action to take.

Denise

Denise, we feel your pain and know how frustrating this is, how about you get in touch with my good friend Dr Danial Carrasco.  He was the only one who fully knew about living with HH, his brother suffers from this disease and he was patient and understanding.  He also trains other Doctors about Hyperhidrosis.  I doubt I will ever find another Dr so understanding again.

Dr Carrasco is our Doctor on board, if you have private questions to ask him in regards to your Hyperhidrosis PM myself, Anne, Beverly, Denise or Kimberly and we will make sure he gets your questions.
The Dark Ages is open for all comments and if you want to feature your guest blog, please let me know on the forum or our Sweaty Betty FaceBook page and we can make this happen.

Lots of little voices can make one huge voice, lets get heard and lets make a difference.

Want to thank our member and guest for this wonderful blog. You are a pure gem.

If you want to help us RAISE AWARENESS on living with Hyperhidrosis, please join in our cause.  We are one of the highest viewed sites and our Alexa ratings are high.  What could be better than trying to get our little voices out to make one big one.

My story,

I have had palmer hyperhydrosis since I can remember (I’m 25) and it has caused me no end of bullying through school with people not wanting to hold my hand etc.   I have tried all the creams available and, although they work well to an extent, they make my hands so dry and sore that I can’t use them for any length of time.

Since having my son I have also developed it in my armpits (and also a bit in my feet though not quite as bad) and now my problems have really started.

I work in a high school as a learning support assistant, and even though I wash everyday and use various deodorants etc. throughout the day, I have kids refusing to sit with with me because ‘I smell’ and now have my boss on to me trying to get occupational health involved as she has had ‘complaints from other staff’ about my condition.

I have explained many times that I am doing all I can to control my condition and that the last time I spoke to a doctor about it I seemed to know more than they did!  (So basically don’t think HE will tell me anything I don’t already know!)

Also I myself do not always notice any odor so I need the other staff support to tell me, but to no avail.   They are even telling me that if I don’t “SORT OUT THE PROBLEM” then I may not be able to CONTINUE WITH MY JOB!

I am also suffering with work related stress at the moment which is only exacerbating my condition, and now with them ‘on my back’ about it it is only getting even worse in both respects! (The only strategy they have suggested to ‘help’ is that I change my clothes at regular intervals during the day. With the amount I sweat this would be about every 2 hours or so to avoid any trace of sweat patches or smell so I would need 3 changes of clothes everyday at work! Plus I could just imagine the kids asking “Why have you changed your top Miss?”   So it is just not practical in my view!

I also have a problem with my amateur dramatics society when,  at the last minute I was given a very thick,  hot cloak to wear onstage.   I informed them of my condition and that I would be likely to faint with the heat and loss of water if I had to wear it,  (I once came VERY close to fainting onstage in the past and only just made it backstage before I literally collapsed in a chair!)   I was told to “GROW UP AND GET ON WITH IT“!                                                                             “EVERYONE SWEATS”,  and finds the cloaks hot but they just get on with it!”   Evey night of that show I used to just about make it through the scene and then have to rush to sit on a chair and drink loads of sports drink before I was fit for anything. even then if one of the older members wanted the chair I was expected to give it up as I was ‘Just being silly!’

I really think more should be done to, PROMOTE AWARENESS,  for this condition to the general public and medical staff,  as people seem to have no idea about how debilitating this condition is or how hard it is to ‘just deal with it’. They seem to think we can just stop the sweating but we can’t!

How we can all relate to this, what would you advise our kind member?  We all suffer the same.  Please join us in our battle to raise awareness on this awful affliction we all share.  Feel free to leave comment, join us in our forum www.verysweatybetty/forum

The more we help the STRONGER WE BECOME.

Tell us your story, join the forum to make this possible, help for the better cause.

I decided to split the blog from the testimonials to make everything easier to find.

Hydrosal website
Hydrosal customer testimonials
Forum link blog
Forum link testimonials

“Hi, I’m from Australia and I would like to say, I would pay whatever dollar to fix up my sweaty arm pit problem, and then I came across Hydrosal!. I just would like to say there is no other product that works as good as this. and I have tried every single product out there and this is by far the best! I will keep using this product until I stop having this problem. Thanks, Jason ”

Jason
“I would like to bring to your attention, that I have tried the product that my doctor has recommended Hydrosal. For the pass thirty years I suffered in complete embarrassment, severe sweating from the forehead, and other body areas.
This sweating was triggered by nervousness on my confrontation of an individual that I met, or dealt with on first time basis.
The more I realized I was sweating, the more severe it became. It was devastating for me, and I spoke to many doctors with really no feed back from them. Meeting Dr Benohanian was for me a miracle; Life has given me a second chance. Hydrosal is amazing and very easy to apply with almost 90 to 95 % effective rate for me. Keep up the good work and create more beneficial products like Hydrosal!! Thanks again. ”

Allan
“Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! I have suffered from excessive sweating as long as I can remember…..the last 10 years specifically, have been the worst. I was ready to have surgery to have my sweat glands removed in my arm pits as nothing seemed to work. My doctor called me 2 weeks ago to tell me about an article that she read in the paper about Hydrosal Professional. After the first 2 days it started to sting a little when I applied the gel, but I got over that fast when I realized that it was working. I just finished my 7 days and have not sweat at all in 5 days. I am absolutely thrilled and hope that others will try this too. I realize that sweating is an embarrassing issue and I myself didn’t talk about it much with other people, but it’s kind of obvious when you can see it through your clothing. Since I no longer have this problem I have been telling my friends and family about it because I know how difficult dealing with this issue is and how much it affects your life. I am surprised to hear how many other people have excessive sweating also. Thanks again and I will continue to spread knowledge about this great product! ”

Jennifer
“Before Hydrosal I would always have to worry about sweat stains in the shirts I used to wear. Now after using Hydrosal I can wear any color I want in any fabric. Hydrosal worked fast too; after 2 days I could already see the results – no more sweat stains. I highly recommend Hydrosal to anybody who has had it with those extremely embarrassing sweat stains and doesn’t want to worry about them anymore! ”

Julia
“My story began in high school. Whenever I had a big exam or had to do a presentation in class, I would start to perspire. I tried many different deodorants, changing deodorants almost every other day. I wore dark clothing, trying to mask my condition. I started purchasing only cotton garments as well in an attempt to hide the perspiration. When the condition was at its worst, I would place many tissues or a small towel under my shirt to contain the perspiration. I would have to change clothing once I arrived at an event due to the excessive perspiration. Ten years later, a friend of mine saw an Oprah show on “Hyperhydrosis” and how this was a known medical condition. From her information, I did some research online and found a doctor in Montreal that specialized in the treatment of Hyperhydrosis. The doctor prescribed “Hydrosal”. I put some on everyday for seven days before bed, and it worked! After that, I only need to apply the gel once a week and it continues to work. I’ve been using the gel for two months now. “Hydrosal” does not have any odor, has not caused any discomfort, and has removed my worries about public embarrassment. Thank you for helping me get over my embarrassing condition. ”

Sophia
“I am delighted to see that after 34 years of experience as a dermatologist, Valeo Pharma is bringing Hydrosal Professional to America. I have had the rare opportunity of treating over 7000 patients suffering from excessive sweating; the affected sites were the underarms, hands, feet,face and groins. Some of them were unquestionably candidates for surgery. Hydrosal, a new first line treatment for excessive sweating, consists of aluminum chloride hexahydrate in a proprietary gel base.Studies have demonstrated that a gel vehicle is better tolerated than an alcohol solution and that may be the reason why such preparations have improved efficacy and are better tolerated. I highly recommend this product as a first line treatment before considering Iontophoresis, Botox® injections or surgery. ”

Antranik Benohanian MD, FRCPC, FAAD

Dr. Benohanian is a Dermatologist at the Montreal University Hospital Center (Saint-Luc Hospital)
“I’ve had plantar hyperhidrosis since childhood, but figured I’d have to suffer through it. This winter my sweaty feet got so wet and cold that I got 2nd degree frostbite on two toes, so I became desperate to find something to help. I found Hydrosal Gel while researching iontophoresis online. I was skeptical but am thrilled with the results! Noticeable difference after two nights and I haven’t had to re-apply for two weeks now (plus, I’m in Hawaii where it’s much warmer than Calgary). My feet are sweat-free but the skin is not dehydrated or itchy. I’m so glad to have found this terrific product! Will also add that the service from Well.ca was great, along with the best price plus free-shipping. Thank you!! ”

well.ca customer
“It’s awesome – if you take any prescription medication and the side effect is that you are sweating buckets… well, this is a true life saver. Also a great thing to put on if you want to go out all night dancing as you will not sweat. I am sure the company can improve in the area of how often to apply. Apart from that, if you don’t take medication and just have hyperhydrosis, you would have to use it a lot less after the first week. ”

well.ca customer
“This stuff really works! I’ve had excessive sweating for years and had pretty much given up on finding a solution.

I tried Hydrosal gel and after a few days the sweating was gone. Now I only use it a few nights a week. Let’s say I stop using it for a few days. All I have to do is start using it again and by the 2nd night the sweating has stopped again. ”

well.ca customer
“I read on the net about this product and thought I would give it a go. I have a little bit of a face perspire issue in tight places like bars where people may be elbow to elbow, or job interviews with stress. I bought it, LOVE it! I use it only when needed before a situation and its all win. HIGHLY recommended and supplier is good also. ”

well.ca customer
“ I have never used any product that works as well as Hydrosal Gel. ”

well.ca customer
“ This stuff is a life saver! ”

well.ca customer

Hydrosal website
Hydrosal customer testimonials
Forum link blog
Forum link testimonials

I’ve recently been trying Hydrosal Antiperspirant. It’s a clear, colorless, odorless, topical gel that you apply (sparingly) to your underarm area. Hydrosal is great for treating hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating). It’s a unique formulation developed by dermatologists, Hydrosal Gel contains the highly effective ingredient aluminum chloride hexahydrate delivered in a simple gel base. It’s simple to use. Wash and thoroughly dry the area to be treated, apply Hydrosal every night for seven nights at bed time, then continue as needed or as directed by a healthcare professional.

Hydrosal Gel is specially formulated for people who suffer with hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating). The gel contains 15% aluminum chloride hexahydrate, a concentration proven to be more effective than other aluminum salts typically used in regular antiperspirants. The gel base means that Hydrosal has a low risk of irritation. Studies have shown the gel formulation is better tolerated than an alcohol solution found in many other products available for treating excessive sweating. In addition to reducing perspiration, Hydrosal Gel also helps to reduce underarm odor.

How To Use Hydrosal Gel
It is recommended that you wash and dry the area to be treated prior to application. A hair dryer set on “cool” could be used if necessary. A small quantity should be applied for seven consecutive nights at bedtime, then continued as needed. If you have sensitive skin, two to three treatments per week at bedtime are initially recommended. For minor irritations, a hydrocortisone cream could be applied an hour before the application of the gel and 15 minutes later if needed. If irritation persists, stop the medication and contact your doctor. Hydrosal Gel should not be applied to irritated, freshly shaved, or broken skin.

Side Effects
Hydrosal Gel is generally well tolerated by most people. However, along with most products, it does have the ability to irritate skin. If irritation persists, stop using Hydrosal Gel and contact your doctor.

The first time I tried Hydrosal was a bit hit and miss. Learning to use any new product and getting to know how to get the best out of it can take a while. The first night I used it, I went overboard on the amount I used. I had enough for four underarms but since I couldn’t get it back into the bottle, I slathered it on. Not surprisingly, the next morning my armpits were burning. I’d been trialling another product that had burned my skin so I decided to leave Hydrosal for a few weeks. Once my skin had healed, I used less of the gel. The next morning, my skin was still itchy so I left it another couple of weeks before trying again. Having done some research on products in general, I decided to use it within the hairline only, and sparingly at that. Tip: if you can’t get your skin bone dry prior to using a product, use a hairdryer on cool setting or dust lightly with some talc. This helped a great deal because my skin was slightly damp when I applied it. That was possibly one of the reasons my delicate skin became sore and itchy. Anyway. My trial eventually worked! I had to experiment with where to place the gel, if I used it outside of the ‘hair line’, or used too much, or used after shaving, it set me back a few days. Now I’ve fine tuned it, I’m very happy with the results! The bottle lasts for ages too.

Hydrosal was recently featured in a journal article published in the July 2011 issue of Cutis by Dr. Woolery-Lloyd and Dr. Valins from the University of Miami Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery. The article highlights Hydrosal’s efficacy as cotherapy with Botox for people who obtain a suboptimal response from treatment with Botox alone. The patients included suffered from moderate to severe hyperhidrosis, on the HDSS scale a 3 or 4. All participants reached 75-100% response rate with cotherapy and no irritation was observed.

I know Botox injections can be quite painful, and this cotherapy allows for minimizing breakthrough sweating and extending the duration of treatment, both fabulous for the patient health and wallet!

I’ve been reading information given on the NHS Choices website regarding ETS. They have renamed it VATS – Video Assisted Thoracic Sympathectomy. It’s exactly the same outcome as ETS. Please note below they don’t actually mention death (of which there have been far too many) as a possibility…

FORUM LINK opens in new window

VATS – Video Assisted Thoracic Surgery

Video-assisted thoracic sympathectomy (VATS) is the most widely used type of surgery to treat hyperhidrosis. VATS is usually recommended to treat cases of hyperhidrosis that have failed to respond to other types of treatment.

During the procedure, a surgeon will make two small incisions on the side of your chest and remove some of the nerve tissue that runs from your sympathetic nervous system to the affected sweat glands.

VATS can be used to treat excessive sweating of the armpits, face and hands. However, treating excessive sweating of the feet it is not recommended because the operation carries a risk of causing permanent sexual dysfunction, such as impotence. This is because damage to the part of the sympathetic nervous system that runs down the back and into the legs could also damage the nerves that are connected to the genitals.

So far, VATS has been moderately successful in treating hyperhidrosis. However, the operation does carry a significant risk of associated side effects as outlined below.
The most common side effect of VATS is excessive sweating in another part of the body, usually the lower back or upper thighs. This is known as compensatory sweating.

It is thought that almost all people who have the VATS procedure will experience some degree of mild compensatory sweating. However, an estimated 1 in 20 people will develop a more severe form of compensatory sweating. This is more likely to happen if you are obese.
Other side effects of VATS include:

sweating of the face and neck after eating food – this is known as gustatory sweating and it is thought to affect around 1 in 20 people

phantom sweating – an unusual side effect where a person feels like they are about to break out in a sweat but never actually do (this affects just under half of people who have VATS and usually improves with time)

increased sensitivity to cold

dry hands

changes in how things taste

It is unclear exactly how common the last three side effects listed above are, because reports vary widely.

Complications that develop as a result of VATS are much less common. However, one possible complication is known as Homer’s syndrome. This affects one side of the face and makes the eye droopy, which can sometimes make it difficult to open. The affected half of the face is also unable to sweat.

Homer’s syndrome is caused by accidental damage to the nervous system, which may not be possible to repair. It is thought that people who have the VATS procedure have a 1 in 250 chance of developing Homer’s syndrome following surgery.

Other complications of VATS can include:

Air that becomes trapped between the layers of the lung, which can cause chest pain and breathing difficulties. This is known as pneumothorax and it usually resolves without the need for treatment. If treatment is required, a tube can be inserted into the lung to draw the air out.

Post-operative infection – a rare complication occurring in around only 1 in a 1,000 cases.

I’m sure Louise Field’s family would be very disappointed in this, it’s as though nothing has been learned from her (and other people’s) tragic death.

We thought it was about time we added an FAQ section with just some of the questions we are asked on a regular basis.

Q: Who is Very Sweaty Betty?

A: All of us. We all are. If you sweat excessively, that entitles you to become one of the elite who can call themselves Sweaty Betty. It’s true!

Q: What do you do?

A: We help. Or we try to. The two founders have over 70 years personal experience of Hyperhidrosis between them. They know what adversities people have to face every day of their lives. We provide a friendly ear – or shoulder – and do our best to advise you on building your own personal strategy for dealing with your sweat.

Q: Is that all?

A: No! That’s just the tip of the iceberg! We have a private forum for people of all ages to get together and share tips and help prop each other up during the hard times. We even have a ranting section that we use when we want to let rip about something. The great thing is, you can talk about anything and everything on our forum, nobody will judge you for being who you are.

Q: What advantages are there for me?

A: For a start, it’s free. You get all the help and support we can possibly give you. We have enough love to go around all our lovely members. We are really lucky to have specialists aboard too – we have a highly qualified Dermatologist (skin specialist) whose specific interest is in Hyperhidrosis. He regularly uses Botox for people who sweat excessively. We have a qualified Nurse who suffers from Hyperhidrosis herself and we also have an almost-qualified Counselor – who also suffers personally. Coming soon is a What Not to Wear section – where our specialist shopper (with Hyperhidrosis) scours the High Street to help you find sweat-friendly clothing wherever you are!

Q: Anything else?

A: Since you ask, yes. We are really lucky to have sponsors who help pay our website’s running costs. They are all really good reputable companies who we have got to know personally over the years. They are all dedicated in helping the often miserable world of Hyperhidrosis to become a happier place by developing and selling a multitude of products specifically for this disease. We try a lot of products on VSB, and we blog about them. If they work, we tell you. If they don’t work, we tell you that, too. Having Hyperhidrosis can be an expensive business, our blogs help you to decide for yourself the products that will best suit you personally. We regularly have special offers on all kinds of products so you can even save yourself some money, too!

Q: What do you want from me?

A: Besides your friendship?  Just the one thing, please. It’s not much but it will help make an awful lot of difference to our ongoing Awareness Campaign – please link to www.verysweatybetty.com from your home pages, blogs, wherever you can. If you like, you could use www.hyperhidrosisawarenesscampaign.com or www.hyperhidrosissupport.instead. It’s all the same to us. Each time you add a link to us, you’re helping us to achieve our aims of bringing the knowledge of this miserable disease to everyone.  It means that one day, you will be able to step outside your front door without the stigma attached to sweating.  Comments like ‘buy some deodorant’ or ‘get a shower’ is what we aim to eradicate.  We also want to remind the medical world that Hyperhidrosis IS a big deal and that we all need their help.

Hello all,
I have been feeling so frustrated since last week thinking I was going to receive my Facial, Cranial Botox as a Hyperhidrosis treatment.

We drove 50 miles round trip and waited almost 45 minutes to be seen by my lovely Dermatologist, when she took me back  I placed my bag on the window sill next to the procedure bed thinking this is where I would have my treatment done.  I could see her looking and she told me to sit in the chair near her.  (I thought she prob wants to go over the side effects and make sure all meds were the same?!)

I sat and waited and she smiled weakly and said, “The are not allowing you to have the Botox treatment as they see if as a cosmetic procedure rather than a medical treatment!”

She apologized and I know in my heart if she could have made it happen she would.

I was gob smacked and told her I thought I was having it done? I said the her nurse had called telling me so?!  She said she was sorry for this and that it was a miss communication.  She thought it best to have her deliver the news in person rather than over the phone.  I told her thank you and asked why!  All I wanted to do was burst into tears and scream.

She said they saw it as a cosmetic thing rather than a medical treatment and I challenged her and said big organizations claim that most insurance companies are now seeing Botox as the big treatment for this and why wont mine?  She said they don’t understand, they don’t get it!  Even though it stated all the other tried treatments failed.

I then proceeded on and said, “do they think I want a wrinkle free scalp and hair line?” I’m not asking to have this done any where else!  I could see if I was having it done around my eyes and other areas.  She replied they just dont get it.  I them told her how this affects me on a daily basics.  She gets it, she really does but her hands were tied.

How are they EVER GOING TO GET HOW IT EFFECTS US ON A DAILY BASICS???  Can anyone answer this?  Until they walk in our sweaty bodies, they never will or if they have a close family or friend who suffers to really see the draining impact of life and hyperhidrosis.  They will never know how we turn down social events and fear ones we have to attend because they don’t understand or get it!

They will never know how we hide behind closed doors or wear dark clothing to disguise the sweating.  How we feel dirty and what it feels like to have to live in wet clothing.  To suffer yeast infections on our skin and chaff from the sweating.   How afraid we are of having to shake a hand or hold something.  How we have to change clothing often and ruin our clothing because of the smell and sweat stains that wont come out.  How we slip and slide in shoes or make them so wet and funky we have to replace them often.   How normal activities for everyone else turn into a sweaty night mare for us.  The fear of hot weather and humidity.

How would they feel, if they walked in our bodies for a week?

Do you think Hyperhidrosis would be more accepted and treated better?

I have a member in the forum the same way as I was a week ago!!   Crushed and in tears as she was told she could not have the oral medication they prescribe for this (even though it is not for Hyperhidoris) but used as one of the side effects is less sweating!  We take them because of this, regardless of their horrid side effects and dangers of being in prolonged daylight.  We take them because they give us some relief and peace of mind from the endless sweating.  Just like we do with hundreds of needles if WE  ARE GRANTED, Botox or Dysport as a treatment for this.  The only treatment currently to give us a few months break and less of the horrible side effects but it is like liquid gold, hard to get!   Do we blame the manufacturer or maybe Doctors or even the public for making it this way?  It is seen as a cosmetic procedure for vanity but what can give SUFFERERS OF HYPERHIDROSIS relief we are denied!

What can I tell her?!

I can give her the support and comfort she deserves as she is a beautiful human being who suffers and has become a dear friend.  She suffers daily not only physically but emotionally as they go hand in hand.  The emotional round about we are on daily would swing your head!  The thought and preparation of a day in a sufferers life if there is an social event would have you a basket case too!

How do I tell her that everything is going to be OK?  How do I tell myself?  With not having professionals understanding this skin disease, WHO IS?

I have a big event coming up in two weeks and had to pay for my own treatment, most are not cheap.

I have to give a big shout out to my wonderful Dermatologist in Austin, Dr Daniel Carrasco who does understand and did help at a discounted price.

We need more understanding on this and compassion from professionals.  More awareness need to be raised and if your with me let me know and we can fight against this together.  There needs to be more cheaper treatments available for us that don’t burn our skin, dry us out or can even cause heat stroke.

I hope you understand and I pray to God that one day we will all get the treatment we deserve while living with this social killer, self confidence drainer and self esteem robber sore,  they call HYPERHIDROSIS.