I am 16. I have noticed that my hands sweat and they always have a film on
them. It has really affected my social life and limits my relationship with my girlfriend
— she understands, but I really would like to hold her hand! I do not sweat
on my body anywhere else but my palms. Why does it do that when it didn't before?
– William*
The best way to find out what is causing this is to talk to a doctor who can examine
you.
Most people who get sweaty palms a lot don't have a health problem. But there is
a medical condition called hyperhidrosis (pronounced: hye-pur-hye-DROE-sis)
that can cause a person's palms, feet, armpits, and other parts of the body to sweat
heavily.
Hyperhidrosis usually begins around puberty. If a person has hyperhidrosis, a number
of things can trigger the sweating, including alcohol, certain drugs, hormones, spicy
foods, stress, and diseases like diabetes.
The good news about hyperhidrosis is that doctors have several different options
for treating it. These include prescription solutions that a person applies to the
skin and in-office electrical treatments. If you can, make an appointment to see your
doctor and talk about what's happening. Or let your doctor know what's going on the
next time you have a regular checkup.
*Names have been changed to protect user privacy.
Date reviewed: August 2014