While “sweaty palms” may provoke laughter in Ferris Beuller's Day Off, actually sweaty palms in real life can be embarrassing. No more uncomfortable handshakes and awkward high fives - instead, act! With a few simple tips, it's usually not that hard to keep your palms dry (or, at least, deal with moisture if it happens).
Step
Method 1 of 4: Drying Moist Palms
Step 1. Use baby powder or other powder that can absorb sweat
One simple, immediate, and long-lasting way to deal with unwanted moisture on your palms is to absorb it! You can do this in a number of ways, including sprinkling sweat-absorbing powder on your palms. Try pouring about a thimble-sized amount of baby powder into your palms and spreading it all over your palms slowly and evenly - you'll immediately feel your palms feel cooler and drier. Here are some types of powder/powder that you can consider using as a sweat absorber:
- Chalk
- Talc (note that talc can be toxic if inhaled in significant amounts)
- Corn flour (in Hispanic countries sometimes corn flour is specifically used for this purpose, and there they call it “maizena”)
- Baking soda
Step 2. Apply an antiperspirant product to the palm of your hand
Many people apply antiperspirant products to their underarms every day to control the production of sweat in the armpits. Believe it or not, you can get the same effect by applying a small amount of antiperspirant product to your palms. Dry your palms by wiping them with a towel before applying an antiperspirant so the product can work properly to clog the sweat pores.
- Make sure you use antiperspirant products - not just deodorant. While these two products are often combined into one, they are not the same. The former combats excessive sweat production, while the latter only controls the smell of sweat.
- For the strongest effect, use an antiperspirant product with an aluminum compound as the active ingredient. Aluminum is the strongest, most effective antiperspirant chemical that can be found. For serious conditions, you may need to get a prescription antiperspirant (such as Drysol) that contains a higher concentration of aluminum.
Step 3. Bring a handkerchief or alcohol wipes
For the case of mild sweaty palms, sometimes you just need to bring something that can be used to absorb moisture throughout the day and this tip is quite effective for dealing with excessive sweating on the palms. Cloth handkerchiefs can serve as reliable, reusable hand towels, while disposable paper towels and alcohol wipes offer instant comfort.
Even if the alcohol wipes are wet, your palms won't stay moisturised for long. Alcohol evaporates very quickly, and as it evaporates from the palms of the hands it takes other sources of moisture with it. In fact, some people with delicate skin complain that alcohol wipes make their palms feel too dry than they'd expect
Step 4. Wash your hands more often
If you're having trouble keeping your palms dry, you may want to experiment with washing your hands more often. Washing your hands with soap and water can remove the natural oils from your palms, leaving them feeling drier. That way, you may be able to keep your palms drier for a longer period of time if you deliberately work to increase the frequency with which you wash your hands daily.
However, be aware that frequent hand washing can sometimes make your palms too dry, especially if you use a harsh bar of soap or a soap that contains detergent. If your hands are irritated or too dry from washing them too often, switch to a moisturizing soap - usually having rough, cracked palms is more unpleasant than slightly sweaty palms
Method 2 of 4: Prevent Sweaty Palms
Step 1. Avoid using oily lotions
If you frequently apply lotion to your palms, you may accidentally make them sweat. While some lotions (such as those with antiperspirant chemicals) can really help dry your palms, others can make your palms more moist. Some ingredients, such as petroleum jelly, can even make your palms extra wet or greasy. If you use lotion frequently, consider replacing your favorite lotion with a lighter lotion or one specifically formulated to have a drying effect.
Step 2. Avoid pockets and gloves
Gloves, pockets, and other types of clothing that cover the palms of the hands can cause excessive sweating and moisture. These objects trap moisture and heat and direct it to the hands, so the hands produce more sweat and make it more difficult to evaporate the sweat that is produced. To fix this, leave your palms bare and bare all day, if possible – the natural moisture of your hands will evaporate more freely.
If the weather is too cold to make it uncomfortable to leave your hands bare, try wearing fingerless gloves or lightweight gloves if possible. Ideally, such gloves will keep your hands warm while allowing air to reach your hands
Step 3. Avoid foods and drinks that trigger sweat production
Sometimes, something as simple as a person's food can cause excessive sweating. Certain foods can trigger a sweating reaction, so if you are prone to sweaty palms, it could make your problem much worse. Consider avoiding the following types of food and drink if you consume them frequently:
- Spicy food: Believe it or not, spicy food triggers the same reactions in the body as physical heat causes, and often results in sweating.
- Caffeine: Some people sweat if they consume too much caffeine because the chemical stimulates the nervous system causing restlessness, intense activity, nervousness, etc. Often the greatest effects occur when consuming hot caffeinated beverages.
- Alcohol: For some people, being drunk or being "high" can cause excessive sweating due to a process called vasodilation. This process makes the diameter of the blood vessels widen and raises the temperature of the skin, giving it a warm feeling.
Step 4. Lower your stress level
For some people, sweaty palms are not a symptom of a physical problem, but rather a reaction to a source of stress or nervousness in their life. In this case, removing the moisture from your hands is only a temporary solution - to get a lasting cure, you need to relieve the underlying mental or emotional stress. There's no one right way to deal with this because everyone's stress is different - so if you think this is what's happening to you, try talking to a doctor or licensed therapist for advice. The following are just a few of the frequently proposed techniques for dealing with stress:
- Yoga
- Biofeedback (a kind of relaxation technique)
- Meditation
- Stopping harmful habits or substances
- Establish different or better social relationships
- Doing a new exercise routine
- Different work/life settings
Method 3 of 4: Seeking Medical Solution
Step 1. Consider asking for anticholinergic medications
If sweaty, clammy palms are a serious problem and you can't cope with basic home remedies or lifestyle changes, you may want to consider talking to your doctor about medical solutions. One medication that can treat excessive sweating (as well as damp hands) is called an anticholinergic. This drug works by blocking the action of a chemical called acetylcholine in the brain, which, among other things, controls the body's production of sweat. However, be aware that anticholinergics can cause significant side effects, including:
- Higher body temperature
- Blurred vision
- Constipation
- Decreased saliva production
- Confusion
- Drowsiness
Step 2. Consider iontophoresis
One relatively unobtrusive procedure that can treat sweaty palms is called iontophoresis. In this procedure, the hands are immersed in water for about half an hour while a light electric current is passed through the water. This process will close the pores in the skin of the hands, reducing sweat secretion. The electric current used is not large enough so that it is not painful. For best results, this procedure requires several repetitions.
While iontophoresis usually does not cause side effects, in rare cases, it can cause skin irritation and/or blistering of the hands
Step 3. Consider botox injections
Although botox injections are generally known for cosmetic use, in fact in certain cases botox can also be used to reduce sweating. Botox treatment involves injecting a very small amount of a toxin called botulinum toxin under the skin. In small doses, this toxin tightens the skin and affects the action of the chemicals that cause the sweat glands to become active. Although several injections are required, a series of regular Botox injections can prevent excessive sweating for more than a year. Botox side effects include:
- Bruising/redness at the injection site
- Headache
- Flu-like symptoms
- Muscle twitching/sag
- In very unlikely cases, dangerous symptoms of botulinum toxin poisoning (difficulty breathing, difficulty speaking, vision problems, weakness)
Step 4. In extreme cases, consider surgery
For cases of sweaty or damp palms that do not respond to other treatments and have a significant impact on the patient's quality of life, surgery may be recommended, although this procedure is usually considered an absolute last resort. Endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (or ETS) is a surgical procedure that involves cutting certain nerve pathways that cause sweating in the palms and armpits. While this procedure is sometimes described as a minimally invasive procedure, ETS is actually a major operation that requires general (whole body) anesthesia. Although problems are rare, there is a small chance of serious complications or even death from having an ETS done (as is the case with any major surgery).
- Be aware that ETS is a permanent procedure - there is no way to return it to its original state once the surgery is performed.
- In addition, it is important to note that most people who undergo ETS to treat sweaty palms or armpits experience “compensated sweating” (as much or more sweating than the initial sweating) in other parts of their body after surgery.
Method 4 of 4: Using Alternative Medicine
Step 1. Try soaking your hands in tea
There are a number of “alternative” or “natural” remedies that are promoted on the internet as a cure for sweaty palms. Although some practitioners swear that this treatment works, there is very little scientific evidence (if any) to support its effectiveness. One easy alternative is to soak your hands in cold or warm tea. For best results, soak your hands in tea (or hold a wet tea bag) for 30 minutes every day for a week.
According to some (doubtful) sources, the tannic acid in tea can help dry your palms gradually, thereby reducing moisture throughout the day
Step 2. Try using apple cider vinegar
Another easy alternative treatment to treat sweaty palms is to use apple cider vinegar. For this method, try soaking your hands directly in a bowl of apple cider vinegar for five minutes at a time, then washing them with soap and water. Note that hand washing with soap and water is known to sometimes have a self-drying effect (see above).
Or, you might want to try a deep soak, but first add a cup or two of vinegar to the water before you get into the tub
Step 3. Try herbal remedies
Some alternative medicine sources claim that taking certain herbs that have a “detoxifying” effect such as turmeric, shatavari, and patola can help relieve sweaty palms and/or feet. While some of these herbs may be used medicinally in traditional or non-western medicine (for example, turmeric is known for its traditional use as a digestive and anti-inflammatory remedy), there is very little scientific evidence to support claims that these herbs can be relied upon as a treatment for sweaty palms or other health conditions. other.
While most “detox” schemes provide little measurable or quantifiable benefit, be aware that some have been shown to cause adverse (though rarely harmful) side effects
Step 4. Consider a homeopathic supplement or treatment program
If you do a simple search using a search engine, the search results will reveal dozens of so-called homeopathic or “natural” remedies for sweaty palms. These remedies are often in the form of herbs, vitamins, pills, supplements, or some combination of these elements. While these remedies usually advertise boldly claiming their effectiveness, in reality, very few (if any) homeopathic remedies are scientifically proven to work well.
In addition, because homeopathic supplements are not regulated by institutions such as BPOM, there is no guarantee that these supplements are manufactured to the same high quality standards as the manufacture of “normal” medicines. For this reason, most doctors advise against spending too much money on homeopathic remedies
Tips
- Stress can stimulate sweating. Just relax.
- Strong-smelling foods can cause strong-smelling hands as well; the scent is carried away in your sweat.
