We sweat all over our body, not least at the underarms. Underarm Sweat is there for cooling when that part of the body gets heated up as a result of physical exertion or ambient conditions. It also provides lubrication when rubbing results from movement between the arms and the body. Certain waste substances are also excreted through underarm sweat to maintain fluid balance in our body.

Underarm Sweating is thus a natural and necessary function of our body. Having that said, it must be noted that it is a problem when we do that too easily and too much. On top of being aesthetically undesirable, it is technically a health or hygiene issue. The medical term for Excessive Underarm Sweat is Axillary Hyperhydrosis.

There are basically two forms of Excessive Underarm Sweating namely Primary and Secondary Axillary Hyperhidrosis. The former is direct and straightforward, being of its own cause and existence. It can be attributed to diet, stress, emotion, fitness level, health, hygiene or genetics. The latter is effectively the manifestation of another underlying medical problem like hyperthyroidism, diabetes, fever, malignancy and malaria, to name a few. As such, the excessive underarm sweat will be curtailed once the medical root cause is cured.

Unlike its opposite number, underarm sweat disability (Axillary Anhidrosis), Excessive Underarm Sweat is hardly ever life-threatening. That's not to say that it is never serious and can be overlooked or regarded lightly. Treatment is ultimately necessary as it won't heal on its own and will in fact worsen with time.

The side-effects of Excessive Underarm Sweat is often more serious than the problem itself. Obvious setbacks like physical discomfort, stained clothes, odor and unsightliness are but superficial issues compared to the psychological and emotional impact the disorder can have on the sufferer. Self-esteem, image, morale and motivation are where the biggest knocks are commonly taken. It can also be accompanied by excessive sweating in other parts of the body such as the face (Facial), hands (Palmar) and feet (Plantar Hyperhidrosis).

Fortunately, there are various cures and treatments available for Excessive Underarm Sweat. If it's mild, antiperspirants have proven to be effective and practical. At the other extreme is surgery. In between these 2 options are oral medication, injection and even electrical therapy. The choice is individual but the consideration factors are standard with cost, risk, necessity, side-effects, scars and reversibility being the foremost.

It's estimated that around 1% of people are afflicted with the condition of Excessive Underarm Sweat. That works out to be millions in the US alone. While the ailment is mostly not pressing, it should not be ignored and forgotten. Often, simply adopting good hygiene, exercise and diet can go some way in alleviating the situation for many of the sufferers.