Scarlet

Ever since I was a young child I remember sweat dripping from my hands, feet, and armpits. My hyperhidrosis has caused so much pain mentally; I rarely socialise, I don’t date, I have a lot of self hatred because of a disabling condition I can’t help having. People look at me in disgust as they don’t understand why I’m dripping with sweat in winter, summer, spring, and autumn. My life revolves around my hyperhidrosis. It’s like I have a ceiling to my life because of my hyperhidrosis that I can’t break through.

Imay J.

Japan

I started to notice my excessive underarm sweating when I was in my First year in High School. I was embarrassed and gossiped about during my college days and even at my workplace. That led me to depression and to the point of thinking of ending my life. I never wear colored tops whenever i'm outside the house. People who don't suffer this disease will never understand and will see you as gross entirely. I hope people will open their minds that people like me who have severe hyperhidrosis don't deserve to be criticized and instead deserve to be accepted and understood.

Ralph P.

United States

I’ve dealt with the problem of hyperhidrosis for more or less my whole life. Over the years, hyperhidrosis has been a major point of discomfort, especially in social settings and business. I even went as far as to have the medical sympathectomy procedure which helped with my hands, but unfortunately it redirected a lot of the sweating to my feet area. I couldn’t wear sandals and avoided moving to living in very humid climates because my feed would be drenched in sweat, sometimes to the point of dangerously slipping and sliding on slippery floors.. After dealing with this for so long and having tried so many other solutions, I had pretty much given up until someone recommended the Demadry system.. After using Dermadry for just 2 weeks my feet are completely dry and I can wear sandals again and walk around barefoot again.

Jeremy H.

United States

This is me on an average day - sweaty palms, sweaty feet, and sweaty pits. I've had hyperhidrosis for all of my adult life - and it has always been a big issue for me. Normally I wouldn't dare wear this dress shirt unless I wear a coat over it. Grays are not an option. Summer time in NYC, fuhgedaboutit. As a physician, it's been embarrassing and held me back at times, avoiding handshakes and personal contact so that people don't get drenched. And suffering from stinky feet because my socks are in a perpetual state of wet.

Bas V.

Netherlands

I can't remember a day without sweaty hands. You can call it a lifestyle. I always have to think about how it will affect me, others and my actions. I can't just do things, I had to give up some hobbies which really made me feel down. I'm glad hyperhidrosis is becoming more 'normal'. Hopefully others will understand our struggle.

Megan W.

Hyperhidrosis has always been a part of my life, it has impacted me in various ways growing up. I live in Scotland and part of our schooling includes learning Scottish country dancing, which meant I had to dance with a boy! Dancing with boys was embarrassing enough as a young girl but my hyperhidrosis made it so much worse. Word got around about my sweaty hands and I could see the dread in each boy's eyes if they were paired with me, they could be quite vocal about it too. I ended up with the nickname Sweaty Betty and was bullied quite badly throughout my school years. When I started dating I experienced new challenges. I remember wearing gloves every time I held hands with my first boyfriend in an attempt to hide my hands from him. Spring came around and I had to tell him, thankfully he was very supportive and never made it an issue. On a second date I was making cupcakes and the sprinkles kept sticking to my hands… my secret was revealed earlier than I had planned. I have been with my current partner for 7 years so thankfully hyperhidrosis doesn't invade my romantic life anymore. Generally I try to hide it from people, I am not a hand shaker for example! It may come up if I am at the nail salon or if I give someone something I have been holding - it's gonna be sweaty! I find that sometimes people actually laugh when I explain it, I am not sure if others find that too. However, I am now a medical student and a large part of my learning and future job involves examining patients. This has been particularly difficult to deal with as I can't really hide it anymore, from patients or my peers. It makes me appear nervous when I am not, and if I am nervous the sweating is so much worse. Practicing CPR on a dummy is mortifying, I leave behind a puddle of sweat. I've had to confront the emotional and psychological toll it is taken on me regarding my self-confidence, I am a rather sensitive soul. Thankfully, I have recently been given a Dermadry machine and that has made a huge difference to my sweating. It's taking time to find a place for it in my schedule and get into a routine, but I am much more hopeful for the future.

Charlie W.

I used to wake up every morning and before I even thought about the normal things in life; brushing my teeth, having breakfast and checking the news, my thought thought was my excessive sweating... I would wake up most mornings and have sweaty hands, as well as dripping feet and underarms. As a kid I was never bothered, I didn't really know what it was, but as I slowly grew into a young adult where I would come into contact people with people more often and shake hands, hold hands and wear clothes showed massive ovals of underarm sweat, I knew I had a problem... I went to the doctor and was told I had excessive hyperhidrosis (brilliant). I was given something called driclor that essentially felt like taking a lighter and sticking it under your arm while your pores melted. It worked don't get me wrong, but it wasn't a practical solution. I often fist bumped my mates to steer away from the embarrassment of passing on ones flooded hands, but once I got into the workplace I knew this wasn't possible. I would get up before a meeting ends and run the bathroom, wash my hands, dry my hands and even put my underarms under the hand dryer! it was this way for a couple of years, I just got used to it.... Until very recently, I discovered Dermadry... (F**k yes Dermadry!) I looked online and this new Canadian brand had supposedly built this treatment system that stops sweating?!?! Okay, I'm game! Then I looked at the price tag, nearly £400. I thought, have a laugh, there is no way I am paying that much for some iontophoresis machine. However, after a week of seeing more and more ads pop up around my social media, I thought sod it, I'm buying it. Two words? Life Changer. It was weird, different and something I've never done. However, it couldn't have been more easy and sooooo satisfying! I don't sweat at all anymore, like at all. I would wake up sweating and now I have to run half a mile just for it to start the "normal" kind of sweating. Crazy. After using it now for 3 weeks I can honestly say it has been one of the best investments of my life and I would recommend an iontophoresis machine to anyone who is struggling to find a solution. I can shake my colleagues hand. I can hold my girlfriend's hand I no longer only fist bumps my friends and I can finally wake up and think about breakfast. I'll eat to that.

Colin H.

Australia

I have had a major problem with my palms sweating all the time, I was unable to shake hands and felt embarrassed. I would leave wet marks on papers and every time I signed documents you could see the wet marks. I tried every remedy but nothing worked. I saw the Dermadry device online and thought it wouldn't work, however I was prepared to give it a go and now I can honestly say it’s the best purchase best treatment that really works. I honestly recommend this to those who have the same problem. It works.

Ayosh

Jordan

I suffer from the problem of hyperhidrosis almost from puberty. I have hyperhidrosis under the hand, in the hand and in the feet. I am a student in university. I cannot wear light clothes and I cannot study and write well. I am very tired of this problem as it causes me a lack of confidence. I hope to find an eternal solution.

Zainab

My journey with hyperhidrosis has been a tough one. It's one filled with much struggle and hardship within my private life as well as socially. Suffering from hyperhidrosis from 5 years old and now being an adult is difficult. I suffer from excessive sweating mainly on my hands, feet and underarms however it does affect me everywhere. It's something I experience all year round, summer and winter, leaving me so uncomfortable. Having this condition affects me everyday possible, and sometimes it can be the smallest things but would affect me greatly, whether it be traveling on public transport and holding the polls, shaking someone's hand- trying to find any means possible not to and finding awkward explanations, writing my exams and having my paper get wet, smudges and smears all over my written work, having to have my finger prints scanned at immigration and constantly having to wipe my hands, using my phone-always gives problems with touchscreen and finger print scanner, wearing darker clothing to hide sweat patches, can’t wear sandals as my feet are always dripping wet so always having to wear socks and when I become nervous or stressed, my body temperature rises and I sweat like no tomorrow. I cannot explain how embarrassing you can feel at times, and it can really bother you and affect your mental health. At points it does make you feel at your lowest but you just have to push past it and rise from it, and acknowledge that it's part of you. Growing older, this condition makes everything difficult. Every discussion I make has to be revolved around my condition, for example whether the workplace can adapt to my needs, etc. I've been to to the doctors many times but not much is done about it. Some don't know about the condition and some deem it as 'normal' and say that it would eventually go away. I’ve tried a few treatments like antiperspirants and creams, but it doesn’t do a thing. Many of the treatments available are extremely expensive which makes it even harder, so I'm always on the lookout and researching for affordable and cost effective ways I can make myself more comfortable and happy while going through this. I do feel sometimes I'm the only one going through this, but I know other people are out there just like me. I really do hope more awareness can be bought around this condition as not many people know of it. And that hopefully there will be a cure for it, offering a long lasting solution.

Shernett

Jamaica

Most of the time I have to wear dark coloured tops so my sweating won't be as obvious to everyone. My brain tells my body that I'm hot even when I'm freezing cold which causes me to sweat excessively under my arms. It's not easy being me. Hyperhidrosis forces you to be antisocial; It cripples self-esteem and puts a dent in one's confidence. It's a daily struggle. I was not up for showing my face and underarm sweating picture to the world but then I realized that people need to know that people who are affected by hyperhidrosis are not people who don't like to shower or wash their garments—it's a struggle and a kind of disease that interferes with our normal daily lives.

Rex

United States

Awful and very inconvenient to perform tasks with sweaty hands, axilla, and feet.