Sweaty hands – what you can do

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8 min

In a nutshell, for you:

Sweaty hands: wh[...]
What to do about sweaty hands? Prevention tips
Sweaty hands: Causes and remedies

Sweaty hands: What
HELPS STRAIGHT AWAY?

Sweaty hands – almost everyone knows what that’s like. Hand sweating is natural and generally nothing you need to worry about. But we’ll help you get rid of that moisture on your hands. Discover what really helps against excessive hand sweating so you can feel more comfortable every day.

First: wash your hands

For sweaty hands, the quickest and simplest solution is to wash them. Because sweat is water-soluble, you don’t need soap every time. Washing your hands too often with soap can dry them out, so try to go easy. And remember to apply a good hand cream afterwards to keep your skin soft and comfortable.

Choose the right cream

Avoid hand creams with a high oil content. That protective film can actually encourage more hand sweating. Instead, go for non-greasy, fast-absorbing formulas that hydrate and refresh your skin without feeling heavy.

Wipes – always handy

Always keep wet wipes or an alcohol-based hand cleansing gel with you. If there’s no sink nearby, this little emergency kit gives you fresh, dry hands in no time. Just be careful: alcohol can be drying, so try not to use the gel too often and follow up with hand cream when you can.

Sage tea to help with sweating

Sage is known for helping to reduce sweat production. Try drinking two to three cups a day and, if you like, soaking your hands in the cooled tea. Just 2 minutes in a lukewarm sage bath helps refresh your skin and leaves your hands feeling pleasantly dry.

Antiperspirant for hands

Antiperspirant roll-ons and deodorants can also help prevent hand sweating. They contain aluminium salts that reduce sweat formation. The ideal products also include moisture-absorbing mineral particles, such as kaolin powder or zinc, to keep your hands feeling drier for longer.

What to do about sweaty hands?
PREVENTION TIPS

SOS tips for very wet hands are useful, but it’s much nicer if you can prevent them getting that sweaty in the first place. Talc, for example, can be really effective before an important appointment. Over the long term, anti-stress activities can help reduce excessive sweating and make you feel more at ease.

Avoid and reduce stress

Avoiding stress and choosing to relax instead is an effective way to tackle stress-related sweating. Relaxation activities such as yoga, breathing exercises and meditation can help calm your nerves – and in turn calm your sweat glands as well.

Help prevent sweating

When you get nervous, it often shows up straight away as sweaty hands. It’s natural and nothing to be ashamed of. To avoid wet hands before a date, a job interview or an important meeting, rub a pinch of baby powder into your hands – it absorbs moisture and helps them feel drier.

Sweaty hands:
CAUSES AND REMEDIES

Your emotions, your hormones and, in some cases, illnesses can all cause your hands to sweat. Find out what you can do if you feel like you’re constantly dealing with sweaty hands in your everyday life.

What you can do long term about sweaty hands

Sweaty hands – plenty of people know what that’s like. Sweating acts as a kind of “natural air conditioning” and helps lower your body temperature, and it’s the same for your hands.

However, if sweating is excessive, it can have different causes. Hand hyperhidrosis can be triggered by stress, anxiety or hormonal changes, for example.

In some cases, there may also be medical reasons: scientists suspect that arthritis, hyperthyroidism and circulatory disorders can contribute to hand sweating. Side effects of certain medicines can also promote hand sweating.

Many people find that relaxation exercises help them effectively manage constant sweating. If this doesn’t help, or if your sweating is so strong that it really bothers you in daily life, it’s a good idea to talk to your dermatologist and get personal advice.

Sweaty hands: causes

Occasional sweaty hands are harmless and are usually caused by heat, stress or anxiety. However, scientists are still not completely sure what causes permanent hand sweating.

The role of sweat glands

Normally, you sweat so your body can cool down and settle again – for example during and after exercise. In people whose hands are always wet, the sweat glands are working at full capacity almost all the time.