We all know someone, it may even be yourself, that has trouble when it comes to excessive sweating. If you’re one of those people who is affected by severe sweating, don’t worry you’re far from alone. The most common cause of this ailment is known as primary focal hyperhidrosis, which affects close to 1% to 3% of the general population. That is a staggering number and one that more than likely surprised you. But fear not, there is a way to say bye bye to sweaty pits.

First some background on hyperhidrosis. The condition affects men and women equally and is most common in people between 25 and 64 years old. That means anyone from your girlfriend to your grandfather could have had to deal with excessive sweat. It also may be difficult to determine if you or someone you know could have hyperhidrosis, the best way is to know that the 8 million Americans who do suffer from it will sweat four to five times more than someone who doesn’t. That is a significant increase, meaning if you notice a bit of extra sweat it could easily be another outside factor and not as serious as hyperhidrosis.

Now we can talk about how to stop excessive sweating. Over 50 years ago, a treatment called iontophoresis was introduced to combat excessive sweating. The treatment is a form of therapy that is administered using a machine. Iontophoresis therapy lasts anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes with patients with severe hyperhidrosis needing up to two to three treatments a week when first starting. The iontophoresis machines are available for purchase online which makes for a quick fix to your sweating problem.

The biggest takeaway from reading this is that you should not be embarrassed. The vast majority of people who suffer from hyperhidrosis report that their condition affects their emotional state. In one survey, in particular, most of the patients reported feeling less confident because of their condition. Excessive sweating will continue to a be a problem, although, it’s not one that anyone is dealing with alone. Talk to your doctor about how to stop excessive sweating and don’t forget everybody sweats.