If you've ever had a tennis racket slip out of your hands, been unable to catch a basketball pass or had a baseball not end up where you wanted to throw it, it could be because your hands are too sweaty. This could be natural sweating caused by head and exertion, or the problem could be more serious, such as a condition called hyperhidrosis.
Hyperhidrosis
Excessive sweating in the palms, as well the underarms, feet and face, is known as hyperhidrosis, according to MayoClinic,com. It is relatively uncommon, but the dripping sweat can interfere with day-to-day activities, in addition to being an embarrasment for sufferers.
Medical Treatment
If your palms are sweaty when playing sports but not too severe, you may be able to treat it. Topical medicines like antiperspirants may be prescribed to help prevent your palms sweating or you could take an oral medication to either inhibit sweating or reduce sweat output -- as well as block nerve impulses to the sweat glands, according to MayoClinic.com.
Surgical Treatment
If sweaty palms is severely inhibiting your ability to play sports, then surgery may be an option to treat hyperhidrosis. Two types of surgery are available, each of which go about reducing or stopping your sweat production in your palms.. These surgeries are called a sympathectomy and a sympathotomy, both of which interrupt the nerves that cause sweating in the palms. In the sympathectomy, the sympathetic nerve is clipped, cut or burned, and can be reversed if necessary. A sympathotomy involves simply disconnecting, rather than damaging, the sympatheic nerve, and is the procedure recommended by the Mayo Clinic.
Basic Treatment
If your palms are sweaty based on being active and out in the sun, there are some ways to help treat the sweat on your palms as well. Carrying a towel with you to dry your palms and arms can help improve your grip, and baby powder and talc powder can help reduce the moisture on your hands as well. Some golfers and baseball players also wear gloves to help improve their grip.
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