Dr Rosemary Leonard

GETTING TO THE HEART OF MEDICAL MATTERS

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I've been with my partner for a couple of years and noticed his head is often incredibly sweaty to the extent it drips down his forehead and the neck of his shirts is often wet. This summer it's been particularly bad, and I blamed the hot weather, but his face and hair are still often wet now it's cooler. I plucked up the courage to mention it to him, and he says he's always had a sweaty face. I'm not sure how much it bothers him, but I know others have noticed. Can anything be done? We're both 66.

This sounds like hyperhidrosis which affects up to 3% of people in the UK. Normally we sweat to help regulate body temperature, with production increasing in hot weather, but in those with the condition excess sweating can be triggered by a slight rise in temperature, mild exertion or eating mildly spicy foods. It usually develops before the age of 25, though it can occur at any age, and often runs in families. It tends to affect just specific areas of the body, such as the armpits, the palms and soles, or the head - cranio-facial hyperhidrosis.

Excess sweating from the feet and armpits can be a bit smelly, from the head it is usually odourless. However it can be very obvious, with sufferers constantly wiping their forehead.

Some affected are so used to it they regard their head being wet as normal, but others are embarrassed by it - yet unaware that treatment is available. Using an antiperspirant with 20% aluminium chloride around the hairline at night, then washing off in the morning, may help, but this can cause skin irritation.