Hyperhidrosis can make navigating the workplace challenging. If you’ve ever worried about the temperature of your office, wet handshakes, or inquisitive colleagues, you’re not alone. Many members on MyHyperhidrosisTeam have encountered difficulties at work or experienced stress related to excessive sweating.

Not being able to control the temperature of the work environment is a problem for many MyHyperhidrosisTeam members. One member expressed the daily frustration of “trying to work in an office that is 75 degrees and constantly having to turn a fan on me and wipe my face off.”

“Sometimes I think winter is worse than summer,” a member added. “Everyone else is freezing so they crank up the heat and I'm a melting mess.”

On top of the temperature, workplace dress codes can create challenges for managing hyperhidrosis. One member wrote, “I need to wear a cream top to my office job and right now I manage with long-sleeved, tight-fitting shirts so that I can stick a sanitary towel under each arm every day. I’m so fed up!!!”

Another member struggles with closed-toe shoes. “Somewhere, there is a small mountain of brand new dress shoes - all discarded forever after one wear due to the permanent stench of foot,” he wrote. “I tried to stop working in settings that require dress shoes but lately I've been working in locations where you NEED footwear for safety.”

Some members report that excessive sweating leads to social awkwardness with colleagues or supervisors. “I now cannot even go out to lunch with coworkers because halfway through the meal, the sweat comes down and does not stop,” one member shared. Occasionally members are on the receiving end of rude or insensitive comments: “I've had comments ranging from ‘are you sick?’ to people trying to hint I might be on drugs. That last one came from a previous employer.”

The social unease about sweating can add an extra layer of stress to job interviews. “I have a job interview and the only thing that’s on my mind are my sweaty hands and what am I going to do to disguise it,” a member wrote. “I just don’t want to go so that I don’t have to face the look on the employer’s face while shaking my hand.” Another member commented, “I have missed out on job opportunities because of the sweating.”

MyHyperhidrosisTeam members recommend hacks like using a handkerchief to wipe sweaty palms or setting up a desktop fan. Others suggest treatments that have helped them reduce their symptoms. Some members are also able to work from home so they can better control their temperature and avoid some social scenarios that cause anxiety.

On MyHyperhidrosisTeam, the social network and online support group for those living with excessive sweating, members talk about a range of personal experiences and struggles. Working and hyperhidrosis is one of the most discussed topics.

Here are some conversations about working with hyperhidrosis:
 

• “This condition is unrelenting regardless of 100 degree weather OR -20 degrees below!”

• “I have a job interview and the only thing that’s on my mind are my sweaty hands.”

• “I am sweating so bad it is affecting my job and everyday requirements at home.”

Do you face challenges with sweating at work? Have you found techniques to make the workday easier? Share your insights in the comments below or directly on MyHyperhidrosisTeam.