Science Journal

Sweaty Hands

My mom kept warning me not to wash my hands immediately after working out or any physical activities that perspire me because I might develop an excessive sweat on my hands. And I did what she told me. I am just a kid that time and of course, all of us will actually believe what our parents told us even lies such as the existence of Santa Claus and babies are made through kissing. We believed those kinds of notions until we start going to school, slowly being educated and realized that we have been duped by our biological parents. Anyway, when the time where my curiosity level peaks, I tried to search about what my mother warned me not to do if it is scientifically true. And this is what I found.

Excessive sweat on hands or HYPERHIDROSIS causes anxiety and embarrassment to people who have this dermatological condition. Of course, people who want to know them would be disgusted shaking their sweaty hands and probably would not bother to talk with them again. Also, people with hyperhidrosis have difficulty opening a doorknob and picking up a fallen pen. Perhaps, they would be the first people to die if a notorious murderer was trying to kill everyone in a certain building because they would be struggling to open the exit door. 

Anyway, normally when a body's temperature rise due to fever, exercise, anxiety or stress it triggers the nerves to activate the eccrine sweat glands to produce a sweat onto the skin's surface, cooling off the body and prevent it from overheating. Eccrine sweat glands are more numerous on feet, palms, face, and armpits which is why we perspire more in those said areas. However, when the activating nerves overreact it cause hyperhidrosis. The sweat glands cannot stop producing a salty water content even when the circumstances do not call for it. Sadly, doctors have no ideas why it happens but they knew it is genetically inheritable.

Fortunately, hyperhidrosis is treatable through an application of antiperspirants that contain aluminum, taking an anticholinergic which affects the nerve signals to sweat glands, botox injections to block the signals to the nerves in the surface of the skin, iontophoresis which is an electrical stimulation to sweat glands so the volume of sweat production is reduced, or surgery. But if you cannot afford those expensive medicines and procedures try applying hand sanitizer which helps dry things a little or simply wipe your sweaty hands with paper towel. But there are some people especially guys who would rather keep their hyperhidrosis because they won't need some lubricant to jack off. Sweaty hand would suffice.

Anyway, after knowing the nature of hyperhidrosis I realized that I am again victimized by one of my parents' lies, which they actually do not know that it is not true. So I have nothing to fear in washing my dirty hands after playing basketball with my friends or any intense activities because water cannot trigger the nerves to sweat profusely forever.