# How do I stop my frickin' paws from sweating so durned much? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 23, 2002, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-stop-my-frickin-paws-from-sweating-so-durned-much/144476 "2002-12-23T03:32:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lodrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@Lodrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lodrain)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2002, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-stop-my-frickin-paws-from-sweating-so-durned-much/144476/1 "2002-12-23T03:32:45Z")
I love my hands. They’re good hands. They’re nimble, capable hands–the hands of an artist or a baton-twirly-person. But their failing is that they sweat. They sweat and sweat and sweat. My hands sweat more than my armpits on a hot day. It’s a problem, because when I write or draw, the paper gets wet and gets those horrible little smudges and deformations. How do I stop my hands from sweating? ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2002, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-stop-my-frickin-paws-from-sweating-so-durned-much/144476/2 "2002-12-23T03:47:51Z")
This may sound silly, and may not work, but it’s worth a try - Spray your hands with anti-perspirant. (most deodorants are anti-perspirant) ---
**Author:** ![davesink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@davesink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davesink)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2002, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-stop-my-frickin-paws-from-sweating-so-durned-much/144476/3 "2002-12-23T04:14:48Z")
Check with your doctor. As it so happens, I saw a recent news story (may have been local NBC. I live in the Chicago area) describing a relatively simple and safe medical procedure to treat this condition, which several patients raved about. As I recall, it involved making three minor incisions somewhere in the chest region severing the overproducing duct glands. It was about 2-3 weeks ago, so memory’s a little sketchy on the details. Can anyone back me up on this one? Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![davesink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@davesink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davesink)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2002, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-stop-my-frickin-paws-from-sweating-so-durned-much/144476/4 "2002-12-23T04:22:46Z")
AHA! Here’s the cite: [http://www.nbc5.com/health/1433538/detail.htm](http://www.nbc5.com/health/1433538/detail.htm) BTW. the condition is known as hyperhydrosis. ---
**Author:** ![Rookie1979](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a88e4f/32.png) [@Rookie1979](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rookie1979)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2002, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-stop-my-frickin-paws-from-sweating-so-durned-much/144476/5 "2002-12-23T06:25:47Z")
I’ve heard fixative works really well for hand sweats, and bored late night inhalations. ---
**Author:** ![TelcontarStorm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3ab097/32.png) [@TelcontarStorm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TelcontarStorm)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2002, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-stop-my-frickin-paws-from-sweating-so-durned-much/144476/6 "2002-12-23T16:06:12Z")
I hear if you rub those paws with juice from a creosote bush it will slow it down. ---
**Author:** ![lothos2002](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/df788c/32.png) [@lothos2002](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lothos2002)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2002, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-stop-my-frickin-paws-from-sweating-so-durned-much/144476/7 "2002-12-23T20:01:22Z")
I have the same problem, although not as bad to qualify as a “condition” IMHO (of course my cow-orkers who I have to shake hands with would disagree). For me, rubbing bicarbonate of soda powder everymorning has helped a lot, or talcum powder even. Problem is that when you shake hands there is “transfer”, but I think it is better to shake some talcum powder than sweat after a handshake. ---
**Author:** ![postcards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e8cbc/32.png) [@postcards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/postcards)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2002, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-stop-my-frickin-paws-from-sweating-so-durned-much/144476/8 "2002-12-23T23:11:57Z")
Ask your doctor about Drysol. ---
**Author:** ![rookie523](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71c47a/32.png) [@rookie523](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rookie523)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2002, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-stop-my-frickin-paws-from-sweating-so-durned-much/144476/9 "2002-12-23T23:16:31Z")
i have the same problem with my feet. my socks are sometimes so damp at work… it’s digusting. but i read soaking my feet in hot tea(any kind i think) helps reduce the sweating. i tried it and it worked ok. my feet still sweat but not as much. i heard of a water and vinegar soak works well too. both methods require 30 minute soaks anytime in the day. i think you’ll see results after 3 days or so…