Woman Bullied Due To Excessive Sweating Condition Hyperhidrosis Claims NHS Will No Longer Provide 'Miracle' Treatment | HuffPost Life

Woman Bullied Due To Excessive Sweating Can't Afford 'Miracle' Treatment

Rachel Moss— The Huffington Post UK

A woman who suffers from excessive sweating claims she has been denied a "miracle" NHS treatment due to budget cuts.

Heather Sadler, from Wirral, was diagnosed with the condition hyperhidrosis when she was 19 years old.

After trying a variety of treatments the she found that having Botox injections under her arms prevented her from developing large sweat patches throughout the day.

The 22-year-old was previously given the injections free on the NHS every nine to 12 months, but says this is no longer available.

"I cried to the dermatologist for hours when I found out. I felt like I couldn’t live. It’s too expensive for me to pay for my own treatment - I don’t have £300 spare a year," she told the Liverpool Echo.

Heather Sadler

Sadler first noticed she sweated more than other people when she was 13 years old when bullies commented on her sweat patches after PE.

She was diagnosed with hyperhidrosis until she was 19 years old after she told her GP about seeing someone with the same condition on Channel 4 show Embarrassing Bodies.

Unfortunately, cruel comments about her sweating did not stop as she entered adulthood.

She claims that when she was in her first administration job, a colleague accidentally sent her an email which referred to her saying: "Urgh, she stinks".

"It put me down to a point where I’m too scared to go back to work, even now," she said.

"It completely knocked my confidence and thinking about it still makes me get emotional. I’d rather people said to me ‘listen, you smell’ so I can explain it, rather than talk about me behind my back."

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According to the NHS, excessive sweating, or hyperhidrosis, is a fairly common condition estimated to affect between one and three in every 100 people in the UK.

The condition usually affects a sufferer's armpits, palms of hands, soles of feet, face, chest and groin.

Although it doesn't usually pose a serious threat to health physically, hyperhidrosis can be embarrassing and distressing.

"It can also have a negative impact on your quality of life and may lead to feelings of depression and anxiety," the website states.

Initial recommended treatment for hyperhidrosis includes lifestyle changes (such as a change of diet) and wearing stronger deodorants.

For more severe cases the NHS recommends iontophoresis which involves treating affected areas of skin with a weak electric current passed through water or a wet pad.

The treatment is thought to help block the sweat glands and Sadler previously received it alongside botox injections.

Botox injections are also listed under the possible treatments, although the NHS states that "availability on the NHS can vary widely depending on your clinical commissioning group (CCG)".

The Huffington Post UK has contacted Wirral CCG for confirmation that they no longer offer the treatment free of charge, but has yet to hear back at the time of publication.

Normal Vs. Abnormal Sweating

Amount Of Sweat(01 of16)

The volume or amount you sweat can be a giveaway when it comes to normal vs. abnormal sweating. Everyone sweats a certain amount a day, but if you are excessively sweating you might be suffering from hyperhidrosis, in which the body's cooling mechanism is so overactive that it produces five times the amount of sweat that you need in order to maintain consistent body temperature. (credit:Getty Images)

How Annoying Is it?(02 of16)

Normal: Sweating being an occasional inconvenience.Abnormal: Sweating negatively impacting the overall quality of your life.

When Are You Sweating?(03 of16)

Normal: Sweating while exercising.Abnormal: Sweating profusely when sitting in a cold room, watching TV.

How Are Your Clothes Doing?(04 of16)

Normal: Staining clothes because of sweat while exercising.Abnormal: Staining clothes with sweat while sitting in a temperature-controlled room.

Do You Keep Your Cool At Work?(05 of16)

Abnormal: If sweating is interfering with work and your overall professionalism.

Do Your Friends Notice?(06 of16)

Abnormal: If sweating is impacting your social life. If on a daily basis, you are not hugging someone or refuse to shake hands due to sweat.

Seasonal Changes(07 of16)

Normal: When temperatures rise -- for any reason -- the sweat glands kick in to produce more sweat. This is why we sweat more in the summer.Abnormal: Sweating regardless of the heat (year round).

Bedtime(08 of16)

Abnormal: Sweating while sleeping is abnormal.

Mental Health State(09 of16)

Normal: Sweating with anxiety.Abnormal: Sweating when calm.

Something You Ate?(10 of16)

Normal: Sweating while consuming spicy food.Abnormal: Sweating while eating ice cream.

It's Impossible to Keep Clothes Dry(11 of16)

Excessive underarm sweating is called axillary hyperhidrosis. One clue as to whether you have the condition is the way you dress. If you don't want to wear light- or bright-colored tops because you're afraid that the stains from your underarm sweating will be too obvious, or you avoid delicate fabrics such as silk because you're afraid they'll get ruined, you're likely dealing with excessive underarm sweat. Men with underarm hyperhidrosis are also likely to keep their suit jackets on, even when it's warm, because they're afraid that people will see sweat rings around their armpits on their shirts. (credit:Alamy)

You Can't Stop Thinking About It(12 of16)

When you have underarm hyperhidrosis, many times it's difficult to think about anything else. You worry that others will notice that your shirt is always soaked, thanks to excessive underarm sweat. You may become self-conscious and begin to withdraw, avoiding physical contact with other people. You may even be reluctant to dance at parties or work out at the gym for fear it will make your excessive sweating worse. (credit:Getty Images)

Deodorants Don't Do Enough(13 of16)

If you're experiencing excessive underarm sweating, ordinary over-the-counter deodorants won't work, no matter how often you apply them. You might have some success with antiperspirants that have a high concentration of aluminum chloride, which binds to, and therefore blocks, sweat glands, but at times even that isn't enough. Asking your doctor for a prescription-strength antiperspirant is the next step. Some people who sweat too much have success with prescription antiperspirant, but occasionally further treatment is necessary, notes Jacob DeLaRosa, MD, chief of cardiac and endovascular surgery at Idaho State University's Portneuf Medical Center in Pocatello.. (credit:Getty Images)

You're Sweating For No Reason(14 of16)

You expect to sweat when you work out or when you're about to give a big speech in front of a large audience, but if your armpits drip for no clear reason — breaking out in a heavy sweat any time of the day or night — you're likely experiencing symptoms of excessive sweating, or underarm hyperhidrosis.People with underarm hyperhidrosis are also likely to sweat profusely from other parts of the body, such as their hands, feet, and groin — areas where sweat glands are highly concentrated, says Charles Griff, MD, a dermatologist and medical director of the Dermatology Depot Med Spa in West Palm Beach, Fla. Hyperhidrosis of the palms is known as palmar hyperhidrosis. When you have this condition, you may have difficulty holding a pen or pencil and writing, driving a car, and using a computer keyboard, all because your hands are slippery. (credit:Getty Images)

You Shower All the Time(15 of16)

Underarm hyperhidrosis has nothing to do with hygiene, says Dr. DeLaRosa. Nonetheless, people with hyperhidrosis find they soak through their shirts soon after putting them on, so they shower constantly and change their clothes several times a day. This may keep you dry temporarily, but when you have hyperhidrosis, showering frequently, even with strong soaps and shower gels, won't stop the problem. But talking to your doctor or dermatologist about treatment will, says DeLaRosa. (credit:Getty Images)

You're Sloshing In Your Shoes(16 of16)

Some people with excessive underarm sweat also have plantar hyperhidrosis, which is excessive sweating of the soles of the feet. When your feet sweat too much, your socks and shoes get wet, leaving you feeling as if you've stepped in a puddle. You can become embarrassed about taking off your shoes and socks in public places, like the locker room at the gym or the shoe store, in part because of the ensuing odor. You may have crossed sandals off your wardrobe list because your feet are too slippery, and walking barefoot can be a problem when wet footprints get left behind. (credit:Alamy)

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