Sweaty Hands - A Burden for Those Affected

Sweaty Hands

The old-fashioned hand kiss might be a thing of the past, but unkempt hands are still a definite no-no today. Even if no prince is going to kneel down to meet your hand at eye level, there are still plenty of situations where clammy hands can be really embarrassing. Sweaty hands are a problem that many people find unpleasant. Of course, during a salary negotiation or on a date, sweaty palms immediately give away nerves or even anxiety. And if you then have to say goodbye to a potential new boss with a damp handshake, that good impression is tarnished, if not completely ruined.

But even everyday situations can become a bit of a challenge with wet hands, like trying to grip a glass firmly or holding onto a railing. Just knowing you have a problem with sweaty hands can cause a huge amount of psychological stress. Sufferers are constantly worried about being ridiculed by others and often avoid social contact. The social impact that sweaty hands can have is often a massive problem, leading to what feels like an insurmountable vicious cycle of stress-sweaty hands-stress. Sweaty hands, along with underarm sweat and sweaty feet, are one of the most common forms of excessive sweating.

Possible Causes of Increased Sweating on the Hands

The human body has millions of sweat glands, and a large number of these are found on the hands.

A trigger for increased sweating on the hands can be both emotional and mental. For example, when people get nervous easily, fly into a rage quickly, or react anxiously, they often start sweating quickly too. This can then manifest as excessive sweating on the hands.

Sweating on the hands is influenced by many factors, such as diet, psychological and physical well-being, hormones, and even being overweight. Primarily, it's important to identify and address the underlying causes. This should noticeably reduce sweating on the hands.

Help for Sweaty Hands

Basically, sweating is completely normal and a vital function of our body to protect us from overheating. However, sweaty hands serve a different purpose than just regulating body temperature. Hand sweat provides better grip, which was certainly useful at some point in evolution but isn't really relevant at all today.

Sweaty hands are more common in sufferers when they're nervous, anxious, or exerting themselves. The key here is to "keep your cool"!

But that's easier said than done, of course. It's not always possible to control your emotions and therefore avoid clammy hands.

7 Tips for Dealing with Sweaty Hands

So that you can remain confident in these situations and don't have to feel insecure, for example, during an important meeting with the boss or on a first date, we have 7 tips for you to avoid excessive sweating on your hands:

1. Hygiene is Really Important

Therefore, washing your hands regularly is a must for wet and quickly sweating hands. Sweat leads to a build-up of bacteria on the skin, and dirt and dust also stick noticeably to the palms – making your hands look grubby quickly. An old home remedy for sweaty hands is to add vinegar to the water and wash your hands with it, or to rub your palms with surgical spirit after washing. Out and about and don't have any soap handy? No problem! Use those little helpers for on the go that allow you to "wash" your hands without water, soap, and a towel.

2. Have Regular Hand Soaks

Treat your hands to a break and soak them regularly in a bath with sage, chamomile tincture, or salt water. These tried and tested home remedies are said to inhibit sweat production on the hands.

3. Use Antiperspirants

A simple and effective solution for sweaty hands is antiperspirant. A product containing the active ingredient aluminium chloride temporarily narrows the sweat glands, effectively regulating sweat and sweat odour. Antiperspirant wipes are particularly ideal for when you're on the go. They work instantly and can be used quickly and easily whenever sweaty hands are on the horizon. With regular use of an antiperspirant, the development of hand sweat and odour is permanently regulated.

4. Avoid Greasy Hand Creams

Moisturising your hands is important to prevent the skin from drying out, becoming chapped or cracked. However, if you have sweaty hands, you should make sure not to use "greasy" creams. The oily and moisture film of a hand cream can increase sweating on the hands – especially on the palms. Use hand lotions that are specifically designed for your skin type and quickly sweating hands. These usually absorb quickly, provide moisture, and also have an antibacterial effect.

5. Go to the Sauna Regularly

Go to the sauna regularly. It's not just good for your soul, but it also trains your sweat glands. Due to the high temperatures in the sauna (a Finnish sauna can easily reach up to 100° Celsius of dry heat, a steam bath up to 60° Celsius), the body learns to use the sweat glands more controlled. The subsequent cold stimuli under the shower or in the plunge pool cause the pores to contract, and the sweat glands and body are trained to handle temperature fluctuations, which means you sweat significantly less in everyday life.

6. A Healthy Diet is Important

Reduce your consumption of meat, alcohol, and coffee. You should also ideally eat a low-salt diet and avoid spicy foods or seasonings as much as possible. They really "heat up" our bodies and therefore make us sweat more quickly. Bring more variety and colour to your plate and enjoy fresh fruit and vegetables more often.

7. Iontophoresis Therapy

As an additional therapy for sweaty hands, tap water iontophoresis can be an option. Here, the hands are immersed in a water bath and exposed to a weak direct current. This form of electrical stimulation temporarily closes the sweat glands, thus inhibiting sweat production. It's best to consult your doctor about this.

First published: 12.05.2011

Updated: 27.05.2025