Have you ever been embarrassed to shake someone’s hand or to remove your shoes when you’re around other people because you have sweaty hands and feet? It’s not as rare of an issue as you might think. The good news is that it is not something you have to continue to live with.
In this article, we’ll show you how to get rid of sweaty hands using items you already have in your kitchen pantry or medicine cabinet. Before we go into the 10 healthy ways to dry and balance sweaty hands, let’s look into what causes the phenomenon.
Why Are My Hands Always Sweaty?
Some people are plagued by this particularly annoying condition known as hyperhidrosis. This can occur in any part of the body but is most common in the palms, soles of the feet, underarms, and face. Most people who suffer from this issue are genetically predisposed to it and have other members of their family who also suffer from the same embarrassment.
The underlying and immediate cause of sweaty hands is the trigger of overactive nerves to the sweat glands to produce extreme amounts of sweat. Besides genetic predisposition, there are some other triggers for hyperhidrosis. Those triggers include:
- Some medications;
- Menopausal hot flashes;
- Low blood sugar;
- Overactive thyroid;
- Substance abuse;
- Obesity;
- Heart attack;
- An infectious disease like tuberculosis or malaria.
In addition to these triggers, additional factors might point to stress related issues or anxiety disorders. Worse than any of these triggers or factors is the fact that the condition tends to multiply upon itself. The nervousness and stress of having sweaty hands tends to cause an additional nervous reaction, which creates a continuous spiral.
Our 10 healthy ways to dry and balance sweaty hands will help you interrupt the effects of your condition, help you relax and step forward with confidence, but they are not all-inclusive cures. For some of the triggers listed above, hyperhidrosis is a symptom of something more serious for which you need to contact a health care professional.
10 Soft and Enjoyable Home Remedies for Sweaty Hands
Black Tea
One of the most common household treatments to gain control over sweaty hands is black tea.
What to do:
- Brew black tea using two tea bags;
- Allow the bags to cool and then hold them in your palms for 5 minutes 2 to 3 times a day;
- If you have loose tea, brew enough to fill a bowl, allow it to cool and soak your hands in it for 30 minutes twice a day;
- Drinking 2 to 3 cups of black tea daily can also help.
How it works:
The tannins in black tea cool the temperature of your body. But they also act as an astringent which helps to block pores and prevent excess sweating.
Sage Tea
You can also remedy those sweaty hands with the use of sage tea.
What to do:
- Add boiling water to 2 or 3 sage tea bags in a large bowl or soaking tub and allow it to be steep 15 to 20 minutes;
- When the tea is cool, soak your hands in the water for 3 minutes. Repeat this 2 to 3 times a day;
- You can also brew sage tea by adding 1 Tbsp of fresh or dried sage leaves to a cup of hot water. Allow it to steep 5 minutes. Drink this 2 to 3 times a day;
- Sage is also an excellent seasoning to incorporate into your cooking.
How it works:
Sage has astringent properties and contains vitamin B and magnesium, which help to regulate sweat gland activity.
Magnesium Rich Foods
Another top item on our list of how to prevent sweaty hands can be achieved by consuming magnesium rich foods.
What to do:
- You can take a magnesium supplement at a dosage of 400 mg per day;
- Add magnesium-rich foods to your regular diet. Included among magnesium rich foods are avocados, almonds, bananas, pumpkin seeds, blackstrap molasses, cashews, potato skins, green, leafy vegetables and whole grains;
- You can also soak your hands in a solution of 1 Tbsp of Epsom Salts (high in magnesium), in a large bowl or soaking tub for 30 minutes.
How it works:
Since magnesium helps regulate sweat gland activity, magnesium deficiency in your diet contributes to hyperhidrosis.
Activated Charcoal
Activated charcoal is another common remedy for how to stop sweaty hands from being a nuisance.
What to do:
- First thing each morning, consume one tsp of activated charcoal in an 8 oz. glass of warm water;
- If you experience stomach pain after drinking activated charcoal on an empty stomach, then consume it with meals;
- Note that if you have intestinal issues, you should probably not make use of this remedy.
How it works:
Activated charcoal helps to absorb excess moisture in your body reducing the amount of sweat you produce.
Tomato
A rather odd member on our list of ways to dry and balance sweaty hands, but something you probably have in your kitchen right now is a tomato.
What to do:
- Cut a thick slice from a tomato and rub it between the palms of your hands;
- You can also apply freshly extracted tomato juice to the affected areas. Then, allow it to dry 15 to 20 minutes before rinsing it off;
- Repeat these remedies 2 to 3 times a day.
How it works:
Tomatoes also have astringent properties, which help to constrict sweat glands and block sweat ducts.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar can also contribute to relieve the discomfort and embarrassment of sweaty hands.
What to do:
- Saturate a cotton ball with raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar;
- Rub the vinegar on the affected areas and allow to sit overnight;
- You can also dilute 2 Tbsp of apple cider vinegar in a large bowl of water and soak your hands in it for 30 minutes 2 to 3 times a day;
- Consume 2 tsp of apple cider vinegar in a glass of warm water twice daily.
How it works:
Not only does apple cider vinegar have astringent properties, but taking it internally also helps to balance your body’s pH and reduce sweat production.
Cornstarch and Baking Soda
Cornstarch and baking soda make up a powerful pair of household items that are useful when wondering how to prevent sweaty hands.
What to do:
- Mix cornstarch and baking soda in equal amounts and store in a dry container;
- Remove excess perspiration from the affected area with a paper towel or tissue;
- Dust the area with the mixture;
- Use as often as needed.
How it works:
This combination is a straightforward and natural antiperspirant, which not only absorbs moisture but also neutralizes any unpleasant odors.
Lemon Juice
You can also fight the battle against sweaty hands with the use of lemon juice.
What to do:
- Saturate a cotton ball in lemon juice and apply it to the affected areas 2 to 3 times a day.
- A mixture of enough lemon juice in 1 Tbsp of salt to create a moist scrub can also be rubbed between your palms.
How it works:
Lemons also have astringent properties and also help to neutralize odors.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is another fantastic addition to your how to stop sweaty hands arsenal.
What to do:
- After a bath or shower, rub ½ tsp of coconut oil between your palms until it is fully absorbed.
How it works:
Not only is coconut oil a good antiperspirant, but its lauric acid content can also help kill the bacteria responsible for excess body odor.
Potatoes
There isn’t a more common household item on our list of ways to dry and balance sweaty hands than potatoes.
What to do:
- Cut thick slices of a potato and rub the moist side on the affected areas;
- Repeat as often as necessary using a fresh potato.
How it works:
Potato juice helps dry out areas of excessive sweat and keep them dry.
Bonus Remedy: Witch Hazel
Ten solutions might have been enough. But witch hazel is such a solid addition to our remedies for sweaty hands, that we decided to throw it in as well.
What to do:
- Saturate a cotton ball in witch hazel and apply it to the affected areas;
- Repeat 2 to 3 times a day as needed.
How it works:
Get control over excessive sweat with age-old antiperspirant and astringent properties of witch hazel.
Drying Up
You might be genetically predisposed to suffer from the embarrassment of sweaty hands and feet. But your condition does not have to trap you in its grip. Make use of one or several of our 10 remedies on how to get rid of sweaty hands and gain confidence and control.
If you have questions, comments or other remedies that you’ve tried, please don’t hesitate to present them in the section below.
Sweaty Hands: Conclusion
We hope that this article has provided you with some great help on how to dry up and neutralize sweaty hands. Do you have any tips on how to neutralize and dry up sweaty hands? We would love to hear your tips and experiences. Please leave a comment in the comments section below this article.
The images are from depositphotos.com & pixabay.com.