Palmer Hyperhidrosis & Interview

[Pisiform]

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Hey people,

Yesterday I had an interview and when I shook hands with the Interviewer, I completely wet his hands which was kind of embarrassing. Luckily, that was just my internship interview, not a med school interview, so if I don't get accepted, I won't be hurt a lot.

I have Plamer Hyperhidrosis, that is, sweaty palms. Its not that I am a nervous wreck, but it occurs without any reason (affects only 1% population). I am quite confident but idk why I have this. I talked to my PCP but he told me to put antiperspirant on hands and always keep a handkerchief with me.

To make things worse, I am on medicaid

I cannot afford any surgical procedures and botox, I think, is also not covered by medicaid.

What should I do. Should I tell the interviewer before shaking hand that I have hyperhidrosis and nor to shake hand. Or shake hand and pretend it never happened.

Advise please.

LizzyM's advise would be really appreciated !!! Thank You

 

[kevster2001]

Wipe your hands immediately before. In the end, if your interviewer(s) are professional, it makes no difference. They'll assume you're nervous and that'll be that. It will NOT be a factor in your final decsion

 

[cbrons]

Hey people,

Yesterday I had an interview and when I shook hands with the Interviewer, I completely wet his hands which was kind of embarrassing. Luckily, that was just my internship interview, not a med school interview, so if I don't get accepted, I won't be hurt a lot.

I have Plamer Hyperhidrosis, that is, sweaty palms. Its not that I am a nervous wreck, but it occurs without any reason (affects only 1% population). I am quite confident but idk why I have this. I talked to my PCP but he told me to put antiperspirant on hands and always keep a handkerchief with me.

To make things worse, I am on medicaid

I cannot afford any surgical procedures and botox, I think, is also not covered by medicaid.

What should I do. Should I tell the interviewer before shaking hand that I have hyperhidrosis and nor to shake hand. Or shake hand and pretend it never happened.

Advise please.

LizzyM's advise would be really appreciated !!! Thank You

xxxxx

 

[teenmachinery1]

Wipe your hands immediately before. In the end, if your interviewer(s) are professional, it makes no difference. They'll assume you're nervous and that'll be that. It will NOT be a factor in your final decsion

you don't know what you're talking about if your advice is to wipe your hands..

 

[Helkar3]

I have hyperhydrosis on the feet and hand, but my hands are dry!!
I went to a dermatologist and he prescribe me ALUMINUM CHORIDE by hypercare a tropical ointment. IT stop my hyperhydrosis, but it gives me prickling pain on my palm. I put it on every night at first, but now I put it on as I need it (like for important interviews or dates.) It doesn't work on everyone and only cost about 10dollar per bottle for 1 month use. ASK YOUR DERM about it. Hope this helps. btw you're not alone, but you can overcome it. =)

 

[RogueUnicorn]

i would think a handkerfchief would take care of the issue relatively decently

 

[BBender716]

Put CertainDri on your hands the night before, the roll-on. It's OTC and it'll work.

 

[moxche]

If it were me, immediately about shaking someone's hand I'd try to make a quick comment like "sorry about my sweaty hand, I have hyperhidrosis"

 

[Pisiform]

I have hyperhydrosis on the feet and hand, but my hands are dry!!
I went to a dermatologist and he prescribe me ALUMINUM CHORIDE by hypercare a tropical ointment. IT stop my hyperhydrosis, but it gives me prickling pain on my palm. I put it on every night at first, but now I put it on as I need it (like for important interviews or dates.) It doesn't work on everyone and only cost about 10dollar per bottle for 1 month use. ASK YOUR DERM about it. Hope this helps. btw you're not alone, but you can overcome it. =)

Hey, I just went to a derm and he prescribed an oral medicine Robinul Forte . He told me to take it a night before interview and in the morning. Lets hope it works

 

[Pisiform]

If it were me, immediately about shaking someone's hand I'd try to make a quick comment like "sorry about my sweaty hand, I have hyperhidrosis"

Man, I have tried this too, but some people just gave me a nasty look as if I had crapped on their face 🙁
Its just a sweat, idk what a big deal,

I shower everyday

 

[deepshallow87]

I'm so glad to see this thread. This has been a huge problem for me for a long time now. It's safe to say that it helped contribute to my excessive shyness. As I am one of the severe cases of this condition, it's uncomfortable to see people's reaction as they reach out and touch my wet palms.

Believe me, wiping your hands before shaking with a handkerchief does not work and telling them about your condition only makes them look at you differently, as if you have a horrible disease.

I will try the OTC antiperspirants but hopefully there will be better treatments in the future.

 

[Pisiform]

I'm so glad to see this thread. This has been a huge problem for me for a long time now. It's safe to say that it helped contribute to my excessive shyness. As I am one of the severe cases of this condition, it's uncomfortable to see people's reaction as they reach out and touch my wet palms.

Believe me, wiping your hands before shaking with a handkerchief does not work and telling them about your condition only makes them look at you differently, as if you have a horrible disease.

I will try the OTC antiperspirants but hopefully there will be better treatments in the future.

I am glad that I am not the only one. 🙄

When people shake hand with me or high five me, I get embarrassed because their next comment is "dude, you are sweating like hell, eew"

Their are certain surgical procedures that permanently get you rid of this but I don't wanna go under anesthesia for such a 'douchebag' kind of disease

The derm prescribed me a medicine and told me to take it a day before interview and told me that I will be fine. Lets hope it works

and yeah, wiping hand constantly does no good. I sweat sooo much that I use paper towel instead of tissue

 

[akwizeguy]

http://www.ghostgrip.com/cart/Policy.aspx

 

[addo]

i would think a handkerfchief would take care of the issue relatively decently

You obviously dont know the details of hyperhidrosis. Its like right after you wipe your hands, they are already sweaty again. A simple wipe your hands solution does not work, otherwise OP would have posted this thread.

From what I have read, I would not get any surgical procedure done to alleviate the problem. I think what they do is they cut a sympathetic nerve ganglion, and then you may not be able to sweet from your arms up.

Theres iontophoresis which you can try, but it is a drag to go through with these treatments, since its basically shocking your hands, and you have to do it for 30-45 minutes daily until the sweating stops.

Honestly I have stoped worrying about it, because I dont have it so bad, so I just extend a slightly sweaty handshake.... but I can imagine it getting so bad to the point where you just cant do this without feeling a little embarrassment.

 

[XeReX]

I am glad that I am not the only one. 🙄

When people shake hand with me or high five me, I get embarrassed because their next comment is "dude, you are sweating like hell, eew"

Their are certain surgical procedures that permanently get you rid of this but I don't wanna go under anesthesia for such a 'douchebag' kind of disease

The derm prescribed me a medicine and told me to take it a day before interview and told me that I will be fine. Lets hope it works

and yeah, wiping hand constantly does no good. I sweat sooo much that I use paper towel instead of tissue

Same here bro, i have Palmer hyperhidrosis too and it makes me feel really embarrassed when shaking someone's hand or when someone high five's me. I have to put a handkerchief under my hands when taking notes or doing my homework otherwise the paper gets all wet and people look at me like i am crazy or something and ask me "whats up with the towel man"? it makes me feel so embarrassed. I don't know what to do about this condition. But i like winter 👍 coz i don't sweat at all in winter.

 

[LizzyM]

You've gotten some good advice here and you should try it out & see if it works. You might also look into the possibility that an academic dermatology department might be conducting a clinical trial that might help.

 

[235009]

pretend that you don't shake hands for religious reasons or because you are a germophobe like howie mandel (then go in for the fist bump)

 

[bigbad]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eo-ALAmjKIY&feature=related

Bright side: You never have to wash your hands.

 

[Pisiform]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eo-ALAmjKIY&feature=related

Bright side: You never have to wash your hands.

Holy **** !!!!
I have but its not that sever !!!

man, its literally dripping ... literally dripping Unbelievable !

God help that guy !

 

[plauto]

use Certain Dri (and spell check 😉)

 

[shopsteward]

Hey, I just went to a derm and he prescribed an oral medicine Robinul Forte . He told me to take it a night before interview and in the morning. Lets hope it works

If you've got enough doses in the prescription, you could try it out in advance (a less important occasion, maybe?) so that if it doesn't work you've got time to try something else and if it does work it's one less thing to worry about on the day.

Good luck.

 

[marty mcfly]

google: iontophoresis. you can buy a device somewhere on the internet. it works, but quite uncomfortable and takes a couple weeks (20 min/day).

 

[akinetopsia]

Solution: hug or fist bump your interviewer.

 

[Captain Crunk]

Put CertainDri on your hands the night before, the roll-on. It's OTC and it'll work.

👍

Certain Dri is ~5 bucks at Walmart.. I swear by the stuff. Worked great for my underarms and I'm sure it will for hands, too. I was just about to set a date for surgery until a friend rec'd this to me. Followed the directions to a tee (put on at night, let dry, then climbed in bed) and I went from applying every night to not using at all within a year.

(FYI, using every night for a few weeks will cause some irritation, but you can skip a day or two no problem.)

 

[Pisiform]

👍

Certain Dri is ~5 bucks at Walmart.. I swear by the stuff. Worked great for my underarms and I'm sure it will for hands, too. I was just about to set a date for surgery until a friend rec'd this to me. Followed the directions to a tee (put on at night, let dry, then climbed in bed) and I went from applying every night to not using at all within a year.

(FYI, using every night for a few weeks will cause some irritation, but you can skip a day or two no problem.)

Certain Dri + Glycopyrolate 2mg tablets are doing magic 😍

 

[tartrate]

This won't be helped with a simple handkerchief, and really, the interaction that is going on in this thread highlights what goes on in poor doctor-patient interaction. If the doctor cannot sympathize with his patient (understand what is going on from their perspective), then there is a disconnect and the "advise" may even be better left unsaid, as it comes off condescending and even insulting, e.g. "Well, (obviously) you should do so and so." For those who cannot picture what people with hyperhydrosis go through, imagine trying to dry off a wet sponge with a paper towel - doesn't work.

I also have hyperhydrosis, so I know exactly what you are going through. Don't unnecessarily get such a risky surgery just to stop your hands from sweating, as many people have their symptoms alleviated naturally as they age. One thing I noticed that works really well (accidental discovery on my part) is putting wax (the stuff people use in their hair) over your hands and washing it off. In principle, it works similarly as the aluminum chloride someone suggested, by blocking your sweat pores. Except wax is a lot safer than aluminum chloride, which is definitely toxic and possibly carcinogenic.

Happy hunting.

 

[teenmachinery1]

whoa guys nice advice on here! I'm gonna try the certain dri thing and i heard about ghostgrip but looked at the website and i got sketched.. but it's good to hear about this stuff on here as well.

just for giggles:

*cough cough* during the interview and look slightly miserable after coughing and when handshake time comes- say you're sick and you don't want to spread germs. this is especially apt for our field!

i've never done this one but heard about someone doing it... before a job interview, she changes her tire into a spare as if she had a flat so her hand got really dirty and oily and stuff.. rushes in *on time still* for her interview and pleads the flat tire

etc.

the other day i got fingerprinted for our hospital and it took about 2-3 times longer for me because i had to keep drying my hands off... fails.

oh.. and if you don't mind giving off a weird vibe just say you're a germaphobe.

 

[addo]

Certain Dri + Glycopyrolate 2mg tablets are doing magic 😍

Glycopyrolate seems to have really BAD side effects.

 

[shincakes]

Wow. I've been reading SDN for awhile but never posted.. after reading this thread, though, I just had to share what I know. I also have severe palmar hyperhidrosis (and also plantar- on my feet), and actually have an interview coming up in October! Did I mention I live in the most humid state- Florida?

I've avoided doing research (among other things) for most of my undergrad career b/c my hands are so embarrassing/uncontrollable/hard to work with even though I really wanted to. I hated bio, physics, and orgo lab so much. My hands even ruined my grignard reaction in orgo lab, so I had to redo it- haha.

ANYWAY, I don't know if you guys know about the International Hyperhidrosis Society. They're an AMAZING community dedicated to helping people with all types of hyperhidrosis. You should definitely check out their website b/c there are lots of valuable info there. They also have free treatment seminars in different cities a couple times a year. I went to a seminar in Miami, FL 2 years ago, and I will be attending the one mentioned in that above link in Norfolk, VA next week.

Unfortunately, the first time I received the Botox injections in my hands, they didn't work because I remember sweating the same as I used to (maybe less- but not significantly enough) a week later during a presentation I had to do for a class. There are quite a number of sweat glands on your palms...and I'm assuming some were missed/not injected. I'm not sure how well other palmar hyperhidrosis sufferers benefited from the Botox, but I have heard success stories for other types of hyperhidrosis. These free seminars actually fill up rather quickly, and when I called all the palmar-hyperhidrosis spots were filled up, so I will be receiving treatment for my feet next week. I'm a bit bummed about this b/c I was hoping my hands could be dry for my upcoming first med school interview. But since some of the most experienced doctors in hyperhidrosis will be treating me this time, I'm still hopeful and excited to learn more about my condition and meanwhile (hopefully) get dry feet!

I have also used the aluminum chloride once (or rather got the entire bottle of it once), and sometimes it worked for a couple of hours or less. I was advised to apply it before you go to sleep and then wrap the area you applied it with saran/plastic wrap, so that you won't rub it off. Then reapply some more in the morning. I know that sounds ridiculous, but people have told me it works a lot better this way. It might work for some people out there, but it never really worked for me when my hands really started sweating...

As for my hands during my interview, I think I will be applying clinical strength deodorant on my hands the night before and reapply some more in the morning, avoid any caffeinated drinks all week, and take a handkerchief with me to the interview. I'll also be practicing for my interviews a lot ahead of time, so that I at least won't sound nervous that day...even if my hands might suggest so to those who don't know about hyperhidrosis.

I hope this helps at least one person out there! 🙂 And GOOD LUCK!!

 

[Schizotypy]

I have palmar hyperhidrosis as well, and though I've not even applied yet, potential interview awkwardness is already on my mind. When I took the MCAT this month they were not able to use the finger scanner on me at all.

I've had the aluminum chloride roll-on as well, and I did not find it useful. It barely helped the sweating if at all, and the tingling sensation it leaves in your hands is pretty unpleasant, imo. In professional situations I usually bring a handkerchief and suffer through it.

Oh, and to the poster above me, thanks for the excellent link(s). B)