How To Deal With Perspiration During Detox

Drug and alcohol detox is coloured with a range of withdrawal symptoms. What detoxing looks like for you will depend on a lot of factors, including your general health, your metabolism, and which substance you are detoxing from. However, a common detox symptom is increased perspiration. As the body adjusts to the absence of addictive substances, the body struggles to maintain its temperature. This leads to increased sweating. To navigate the detox phase with greater comfort and confidence – and above all, to help you stay safe – it is important to know how to manage this.

Perspiration during detox: The science

Sweating is a normal part of the detox process. One research team states that ‘physiologists have long regarded sweating as an effective and safe means of detoxification.’ Sweating is largely positive, as it helps us to regulate temperature and is also thought to help eliminate toxins via the sweat glands. Sweating keeps us cool because it is largely made up of water. When this water evaporates on the skin, the skin that it touches cools down. This can be beneficial during withdrawals, when you may experience peaks and troughs in temperature.

Typically, perspiration happens during detox as the body responds to the cessation of substances involved in drug and alcohol addiction. However, this sweating can sometimes become uncomfortable and can lead to a range of risks, including hyperhidrosis. This level of sweating can be dangerous, as it can lead to:

• Dizziness
• Chest pain
• Clammy skin
• A fast heartbeat
• Difficulty sleeping

A lot of individuals also find that perspiration during detox can be worse during the night. This is sometimes referred to as ‘night sweats.’

What can make perspiration worse?

Some individuals may find that they typically sweat more than others. This can be for a range of reasons. But during a detox in the initial stages of drug addiction treatment, this can exacerbate the discomfort of the withdrawal symptoms experienced in detox. Potential contributing factors to higher perspiration levels include:

• Increased metabolism
• Changes in hormonal levels
• Stress

If you have a higher metabolism, then your body is able to burn more calories at rest. This means that your body can break down substances in your body faster, which can contribute to an increase in perspiration.

When your body is adjusting to the cessation of a substance, the hormone levels may drastically change. This can lead to an imbalance which can also increase your likelihood of heavy perspiration. If you menstruate, you may find that you sweat more at specific points in your cycle. This can therefore be exacerbated during the detox process.

Detoxing is a very stressful process. The combination of the stress of detox itself alongside the psychological effects of withdrawing can make this phase a very rocky one. An increase in anxiety and stress is linked to higher perspiration, meaning this, too, can heighten the sweating you experience when detoxifying.

Managing perspiration

Often, when we sweat, we cannot stop the root cause. But we can manage the effects it has on us. We can do this by focusing on:

• Keeping Hydrated
• Keeping Cool
• Mind-Body Techniques
• Maintaining Personal Hygiene

Keeping hydrated

Sweating depletes the water levels in our bodies. It is recommended to drink around 1.2 litres of water to replenish the amount of water in your body.However, one of the best ways to stay hydrated is to focus on maintaining your electrolyte balance. You can do this by:

• Eat calcium, chloride, magnesium and potassium-rich foods
• Avoid salt
• Use hydration powders where needed

Keeping cool

It is essential to keep your temperature as low as possible when you are sweating heavily. Try to:

• Wear light, breathable clothing
• Use air conditioning
• Open windows
• Take cool showers and baths
• Sleep with thin blankets

Mind-body techniques

During detox, it can be a very helpful time to use mindfulness techniques. These can bring you out of the physical discomfort and allow you to feel more relaxed. You can integrate this into your day through:

• Body scans
• Deep breathing exercises
• Guided meditations

Maintaining personal hygiene

When we are feeling very unwell, often one of the first things that we forget is our personal hygiene. However, showing regularly and changing into clean clothes can help us to feel a little fresher, cool us down, and also give us an improved frame of mind.

Support during addiction detox

A drug detox is a very difficult – and sometimes dangerous – process to go through. For this reason, it is highly advisable to seek support when you are currently in (or planning) a detox. A specialist addiction provider can provide you with personalised guidance to ease your experience. They can also monitor your physical health and wellbeing to ensure you are safe throughout the process.

If you are seeking more information about detox or looking for a rehab centre to help you through your detox journey, contact us for more information and guidance on finding the right centre for you.