Living With Severe Hyperhidrosis: A Daily Struggle
When Darcie Hamilton was just ten years old, she noticed something different about herself compared to her primary school classmates. While other children played without concern, Darcie found herself sweating significantly more than anyone else. What began as an uncomfortable childhood observation would eventually develop into a life-altering medical condition that would dominate her teenage years and early adulthood.
Now 22 and living near Ayr in Scotland, Darcie recalls how her excessive sweating escalated from a minor concern to a debilitating condition. "School was absolutely horrendous for me," Darcie remembers. "The condition was one of the things that I got severely bullied for."
The Physical and Emotional Toll
As Darcie grew older, her sweating became increasingly severe, reaching a point where she was producing approximately three litres of sweat every single day. The physical manifestations were impossible to ignore - sweat would drench her clothing from her armpits down to her waist, regardless of the weather or temperature.
The constant moisture led to painful chafing, rashes, blisters and severe sores in her armpits and hands. "The sores in my armpits and hands were excruciating, and I would get hundreds of tiny blisters on both hands," she describes. To combat dehydration from her excessive fluid loss, Darcie had to consume up to five litres of water daily.
Her daily routine became dominated by managing her condition. "Sometimes I'd be showering maybe four or five times a day and bringing two or three changes of clothing as well," Darcie explains. Even simple activities like going for a walk required multiple clothing changes throughout the day.
Educational Impact and Social Isolation
The bullying Darcie endured at school became so severe that she was forced to leave formal education at just 14 years old. "I had to leave school at 14 because that's how bad the bullying was from it," she says. "They would say I was dirty."
The social and emotional impact was devastating. "It overtook my life, I was in my bed all day every day. I didn't want to leave the house or make friends. I was embarrassed," Darcie admits. The condition destroyed her confidence and led to complete social withdrawal during her teenage years.
The financial cost also mounted significantly, with Darcie estimating she's thrown away thousands of pounds worth of clothing that her excessive sweat had destroyed after being worn only a couple of times.
Diagnosis and Treatment Challenges
It wasn't until Darcie reached 16 that doctors finally diagnosed her with hyperhidrosis - a medical condition characterised by excessive sweating. Medical professionals described her case as "one of the worst cases" they had ever encountered.
Initially, Darcie received NHS-funded botulinum toxin injections, commonly known as Botox, which provided significant relief. "When I got my first Botox injection, it did last the full year and I had no symptoms - no blisters, no sweating. I felt great in myself," she recalls.
However, earlier this year, Darcie received devastating news that the treatment was being withdrawn from University Hospital Ayr. The health board cited vascular consultant retirements and a national shortage of vascular consultants as the reason, stating they needed to "prioritise acute and urgent care" with their remaining surgical staff.
"I was devastated when they cut the treatment," Darcie says. "I opened the letter and just balled my eyes out crying. I felt so defeated."
Fighting for Recognition
Darcie now pays privately for the Botox injections and acknowledges that while she still struggles with sweating, it's not to the same debilitating extent as before her treatment began. However, she lives with the constant anxiety of the treatment wearing off. "Because the Botox is wearing off, you start feeling the dread again," she adds. "It's something I think I'll have to deal with for the rest of my life."
The 22-year-old strongly believes that hyperhidrosis isn't taken seriously as a genuine medical condition. "I think people see someone sweating and think they're disgusting and don't clean themselves," she explains. "But it's a real medical condition and there's real people living with it."
Vicki Campbell, director of Acute Service at NHS Ayrshire & Arran, commented on the treatment withdrawal, explaining that vascular services are delivered through a network arrangement with neighbouring health boards. Despite recruitment attempts, vacancies persist due to a national shortage of vascular surgeons.
Campbell further clarified that the National Referral Protocol published in September 2025 establishes NHS Scotland-wide criteria for various treatments, and under this guidance, Botulinum toxin for hyperhidrosis is not routinely provided by NHS Scotland.
The health board has apologised to affected patients while emphasising their need to prioritise acute and urgent vascular care services.
