What is HYPERHIDROSIS?
Hyperhidrosis is a medical condition characterized by excessive sweating that goes beyond what is considered normal to maintain body temperature. People with hyperhidrosis can experience excessive sweating even when they’re not exerting themselves or in hot environments. This condition can significantly impact a person’s daily life, causing discomfort, embarrassment, and sometimes leading to social isolation.
There are two main types of hyperhidrosis:
Primary (Idiopathic) Hyperhidrosis: This is the most common type and usually starts during adolescence. It tends to affect specific areas of the body, such as the palms, soles of the feet, underarms, and face. The cause of primary hyperhidrosis is not fully understood, but it’s thought to involve an overactivity of the sweat glands.
Secondary Hyperhidrosis: This type is usually caused by an underlying medical condition, such as certain medications, hormonal imbalances, infections, or other medical problems. Treating the underlying cause often helps alleviate the excessive sweating.
TREATMENT DEPENDS on the severity of the condition:
Antiperspirants: Over-the-counter or prescription-strength antiperspirants containing aluminum chloride can help reduce sweating. These are applied to the affected areas.
Medications: In some cases, oral medications like anticholinergics may be prescribed to reduce sweating. However, these medications can have side effects and are generally used for more severe cases.
Laser: This involves using an energy device that delivers heat to the targeted sweat glands to ablate the affected areas,
Botox Injections: Botox injections can be used to temporarily block nerve signals that stimulate sweat production. This is particularly effective for treating excessive underarm sweating.
Medical Procedures: Surgical options include sympathectomy, a procedure in which the nerves responsible for excessive sweating are surgically cut or clamped, and laser treatments that target sweat glands.
Prescription Medications: In recent years, prescription medications that target the nerve signals responsible for sweat gland activation have been developed for treating primary axillary hyperhidrosis (excessive underarm sweating).
Lifestyle Changes: Avoiding triggers like spicy foods, caffeine, and stress might help reduce sweating. Wearing moisture-wicking clothing and managing stress can also be beneficial.