Sweating (Hyperhydrosis)

Hyperhidrosis or excessive sweating is a condition in which your body sweats heavily and may disrupt your normal activities and lead to social embarrassment. The sweat may soak your clothes and drip off your hands and make you very uncomfortable. Sweating is generally unrelated to exercise or heat.

What are the symptoms of Hyperhidrosis?

Generally sweating occurs when we exercise or feel stressed or are anxious or there is excessive heat. But in Hyperhidrosis, sweating occurs unrelated to above situations and is excessive. It may affect, hands, feet, underarms or face. Sweating is similar in both sides of body. You may have at least one episode in a week during daytime.

What are the causes of Hyperhidrosis?

Normally, sweating occurs as an attempt by the body to cool it down. Whenever body temperature rises nervous system triggers the sweat glands to secrete sweat.
Hyperhidrosis can be classified into two types:
Primary Hyperhidrosis/Essential hyperhidrosis:This is the most common type. Here the nerves which signal sweat glands become overactive. They fire signals even when there are no triggers. The conditions become worse in case of nervousness and anxiety. Generally, palms and soles are involved. The cause here is thought to be hereditary/genetic.
Secondary Hyperhidrosis: Here the reason of excessive sweating is an underlying medical condition. These conditionsmay include:

• Diabetes
• Low blood sugar
• Nervous system disorders
• Infections
• Hot flashes in menopause
• Thyroid disorders
• Heart attack
• Certain types of cancers
• Opioid withdrawal
• Lung diseases
• Parkinson’s disease
• Adrenal gland tumour
• Spinal cord injury
• Stroke
• Acromegaly
• Carcinoid syndrome

How is Hyperhidrosis Diagnosed?

Following helps is the diagnosis:
Symptoms and history: Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms and medical history.
Sweat tests: These are tests to determine the areas from which excessive sweating takes place. These tests include, Iodine starch test, Skin conductance test,thermoregulatory sweat test and paper test.
Lab tests:These are done to rule out any medical conditions which may cause you to sweat excessively. These commonly include tests to access thyroid functioning and sugar levels.

How is hyperhidrosis treated?

If any medical condition is causing you to sweat more, it will be treated first. If you still continue to sweat more, following can be included in your treatment.
Medical treatment: These can comprise of:

• Antiperspirant: A prescription strength antiperspirant containing aluminium chloride can help you keep sweating at bay.
• Glycopyrrolate creams:These are generally prescribed in hyperhidrosis involving face and head.
• Nerve blockers:As in hyperhidrosis the signalling nerves become overactive, nerve blockers can help to decrease sweating.
• Antidepressants: As anxiety and nervousness aggravate symptoms of hyperhidrosis, antidepressants can help.

Botox injections for hyperhydrosis

Botox temporarily blocks the nerves that contribute to excessive sweating. Botox injections are directly administered into areas of increased sweating after determining the exact sites. Mostl commonly it is used for palmer and axillary hyperhidrosis. The treatment can be a bit painful and has to be repeated in 6months.

Iontophoresis for hyperhidrosis

In a commonly used painless modality for hyperhidrosis. Here ionised water is passed through skin using direct electricity. It acts by blocking the sweat glands temporarily. It has to be repeated few times a week and thereafter at 1-3 week’s interval for maintenance.
Microwave therapy: In this therapy microwave energy is used to destroy the sweat glands. The treatment takes about 30 minutes and has to repeated in 3 months. The procedure can cause a bit of discomfort and can cause changes in skin sensation. It is quite expensive and also not readily available.
Surgery: Following are the surgical options:

• Sweat gland removal:This is considered as a good option when you are sweating excessively in your armpits and all other modalities haven’t worked for you.
• Sympathectomy/Nerve surgery: Here the nerves the nerves triggering excessive sweating are cut and are either burnt or clamped. Not recommended for isolated head and neck sweating.

What can be the complications of Hyperhidrosis?

Excessive sweating can lead to:

• Infections
• Disrupt your daily activities
• Cause social embarrassment

When should I see a doctor?

• When abnormal sweating disrupts your daily activities.
• When you it affects your social life.
• When you feel that you have sweating more than usual suddenly.
• When you start experiencing nights sweats.
• When you have family history of hyperhidrosis.

What treatments are available at Dr Kothiwala SkinEva Clinic for hyperhidrosis?

Medical treatment
Botox Injection
Iontophoresis

For more information on Sweating (Hyperhydrosis) removal or to inquire about other services please contact us on 7669571405.