Description

Hyperhidrosis (hi-pur-hi-DROE-sis) is excessive sweating that is not always related to heat or exercise. You may sweat so much that it soaks through your clothes or drips off your hands. Excessive sweating can disrupt your day and cause of social anxiety and embarrassment.

Treatment of hyperhidrosis usually helps. Often begins with antiperspirants. If you do not help, you may need to try different medications and therapies. In severe cases, your doctor may suggest surgery to remove sweat glands or disconnect the nerves associated with the excessive production of sweat.

Sometimes an underlying condition can be found and treated.

Symptoms

The main symptom of hyperhidrosis is the excessive sweating. This goes beyond the sweating of being in a hot environment, exercising, or feel anxious or stressed. The type of hyperhidrosis usually affects the hands, feet, underarms, or face at least one episode per week when you're awake. And the sweating usually happens on both sides of the body.

When to see a doctor

Sometimes the excessive sweating is a sign of a serious condition.

Seek medical attention right away if you have excessive sweating with dizziness, pain in the chest, throat, jaw, arms, shoulders or throat, or cold skin, and a rapid pulse.

Consult your health care provider if:

  • Sweating disrupts your daily routine
  • Sweating causes emotional distress or social withdrawal
  • Suddenly I start to sweat more than usual
  • You are experiencing night sweats for no apparent reason

Causes

The sweat is the mechanism that is cool. The nervous system is automatically activated sweat glands when your body temperature rises. The sweat also occurs, especially on the palms of the hands, when you're nervous.

Primary hyperhidrosis is caused by faulty nerve signals that trigger eccrine sweat glands to become overactive. It usually affects the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, the armpits, and sometimes the face.

There is no medical cause for this type of hyperhidrosis. It can run in families.

Secondary hyperhidrosis is caused by an underlying medical condition, or taking certain medications, such as analgesics, antidepressants, and some of the diabetes and hormonal drugs. This type of hyperhidrosis can cause sweating all over the body. Conditions that could cause include:

  • Diabetes
  • Hot flashes of menopause
  • Thyroid problems
  • Some types of cancer
  • Nervous system disorders
  • Infections

Risk factors

The risk factors for hyperhidrosis include:

  • Having a blood relative, such as parents, siblings, or grandparents, who sweats heavily
  • Take medications or supplements that cause sweating
  • Have a medical condition that causes sweating

Complications

The complications of hyperhidrosis include:

  • Infections. People who sweat a lot, are more prone to infections of the skin.
  • Social and emotional effects. Having wet or dripping from the hands and the sweat soaked clothes can be embarrassing. Your condition may affect your job search and educational goals.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of hyperhidrosis you can start with your health care provider asking about your medical history and symptoms. You may also need a physical exam or tests to further evaluate the cause of your symptoms.

Laboratory tests

Your health care provider may recommend a blood test, urine or other lab tests to see if the sweating is caused by another medical condition, such as an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) or low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).

Sweat tests

Or you may need a test that identifies the areas of sweating and evaluates the severity of the disease. Two of these tests are iodine-starch test and a sweat test.

Treatment

The treatment of hyperhidrosis can begin with the treatment of the disease that causes it. If the cause is not found, the treatment focuses on the control of the profuse sweating. If the new self-care habits don't improve your symptoms, your doctor may recommend one or more of the following treatments. Even if your sweat improvement after the treatment, it may re-occur.

Drugs

The drugs used for the treatment of hyperhidrosis include:

  • Recipe antitranspirante.Su health care provider may prescribe an antiperspirant with aluminum chloride (Drysol, Xerac AC). Apply on dry skin before you go to bed. Then, clean the product when it rises, taking care not to get in his eyes. Once you start to see the results of using it daily for a couple of days, you can reduce to once or twice a week to maintain the effect. This product may cause skin and eye irritation. Talk with your health care provider about ways to reduce the side effects.
  • Prescription creams and wipes. Prescription creams containing glycopyrrolate can help with hyperhidrosis, which affects the face and the head. Wipes soaked in glycopyrronium tosylate (Qbrexza) can relieve the symptoms of the hands, feet and armpits. Possible side effects of these products include mild skin irritation and a dry mouth.
  • Nerve-blocking medications. Some pills (oral medications) block the nerves that trigger the sweat glands. This can reduce sweating in some people. Possible side effects include dry mouth, blurred vision, and bladder problems.
  • Antidepressants. Some of the medications used for depression also can decrease sweating. They can also help to decrease anxiety.
  • Injections of botulinum toxin.The treatment with botulinum toxin (Botox blocks the nerves that trigger the sweat glands. Most of the people do not feel much pain during the procedure. But it is possible that you want your skin to be numbed beforehand. Your health care provider may offer one or more of the methods used to numb the skin. These include topical anesthesia, ice and massage vibration (anesthesia). Each affected area of your body several injections are needed. It may take a couple of days to notice the results. To retain the effect, it is likely that you will need to repeat the treatment every six months approximately. A possible side effect is short-term muscle weakness in the treated area.

Prescription antiperspirant. Your health care provider may prescribe an antiperspirant with aluminum chloride (Drysol, Xerac AC). Apply on dry skin before you go to bed. Then, clean the product when it rises, taking care not to get in his eyes. Once you start to see the results of using it daily for a couple of days, you can reduce to once or twice a week to maintain the effect.

This product may cause skin and eye irritation. Talk with your health care provider about ways to reduce the side effects.

Injections of botulinum toxin. The treatment with botulinum toxin (Botox blocks the nerves that trigger the sweat glands. Most of the people do not feel much pain during the procedure. But it is possible that you want your skin to be numbed beforehand. Your health care provider may offer one or more of the methods used to numb the skin. These include topical anesthesia, ice and massage vibration (anesthesia).

Each affected area of your body several injections are needed. It may take a couple of days to notice the results. To retain the effect, it is likely that you will need to repeat the treatment every six months approximately. A possible side effect is short-term muscle weakness in the treated area.

Surgical and other procedures

Your healthcare provider may suggest other treatments:

  • Iontophoresis.With this treatment at home, enjoying your hands or feet in a bowl of water, while a device sends a mild electric current through the water. The current blocks the nerves that trigger the sweat. You can buy the device if you have a prescription from your health care provider. You will need to soak the affected areas for 20 to 40 minutes. Repeat the treatment 2 to 3 times per week until symptoms improve. After you get the results, you can reduce the treatments to once a week or once a month to maintain the effect. Talk with your health care provider if you experience side effects.
  • The microwave treatment. With this therapy, a handheld device (miraDry) provides microwave energy to destroy sweat glands in the armpits. Treatments consist of two 20 -, 30-minute sessions, three months apart. Possible side effects are a change in the sensitivity of the skin and a little bit of discomfort. Long-term side effects are unknown.
  • Sweat gland removal. If you sweat a lot just on your armpits, your doctor may suggest the removal of these sweat glands. This can be done through scraping them (curettage), the suction of them (liposuction), or by a combination of the two (suction curettage).
  • Nerve surgery (sympathectomy).During this procedure, the surgeon removes a small section of the spinal cord, the nerves that control sweating in the hands. A possible side effect is permanent for excessive sweating in other areas of your body (compensatory sweating). In general, surgery is not an option for isolated head and neck sweating. A variation of this procedure is the palms. Interrupts the nerve signals without removing the sympathetic nerve (sympathotomy), which reduces the risk of compensatory sweating. Because the nerves from the surgery has a risk of side effects and complications, it is usually only used for people who have tried many other treatments with no results.

Iontophoresis. With this treatment at home, enjoying your hands or feet in a bowl of water, while a device sends a mild electric current through the water. The current blocks the nerves that trigger the sweat. You can buy the device if you have a prescription from your health care provider.

You will need to soak the affected areas for 20 to 40 minutes. Repeat the treatment 2 to 3 times per week until symptoms improve. After you get the results, you can reduce the treatments to once a week or once a month to maintain the effect. Talk with your health care provider if you experience side effects.

Nerve surgery (sympathectomy). During this procedure, the surgeon removes a small section of the spinal cord, the nerves that control sweating in the hands. A possible side effect is permanent for excessive sweating in other areas of your body (compensatory sweating). In general, surgery is not an option for isolated head and neck sweating. A variation of this procedure is the palms. Interrupts the nerve signals without removing the sympathetic nerve (sympathotomy), which reduces the risk of compensatory sweating.

Because the nerves from the surgery has a risk of side effects and complications, it is usually only used for people who have tried many other treatments with no results.

Each of these procedures can be performed with general anesthesia or with local anesthesia and sedation.

Lifestyle and home remedies

The following suggestions may help control sweat and body odor:

  • The use of antiperspirants. Antiperspirants contain 6% to 20% aluminum chloride (Drysol, Xerac AC, others) can temporarily block sweat pores. This reduces the amount of sweat that reaches the skin. This type of product can help with minor hyperhidrosis. Apply on dry skin before you go to bed and rinse when you wake up.
  • Choose shoes and socks made of natural materials. Shoes made of natural materials, such as leather, allow your feet to breath, which helps to prevent sweaty feet. Wear moisture-wicking athletic socks when you are active. In the store, it can be said that the socks are moisture wicking for the reading of the packaging.
  • Keep your feet dry. Change socks or hose once or twice a day. Dry your feet every time. If you wear pantyhose, test the type of cotton soles. The use of shoe insoles and foot powder to help absorb the sweat. Wear sandals or go barefoot when you can. Or at least slip out of your shoes now and then.
  • Choose clothing to suit your activity. When you can, wear natural fabrics, such as cotton, wool and silk. These allow your skin to breathe. When you're very active, you may prefer fabrics designed to wick moisture from your skin.

Coping and support

Hyperhidrosis can be the cause of discomfort and embarrassment. You may have trouble working or enjoying recreational activities due to wet hands or feet or damp stains on the clothing. You may feel anxiety about your symptoms and withdrawal or self-conscious. You may be frustrated or upset by the reaction of other people.

Discuss your concerns with your health care provider, a counselor or a social worker medical. Or you may find it helpful to talk with other people who have hyperhidrosis.

Preparing for your appointment

You can start by seeing your primary care provider. Then, you may be referred to a specialist in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the hair and of the skin (dermatologist). If your condition is not responding to treatment, you may be referred to a specialist in the nervous system (neurological) or a surgeon.

Here's some information to help you prepare for your appointment.

What you can do

Before your appointment, you might want from the list of answers to the following questions:

  • Has anyone in your immediate family had similar symptoms?
  • Does your sweat stops when you're asleep?
  • What medications and supplements that you take regularly?
  • The symptoms caused avoid social situations or activities?

What to expect from your doctor

Your health care provider is likely to ask several questions, such as:

  • When did the excessive sweating begin?
  • Where in your body does that happen?
  • The symptoms been continuous or occasional?
  • What, if anything, seems to improve your symptoms?
  • What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms?
Symptoms and treatment of Hyperhidrosis