Is Hyperhidrosis - Known Commonly as Excessive Sweating - a Curable Disorder?


by Michael Browne - Date: 2007-02-20 - Word Count: 448 Share This!

Excessive sweating is a medical condition known as hyperhidrosis that affects the armpit area most commonly but can also affect the soles of the feet and palms. It is usually exacerbated by increased stress, and can become quite embarrassing. Fortunately it is treatable.

Millions of people suffer from this condition, marked by overactivity of the body's internal cooling mechanism. Everybody must sweat for health reasons, but those with hyperhidrosis do so excessively.

There are various treatment options available, from antiperspirants to oral medications to surgical procedures, each with benefits and drawbacks. The exact cause for excessive sweating is not known, but hyperhidrosis can be kept under control with one or more of the available treatments.

Most people start with over the counter antiperspirants, as these are the cheapest, safest options to counter the effects of overactive sweat glands. Those containing a compound called aluminum chloride hexadhydrate are usually most effective, with concentrations in the range of 15-30%. It might be a matter of trial and error to select which antiperspirant will best help temper excessive sweating.

If this hyperhidrosis treatment doesn't work, the next option is a prescription antiperspirant, which will be a little stronger than OTC versions. Because they do contain more active ingredient, irritation may occur, so it's important to be aware of any reactions and report them to your dermatologist.

One of the newer treatments to influence the cause for excessive sweating is botox injections, which was approved in 2004 as a viable treatment option for hyperhidrosis. Yet as with any surgical procedure, there are potential complications and this should only be done if over the counter and prescription antiperspirants don't work. It is also not a cure so multiple procedures will need to be performed.

Another option is oral medications, but although they can help they shouldn't be used for extended periods of time due to the potential for serious health complications. This treatment for excessive sweating should only be utilized if all other methods fail and the problem is out of hand.

A last means of treating hyperactivity of the sweat glands is surgical intervention. Doctors can remove sweat glands via methods such as excision, where they are cut out, curettage, where they are scraped out, or liposuction, where they are sucked out. More drastic surgery called endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy, or ETS, involves the interruption of nerve signals to sweat glands. This can cause serious complications however, and is not recommended unless it is absolutely necessary.

Hyperhidrosis is a problem for many people, but there are many different options for those that can't stop sweating, or produce and abundance of sweat in certain areas. If you think you have this problem, talk to your dermatologist and see what your options are.


Related Tags: hyperhidrosis, excessive sweating, cause for excessive sweating

Michael Browne has been studying skin disorders for many years. He is a contributor to many health sites, including the Hyperhidrosis Excessive Sweating section of Skin Site, a website dealing with skin conditions and treatment options.

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