Excessive Sweating: Causes And Treatment

Sweaty

Stinky

Sticky

The moment you hear these three words, you feel uncomfortable. Imagine having a huge patch of stinky sweat on the underarm portion of your outfit, just when you are entering a happening party or an all-important meeting.

It doesn’t seem like the ideal situation, does it? It’s embarrassing and more importantly, unhealthy too. Even though there are a zillion options when it comes antiperspirants and deodorants, they only manage to mask the smell for sometime. If you sweat continuously, the effect of these products will wear off, and you’ll probably have people repelling from you.

If you relate to all that has been said above, you are definitely at the right place for solutions. Read on to understand what is excessive sweating, why it happens and how can it be treated.

What is Hyperhidrosis?

Excessive sweating is medically known as Hyperhidrosis. There is no particular reason or cause of hyperhidrosis. Sweating of the underarms is known as axillary hyperhidrosis and that of the palms and soles of the feet is known as palmoplantar hyperhidrosis. Excessive underarm sweating starts late in adolescence, while palm and sole sweating often begin as early as around the age 13 on an average.

Types of Hyperhidrosis and its causes

• Sometimes systemic diseases- neurologic, endocrine or infectious, can cause hyperhidrosis. But in most cases it occur in people who are otherwise healthy. While heat and emotions trigger hyperhidrosis in some, many suffer irrespective of their mood or weather.
• Focal hyperhidrosis: This is when the sweating is localized, like palmoplantar hyperhidrosis.
• Generalized hyperhidrosis: Excessive sweating that affects the entire body is generalised hyperhidrosis.
• Primary idiopathic hyperhidrosis: ‘Idiopathic’ means ‘of unknown cause’, primary hyperhidrosis is sweating caused by reasons unknown to anyone.
• Secondary hyperhidrosis: Sweating too much because of an underlying health condition like, obesity, menopause, a tumor, diabetes, or hyper or hypothyroidism etc. is called secondary hyperhidrosis.

How does it affect you?

Sweating is embarrassing to the extent that it ruins social interactions. Severe cases of excessive sweating can have serious practical drawbacks making it difficult for people who suffer from it to hold a pen, grip a car steering wheel, or even shake hands causing discomfort and anxiety. This disorder can affect your career choices, free time activities, personal relationships, self-image, and emotional well-being too.

What is the treatment?

The field of medicine has successfully come up with several options across branches, which can treat not just the symptoms effectively. Yet the biggest challenge in treating hyperhidrosis is the significant number of people who do not seek medical advice either due to embarrassment or because they don’t know of the existence of effective treatment. Given below are solutions that the branch of cosmetic surgery has to offer.

• Oral hyperhidrosis medications: Best suited for patients with excessive facial sweating (cranio-facial hyperhidrosis), generalized hyperhidrosis etc. Anticholinergics are the most commonly used medications for managing excessive sweating. Commonly prescribed anticholinergic medications are now available in liquid formulations aprrovedby the FDA.
• Besides anticholinergics, there are other oral medications like, the Beta blockers (propranolol) and benzodiazepines that work by blocking the physical manifestations of anxiety. These medications act on the central nervous system and are best for patients who experience episodic or event-driven hyperhidrosis like just before a job interview or presentation.
• Iontophoresis: A medical device administers a mild electrical current through water in shallow pans for hands or feet or specific pads for other body parts to reduce excessive sweating. There are not any significant side effects of the of the treatment and the results are long lasting. You might need to get the treatment on a regular basis for it to start working effectively.
• Botulinum toxin: Also known as Botox, it treats heavy sweating by injecting botulinum toxin A. Botox is a treatment approved by the FDA for excessive sweating of the underarms. Some doctors may also use it on the palms and soles. Botox prevents the release of a chemical that signals the sweat glands to activate. You might have to take several Botox injections, but the results can last for almost a year.

We at Cosmosure have skin specialists who are the best in their field. They have been practicing for more than a decade and have been accredited by the best institutions of the country. They have treated the most complicated cases and have provided successful results.

About the Clinic

‘CosmoSure’ is a renowned medical and surgical cosmetic Surgery Clinic in Hyderabad, which is considered to be the meeting point for science & art. Established in the year 2015, CosmoSure, cosmetic surgery clinic has been one of the most preferred cosmetic clinic in Hyderabad. All the procedures at Cosmosure clinic are a blend of a skilled & artistic touch. Our specialists are trained with in-depth knowledge of aesthetic science and symmetry to help individuals to improve their skin health.