28 Sep Hyperhidrosis Options
Hyperhidrosis Options
Hyperhidrosis Treatment: Your Options for Excessive Sweating
Sweating is a natural and essential process in the human body, designed to protect it from overheating. There are 2 to 4 million sweat glands distributed throughout the body, mainly in the armpits, hands, feet, cheeks, and forehead. It’s normal to sweat after exercising or when the weather is hot. However, some people have a condition called hyperhidrosis that causes them to sweat heavily and unpredictably, even in the absence of triggers like heat and exercise. Hyperhidrosis disrupts not only normal activities but also causes social embarrassment and anxiety. There are various treatments for hyperhidrosis, each with its pros and cons. If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with hyperhidrosis, read on to learn more about your options.
What is Hyperhidrosis?
First, let’s take a look at the two kinds of sweat glands in the body. The apocrine glands are found in the armpits and genital area. They produce a thick fluid, which, when mixed with bacteria on the skin surface, produces the characteristic smell we call “body odor.” The other type of sweat glands, the eccrine glands, are present throughout the body. They secrete a clear, odorless fluid that helps the body cool down.
Hyperhidrosis is a medical condition in which an individual’s sweat glands are overactive. The glands overreact to the normal triggers of sweating, such as hormones, emotions, hot weather, and physical exercise. But the sweat glands are also active without these triggers. If you think of the sweat glands as switches, in people with hyperhidrosis, the switches are stuck in the “on” position.
For this reason, hyperhidrosis causes heavy sweating that is often unprovoked. It can range in severity from mildly clammy hands to sweat dripping off your hands or soaking through your clothes. This can make it difficult to do your job safely; for example, hold tools without slipping. Besides, this type of profuse sweating can be embarrassing and can cause anxiety and social withdrawal. Also, people who sweat excessively are prone to skin infections.
Treatment for Excessive Sweating
There are several effective treatment options for hyperhidrosis. Sometimes, the cause of hyperhidrosis can be identified and managed, for example, hot flashes during menopause, infections, low blood sugar, or thyroid problems. However, the most common type of hyperhidrosis is primary or essential hyperhidrosis, which is caused by faulty nerve signaling that makes the sweat glands overactive. There is no medical cause for primary hyperhidrosis. It could have a genetic component because it runs in families. The following paragraphs describe the various treatments for heavy perspiration due to hyperhidrosis.
Antiperspirants
This is usually the first treatment dermatologists recommend for hyperhidrosis. It’s convenient, affordable, and effective for some people. Antiperspirants work by plugging the sweat glands. However, they often cause a burning sensation and skin irritation. Moreover, there are concerns that antiperspirants could increase the risk of breast cancer and Alzheimer’s disease, although this isn’t scientifically proven.
Iontophoresis
Commonly called the no-sweat machine, this is a treatment that people with hyperhidrosis of the hands and feet can do at home. It requires dipping your hands/feet in tap water while the iontophoresis device sends a low-voltage current through the water to temporarily shut down the sweat glands. Although the treatment is effective for some people, it’s time-consuming – each session takes 20-40 minutes, and you need 6-10 treatments before you see any improvement, plus you’ll need to repeat the treatments every week or so to maintain the results. Also, iontophoresis can cause dry, irritated skin, and the treatment itself can be uncomfortable.
Botox injections
If you suffer from excessive sweating in the underarms, you might benefit from Botox injections. A tiny amount of the toxin is injected into the underarm to temporarily block sweating. The results are noticeable 4-5 days later and last for 4-6 months, after which the excessive sweating will return, and you will need another treatment. A common side effect, especially when Botox is injected into the hands, is temporary muscle weakness.
Prescription medications
Your doctor may prescribe medications to reduce sweating. However, there are some major drawbacks to this hyperhidrosis treatment. One, the medicines work throughout the body, so in addition to reducing sweat, they cause side effects like dry eyes, dry mouth, blurred vision, and heart palpitations. Second, athletes, people who work in hot environments, and people who live in very warm climates need to be extremely careful using these medications as they can prevent the body from cooling itself. Third, studies have shown a potential link between long-term use of some of these medications and the development of dementia.
Surgery
In people with severe hyperhidrosis, unresponsive to other treatments, doctors may recommend surgery to remove the sweat glands. They may sometimes advise a procedure called endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS), which is a major surgery during which the nerves that carry sweat signals are cut and destroyed. There are significant risks associated with surgery, including the risk of infection and the risk of developing compensatory sweating, which can cause heavier sweating than the hyperhidrosis itself.
Sweat gland destruction
The FDA has approved a hand-held medical device called miraDry that uses electromagnetic energy to destroy sweat glands. After one or two non-invasive treatments in the office, the sweat glands are destroyed and gone forever, providing substantial relief from excessive sweating. The procedure is done under local anesthesia. Each treatment lasts about an hour, and 2-3 treatments are needed to achieve the best results. However, the miraDry device can only be used in the underarm area because there is enough protective fat present. The hands and feet do not have enough fat for the device to be used safely.
What is the Best Treatment for Excessive Sweating?
You don’t have to live with excessive sweating. It can be managed effectively with treatment. Your medical provider will discuss the various treatment options for hyperhidrosis with you. The choice of therapy will depend on various factors, such as the severity of sweating, the area where it occurs, and any underlying medical conditions you may have. Talk to your doctor about whether you qualify for non-invasive hyperhidrosis treatments like miraDry. They’re your best bet to destroy the sweat glands permanently and relieve your symptoms with only a couple of in-office treatments.
For more information on miraDry, please contact us at 513.891.4440 or fill out the form on this page, and we will have someone from our office call you back as soon as possible.