Hyperhidrosis (hi-pur-hi-DROE-sis) is abnormally excessive sweating that’s not necessarily related to heat or exercise. You may sweat so much that it soaks through your clothes or drips off your hands. Besides disrupting normal daily activities, this type of heavy sweating can cause social anxiety and embarrassment.
How do dermatologists diagnose hyperhidrosis?
Signs and symptoms of hyperhidrosis may include:
– Clammy or wet palms of the hands
– Clammy or wet soles of the feet
– Frequent sweating
– Noticeable sweating that soaks through clothing
Hyperhidrosis Treatment
Hyperhidrosis treatment usually helps, beginning with prescription-strength antiperspirants. If antiperspirants don’t help, you may need to try different medications and therapies. In severe cases, your doctor may suggest surgery either to remove the sweat glands or to disconnect the nerves responsible for the overproduction of sweat.
The sweating can affect just one specific
area or the whole body.
Botulinum toxin injections.
Treatment with botulinum toxin (Botox, Myobloc, others) temporarily blocks the nerves that cause sweating. Your skin will be iced or anesthetized first. Each affected area of your body will need several injections. The effects last six to 12 months, and then the treatment needs to be repeated. This treatment can be painful, and some people experience temporary muscle weakness in the treated area.
Other hyperhidrosis treatments include:
Microwave Therapy
With this therapy, a device that delivers microwave energy is used to destroy sweat glands. Treatments involve two 20- to 30-minute sessions, three months apart. Possible side effects are a change in skin sensation and some discomfort. This therapy may be expensive and not widely available.
