A health condition in which a person experiences excessive sweating not due to exercise or heat is known as hyperhidrosis. Sometimes, people sweat so much that it soaks through clothes or drips off their hands. Thus, it negatively affects your daily routine and can lead to social anxiety and discomfort.
In most cases, treatment can help to get rid of the condition and starts with antiperspirants. If you do not notice any improvements, you may need more serious treatment options including therapies and medicines. Furthermore, in severe hyperhidrosis cases, doctors may advise surgery to interrupt the connection between nerves related to making too much sweat or remove sweat glands. Some people get rid of hyperhidrosis just by treating the underlying disease.
Symptoms
Excessive sweating is the primary symptom of this disease and it is so severe that it goes beyond exercise, being in a hot environment, feeling stressed or anxious. That hyperhidrosis type that negatively affects feet, hands, underarms, or face appears at least once per week usually when you are awake. This symptom commonly appears on both body sides.
Heavy sweating sometimes may be a symptom of a serious health condition. Immediately contact your healthcare professional if you experience excessive sweating, dizziness, and pain in the throat, jaw, arms, shoulders, or chest. You should also visit a doctor if any of the following cases occur. Examples include:
- Sweating that impacts your daily routine or provokes emotional stress and social withdrawal
- Sudden sweating
- Night sweats without any reason
Causes
The body cools itself by sweating. When body temperature increases, the nervous system triggers the sweat glands. Palms sweating commonly occurs, especially when you are nervous. Commonly, a mild form of hyperhidrosis is provoked by problems with nerve signals that provoke eccrine sweat glands to produce excessive sweating. Mostly, it affects the soles, palms, underarms, and face (rarely). In such cases, there is no underlying condition but genetics could play a role.
However, hyperhidrosis can be caused by a health condition or medicines including antidepressants, painkillers, and hormonal or diabetes medicines. As a result, this hyperhidrosis type can provoke sweating throughout the body. Check below some health problems that could provoke hyperhidrosis:
What Are The Possible Hyperhidrosis Complications?
Those who ignore this condition may experience some complications. For example:
- Infections – Excessive sweating increases the risk of getting skin infections.
- Emotional and social effects – Those who experience heavy sweating may feel uncomfortable, which impacts their daily activities.
Diagnosis
Commonly, doctors will ask you about symptoms and medical history. They should also perform a physical examination and certain tests that will help to confirm the condition. Check below some of them:
Laboratory Tests
Doctors usually take a sample of blood, urine, and others if the hyperhidrosis is provoked by other diseases including hypoglycemia (reduced blood sugar) or hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid gland).
Sweat Tests
Sometimes, you may need to do additional tests to determine the severity and region of excessive sweating. These include the iodine-starch test and the sweat test.
Treatment
The treatment goal usually is to eliminate the underlying condition and then excessive sweating will disappear. In case there are no other health problems, physicians will focus on reducing heavy sweating.
In addition, if you do not notice any improvements despite self-care habits changes, you may need more advanced treatment for this condition. Physicians usually prescribe either one or a combination of the following treatments. Check below some examples:
Medicines
- Prescription antiperspirants – Healthcare providers usually prescribe antiperspirants with aluminum chloride. You should apply it before sleep and wash it when you awake. Skin and eye irritation can provoke medicines with this active ingredient.
- Prescription wipes and creams – These products contain Glycopyrrolate. This ingredient helps to treat hyperhidrosis that affects the face and head. Wipes are effective against sweating in the following areas. For example feet, underarms, and hands. Dry mouth and mild irritation of the skin can occur while using these medicines.
- Nerve-blocking medicines – These oral prescription drugs are used to block the nerves responsible for triggering sweating glands. Blurred vision, bladder issues, and dry mouth are common adverse reactions to these medicines.
- Antidepressants – There are some antidepressant medications that could help with excessive sweating. Moreover, they can also help with anxiety.
- Botulinum toxin injections – These injections work similarly to nerve-blocking oral medicines. Botulinum toxin injections are painful and can help to stop heavy sweating. Commonly, before injection, your doctor may give local anesthesia to numb the skin. Additionally, injections are given in every affected body area several times. Improvements often appear within a few days.
Surgery and Other Treatment Options
- Microwave therapy – During this procedure, doctors use a special device to destroy sweat glands. It uses microwave energy and the procedure lasts between 20-30 minutes.
- Sweat gland removal – This treatment option is usually used when you experience excessive sweating in one body part only (such as armpits). It involves the removal of the sweat glands from the negatively affected region.
- Nerve surgery (sympathectomy) – In case other treatment options do not work for you, doctors may recommend this surgery. It involves the removal of certain nerves in the spinal cord that stops heavy sweating in the hands. One possible negative effect that may occur after surgery is excessive sweating in other body parts (also known as compensatory sweating).
- Iontophoresis – This procedure can be done at home by using a special device that delivers electrical impulses. You can buy this device with a doctor’s prescription. During the treatment, you should soak your hands or feet in a pan with water and let the device send electrical impulses into the water. Repeat this procedure 2-3 times within 7 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
How hyperhidrosis can be cured?
Unfortunately, there is no way to cure primary hyperhidrosis because it may be linked to genetics. However, if you experience this health problem due to an underlying condition, you may receive treatment from doctors. Thus, treating the cause may help to get rid of excessive sweating.
What are foods that could trigger sweating?
- Spicy foods
- Hot drinks or foods
- Coffee
- Alcohol and others
Talk with your doctor for more details.
What are the possible complications of hyperhidrosis?
Inflammation and itching of the skin can occur if you ignore excessive sweating. Additionally, body odor and cracking or peeling of the feet’ skin may happen. As a result, if you do not treat hyperhidrosis, you may be at higher risk of getting skin infections. If you have additional questions, ask your doctor.
