Excessive Sweating/Hyperhidrosis

 

Excessive sweating, or hyperhidrosis, is a condition characterized by unnecessary or overabundant sweat production that is not warranted by environmental circumstances or physical activity.

 

For example, if you walk a few yards from your office building to your car on a cool day when you are experiencing no anxiety and end up dripping sweat by the time you’ve reached your vehicle, you may be experiencing hyperhidrosis.

 

If you have episodes of unexplained sweating of your palms, armpits, face, or other body parts you may have hyperhidrosis

 

Types of Excessive Sweating

 

Hyperhidrosis may affect any body area with sweat glands and can be categorized into 2 types:

 

• Primary focal hyperhidrosis – excessive sweating in focused, specific body areas

• Secondary general hyperhidrosis – excessive sweating in various unspecific body areas

•  

Primary hyperhidrosis conditions are classified in four categories based on which body area they affect, including axillary (underarms), palmar (hands), plantar (feet), and truncal (torso) hyperhidrosis.

 

Causes of Excessive Sweating

 

Excessive sweating may occur in patients who have abnormally large sweat glands, as well as those who are genetically predisposed to the condition.

 

Certain medications or infections, thyroid and metabolic disorders, cancers such as leukemia, and hormone changes associated with menopause and pregnancy may also cause hyperhidrosis.

 

Treatment for Excessive Sweating

 

Sometimes, treating the underlying medical cause of your excessive sweating problem may be the best solution, such as in situations where excessive sweating is caused by a thyroid condition or other medical problem.

 

Prescription antiperspirant products containing aluminum chloride (like Drysol) may help control excessive sweating.

​

Qbrexa is a cloth that is used to wipe the armpits and decreases sweating

 

Botox injections may be prescribed to treat excessive sweating, as the neurotoxin in Botox can temporarily reduce sweat gland activity for many months.

 

Iontophoresis is the use of an electrical current that can decrease sweating.

 

Pills such as Robinal (glycopyrrolate) or Pro-Banthine (propantheline) can aslo be used to decrease sweating.

 

For severe cases, surgical removal of the sweat glands or severing the chest nerve that stimulates excessive sweating can be tried. However, this is the treatment of last resort

 

Would you like to learn more about Hyperhidrosis Treatment?  Call us to schedule a consultation at Clovis Dermatology.