Hyperhidrosis is a common and embarrassing condition where a person sweats excessively.
Dermatologists help patients control excessive sweating. Before starting treatment, it is important to find out the cause of the patient’s excessive sweating.
To diagnose this condition, a dermatologist will perform a physical examination of the patient. This includes looking closely at areas of the body that sweat excessively. The dermatologist also asks clear and specific questions to the patient. This helps the doctor understand the cause of the patient’s hyperhidrosis.
What is excessive sweating?
There are no guidelines for defining what “normal” sweating is, but if you feel like you’re sweating a lot and the sweating starts to affect your daily life, you may have hyperhidrosis.
For example, you may have hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) if:
You avoid physical contact, such as shaking hands, because you feel ashamed to sweat
Do not engage in activities, such as dancing or playing sports, for fear that it will aggravate the sweating
Excessive sweating interferes with your function – eg, you have difficulty holding tools or using a computer keyboard
You are having problems with normal daily activities, such as driving
You’ve been spending a lot of time dealing with sweating – eg, showering more frequently and changing your clothes
You become socially withdrawn and shy
Sweating may affect your entire body, or it may affect only certain areas such as:
armpits
The palms of your hands
the soles of your feet
face and chest
thigh
Sweating isn’t usually a serious threat to your health, but it can be embarrassing and annoying. It can also have a negative impact on your quality of life and may lead to feelings of depression and anxiety.
How do dermatologists treat excessive sweating?
Treatment depends on the type of hyperhidrosis and where on the body the excessive sweating occurs. The dermatologist also considers your general health and other factors.
Botulinum toxin injection (Botox)
Your dermatologist can inject a small amount of Botox into the armpit or affected area to treat excessive sweating. When done correctly, patients feel only mild pain or discomfort.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved this treatment. The results of some research studies indicate that this treatment may be effective for many areas of the body. It may help people who sweat excessively on the head. It may be effective for excessive sweating affecting the hands, feet, and armpits.
How it works: Botox injections prevent the production of a certain chemical in the body that stimulates the sweat glands. Most patients notice results four to five days after receiving treatment.
The injections last about four to six months, sometimes longer. When the excessive sweating returns, you may repeat the injection.
Excessive sweating is common. It is estimated that it affects between 1 and 3 in every 100 people which means there are potentially hundreds of thousands of people living with it.
Hyperhidrosis can occur at any age, although primary hyperhidrosis usually begins during childhood or soon after puberty.
