Estimating how many individuals suffer from excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis) is challenging. Most individuals never go to doctors as they are too embarrassed to consult with them. Others are unaware that this is a medical condition that Dr. Michael Paltiel can treat. Dermatologists estimate that 3% of people in the United States sweat excessively. We know that some individuals are predisposed to hyperhidrosis. According to research, most people have one or more of the following; a member of the family who sweats excessively, a health condition that causes sweating, medications or food supplements that they take can cause extreme sweating.
- Excessive sweating in one or two areas of the body indicates that a family member suffers from the same problem.
- Various health issues can cause excessive sweating. Diabetes and gout are two of them. A tumor or an injury can also cause excessive sweating.
- When women experience hot flashes during menopause, they frequently sweat excessively. The reason is self-evident. Conversely, after menopause, some women experience excessive sweating. There is no apparent cause for this sweating.
- Hyperhidrosis affects people of all races. Sweating excessively can start at any age. It usually begins when a person is a child or a teenager. Dermatologists believe that this condition affects more children and adolescents than is recognized.
- Hyperhidrosis can affect anyone, regardless of whether they live in a cold or warm climate.
Available treatments for hyperhidrosis
Hyperhidrosis can be treated in various ways, depending on which part of the body is impacted. Treatments that are only temporary include:
- Aluminum chloride-based antiperspirants are effective.
- Iontophoresis is a treatment that involves immersing the affected areas in water and passing a low-voltage electrical current through them.
- Botox works by preventing the sweat glands from being activated by blocking a chemical at the nerve endings.
- Anticholinergics which also work by blocking nerve endings, are taken orally and administered throughout the body.
Furthermore, all of these are temporary and do not apply to everyone. Antiperspirants can irritate the skin, and oral medications block nerve endings throughout the body, causing side effects like dry mouth and urination difficulties. Conversely, Botox and iontophoresis must be repeated regularly and can be costly.
There are also some more long-term alternatives. Some patients have undergone surgery to remove or destroy sweat glands in a specific area (like the armpits) or endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS), which involves cutting the nerves that control sweating. ETS effectively reduces sweating in the targeted areas, but it can have serious side effects such as nerve or organ damage. Most patients experience compensatory sweating in other areas, which can be worse than the original problem, so this surgery is usually only used as a last resort. Electromagnetic energy is used in a newer permanent treatment to destroy sweat glands.
Even though hyperhidrosis is a prevalent skin condition, it is little understood. Raising awareness is essential if people feel confident enough to seek help and advice. Call Adult and Pediatric Dermatology or book a meeting today to learn more about hyperhidrosis.