Hyperhidrosis is often a distressing, socially debilitating condition, affecting a small but significant proportion of the world population. While symptoms usually begin during adolescence, it can also occur in other age groups.

Treatment options given to patients who suffer from hyperhidrosis usually depend on the severity of their case and which body area is affected. Non-surgical treatments such as oral medications, anti-perspirants, ointments, botox injections and iontophoresis, are the usual initial options given to patients. When none of those treatments prove beneficial or effective, there are also surgical treatments available to patients seeking more permanent results.

In the past, surgical procedures done for hyperhidrosis cases usually involve a painful incision either at the chest, back or neck (e.g. upper thoracic sympathectomy). Most often than not, these highly invasive procedures result to complications such as brachial plexus, phrenic nerve injury, or Horner’s Syndrome, a condition that can cause dropping of the upper eyelids and eye dryness. In rare cases, excessive bleeding may likewise happen. Due to recent technological advances, minimally invasive surgical methods, such as thoracoscopic sympathectomy or otherwise known as endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS), were made possible.

ETS is a surgical procedure that intends to interrupt sympathetic nerve impulses sent to the sweat glands and prevent localized excessive sweating (usually in the hands and face). While the patient is under general anesthesia, a 5-mm. endoscope is inserted into a small incision made below the underarm to identify the second through fourth ganglia. The identified branches to the main sympathetic chain at each level are divided before the main chain is removed. The same procedure is done on the patient’s other side, which is crucial in preventing symptoms from recurring years later.

ETS is most effective in treating excessive hand and facial sweating, with a success rate of more than 98%. It also gives additional relief to excessive feet sweating. While it is a highly effective procedure with permanent results, it has very minimal complication rate. Incident of Horner’s Syndrome for instance, is about less than 1%.

As with most surgical procedures, ETS also has some side effects and the most common of which is compensatory sweating. Compensatory sweating occurs in about 50% of ETS patients. Also, there are reported cases of small pneumothorax after the operation, but in this case, no medical intervention is required and patients can usually go home after 24 hours.

While ETS is generally safe and a highly effective method in treating hyperhidrosis cases, it is still best for patients to look only for experienced, highly competent and certified surgeons for excellent and long-term results.

As everyone knows, sweating is a natural way of the body to cool itself and retain internal body temperature. But there are just some people who sweat profusely that their condition has become unmanageable – often a source of social embarrassment, frustration and even distraction, which in turn results to social withdrawal and reduced work productivity.

Hyperhidrosis can be caused by a number of factors. The most common are stress and an overactive sympathetic nervous system. It is the sympathetic nervous system, which controls the millions of sweat glands found throughout the body. A great proportion of these sweat glands are found in the armpits, hands, feet and face, making these the most susceptible to excessive sweating.

Those currently suffering from hyperhidrosis and looking for a cure may find it surprising that far too many treatment approaches are already available. But of course, it will mostly depend on the severity of their condition and which body part is affected.

Patients should be aware that there are natural cures worth exploring before they consider any of the more expensive and invasive approaches like surgery and botox injections. The following may prove to be helpful and effective for certain cases:

Antiperspirants
Antiperspirants are the common treatments used for mild to moderate cases of excessive sweating. Aluminum chloride is the active natural ingredient of antiperspirants that acts to control the production of excessive perspiration by the sweat glands. Of course, it has to be used regularly as it will eventually wear off. Use of antiperspirants three times a week should help manage mild cases, while use of antiperspirants once daily or more should help control moderate sweating. Antiperspirants come in many forms – lotions, creams, or sprays to relieve sweaty underarms, palms or feet These are readily available, convenient, easy to use, and affordable too.

Iontophoresis
In this procedure, mild electric currents are used to stimulate the affected area (usually the hands or feet) while immersed in water. This treatment works to temporarily shut-off the sweat glands. The complete procedure could take about half an hour or longer per session, but helps relieve one from excessive sweating for four weeks or longer. Skin cracking and drying could happen but these are very rare side effects.

Stress Management
Stress is very much to be blamed if one suffers from severe hyperhidrosis.
Stress management techniques practiced regularly such as exercise and meditation should do a good trick. A simpler lifestyle and work-life balance should significantly improve one’s health and well being thereby reducing stress (and sweat!)

Needless to say, above remedies are natural, safe and yet effective. Unlike surgery, botox injections and other invasive procedures – they have no side effects. These may not be permanent cures, but nonetheless help sufferers cope up with their condition. Trying to learn to live with hyperhidrosis – the natural way, is indeed worth the try!

The condition of hyperhidrosis is caused by the over-stimulation of the sweat glands by the sympathetic nervous system. Hand perspiration can be extreme. A lot of individuals perspire so severely that dripping sweat can actually be seen on the floor. These can be observed even in the most frigid of conditions. A few individuals may not experience dripping sweat, but their hands are typically cold, discolored and clammy. Newspaper print easily mark their hands. Book pages tend to have curled edges due to the constant wetness of their hands.

Before the start of excessive perspiration, several individuals claim to have a tingling sensation on their fingers. One individual claimed, “it seems as if my skin pores are opening up.” The phenomenon is unintentional and cannot be deliberately controlled. There is an unusual interrelationship that develops between anxiety and severe perspiration. The relationship develops variably to a greater or lesser degree in most individuals with extreme hyperhidrosis disorder. The condition is frequently worsened by anxiety. The onset of symptoms usually provokes anxiety to the sufferer. A vicious cycle is unfortunately created due to this. Countless sufferers struggle to get away by pulling out of or staying away from stressful situations. This repetitive pattern is unhealthy and it only serves to create more emotional injury to the person.

People with hyperhidrosis would normally try to hide their hands when having conversations with other people.  They may do one or any of the following things like placing their hands under their arms, putting their hands behind their backs or simply place them under their thighs. Numerous individuals with hyperhidrosis of the hands have reported that holding a cold drink in their hands during social occasions makes shaking other people’s hands socially acceptable. This is because people would tend to assume that the hand they just shook was cold, wet and clammy due to the cold glass.

One reported case about a young woman professional with hyperhidrosis of the hands mentioned that, before a job interview, she would rub her hands on her car’s tire. She would then tell the interviewer that she had had a flat tire and she shouldn’t shake his hand because her hands were filthy. This is a very unfortunate example of how people suffering from this condition try to adapt. This is primarily because people who are not familiar with this particular disorder has the tendency of looking down at the person with the condition.

Fortunately, with the latest advances in modern medicine, many forms of treatment are now available for palmar hyperhidrosis. Antiperspirants are the first choice in the treatment of hyperhidrosis. Iontophoresis home kits are now available for patient use but the equipment that hospitals use is still stronger and more reliable. Botox on the other hand works well but it is quite expensive and the relief it offers only last from 6 to 12 months. Low dosage medication and surgical operations are also utilized to cure severe hyperhidrosis. Endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy or ETS can be a very effective technique to treat hyperhidrosis. However, great care must be taken in choosing a surgeon. This is due to the risk of side effects from compensatory sweating.  The patient should consider everything carefully before deciding to undergo this procedure.

Hyperhidrosis occurs when the sympathethic nervous system is overactive. This triggers the release of hormones that activate the sweat glands, causing them to produce excessive sweat. According to the American Academy of Dermatologists, approximately 7 million of Americans are affected with this disorder. Most sufferers are in their adolescent and menopausal stages, some are pregnant women, and others are obese. Hyperhidrosis can be a burden to an individual for his entire life, or it can be a temporary disorder that can later be treated. Causes of hyperhidrosis can be classified as primary hyperhidrosis, which has a vague origin, or secondary, which is due to the abnormal flow of the sympathethic nervous system.

Of course, nobody wants to stay wet with sweat all the time. Our common reaction for this is to find remedy through the prescribed medication available in the market. There’s a lot of effective antiperspirants available now. An example for this is the Maxim antiperspirant. Though the credibility of this antiperspirant has been proven by most of its users, the standard Maxim antiperspirant can cause irritation to the skin. From the latest marketing survey of the CORAD Healthcare, out of 330 patients, almost 15 % of them experience itching, burning, and mild erythemia or redness in skin. The prescription antiperspirants they use contain alcohol, which triggers irritation to patients with sensitive skin.

Now, the worry is gone for the patients with sensitive skin. An innovation of standard Maxim antiperspirant and now formally introduced to the market, the Maxim Sensitive contains 10 % aluminum chloride active ingredient.

Not surprisingly, the product gained positive response in the market. Users of the product claim that by using Maxim Sensitive, they can control perspiration without experiencing irritation and side effects.

Maxim products are best used to treat excessive sweating in the armpit. This is because the armpits have apocrine sweat glands. The apocrine sweat glands are located at the surface of the skin, making them easy to be detected and treated by Maxim products. However, the hand, face and feet cannot be easily treated because they contain eccrine sweat glands, which are located at the deeper areas of the skin.

Sweating in any part of the body is very important for thermal regulation. We need it for cooling. Our skin area is about 2,700 square inches; each single part of the skin is an avenue for sweating. Of this given area, our armpits occupy only about 10 square inches. The skin let our sweat to evaporate from our body causing cooling. When our body sweats too much, cooling is a complete disaster.

This may be treated by using Maxim products. Maxim or Maxim Sensitive can completely eliminate excessive sweating in the armpits. These products will not affect the thermoregulatory system of our body. This is the safest way to fight against hyperhidrosis. Unlike the surgical method, which can cause irreversible compensatory sweating in the stomach, rear end, legs and back, Maxim products are made to consider the sensitivity of your skin and has no side effect. Submitting yourself into surgery should only be considered if non-surgical means are proven to be ineffective. Before anything else, try Maxim and Maxim Sensitive.

According to some studies, 3% of the total population suffers from hyperhidrosis. Most sufferers notice excessive sweating on specific parts of the body such as the underarms (axillary hyperhidrosis), face (facial hyperhidrosis) and feet (planar hyperhidrosis). As you see, sweating on these parts of the body is very common to most of us. We tend to be blind and treat this as normal, not knowing that it is already a symptom of hyperhidrosis. It is not widely known that such a disorder is a very serious medical condition that requires proper diagnosis and treatment.

Hyperhidrosis occurs when there is an abnormal response from the sweat nerves. A part of the brain called hypothalamus is responsible in sending the sensory signals to the sweat nerves. The hypothalamus is located in the chest cavity. The sweat nerves, as a part of the sympathetic nervous system, in turn throws signals to the sweat glands which results to producing sweat. When the signals violate the sending and response process, hyperhidrosis occurs. The sweat glands begin to produce excessive amount of sweats, and this liquid will seek outlets on your underarms, face, palms and feet, resulting to unwanted perspiration in such parts of our body.

We cannot purely blame all this to the uneven responses of our sweat nerves, however. There are a lot of factors contributing to why we perspire so much. By doing intense jobs and heavy activities such as vigorous exercise, we can expel extra liquid in our body. Our emotions can also trigger to generate sweat. Sweating stabilizes the corporal body temperature, especially when doing such activities.

Our skin glands are also the primary factor why hyperhidrosis occurs. Our skin has two kinds of glands: the apocrines and the eccrines. The apocrines do not contribute much in the regultation of body temperature. Basically, these glands can be found in the hair follicle and are not involved in the process of hyperhidrosis. The gland eccrines, on the other hand, is the major contributor for the hyperhidrosis. The increased secretion of the gland eccrines is the cause of such abnormalities. Eccrines are more concentrated in parts of the body such as the armpits, feet, palms, and are very important in regulating the body temperature.

Hyperhidrosis can be primary or secondary. Primary Hyperhidrosis has no specific origin. This is the most common type of hyperhidrosis and is attributed to a genetic factor. Everybody has the tendency to acquire primary hyperhidrosis, and this commonly manifests during the earlier stages of the person’s life. Secondary hyperhidrosis, on the other hand, is an acquired disorder due to an associated cause such as obesity, menopause and the use of antidepressive drugs.

Other factors such excess taking of drugs can cause sweating. Intakes of aspirin and acetaminophen, morphine, excess of the thyroid hormones, lack of feminine hormones during menopausal stage, testosterone deficit for men, and low rate of sugar in the blood can incite hyperhidrosis.

Hyperhidrosis is defined as sweating beyond normal limits needed to keep the body cool. The most commonly affected areas include the hands, the soles of the feet, and the armpits (axilla). It has two forms namely, primary and secondary Hyperhidrosis . It is not known what the exact etiology of primary Hyperhidrosis is – however, the excessive sweating has something to do with the sweat glands of the body overreacting to either the body’s temperature or emotional stress, or even both. Another explanation is that it is a result of an excessive cholinergic stimulation of the eccrine glands. It usually starts during adolescence or even before, and seems to be an inherited as an autosomal dominant genetic trait. In contrast to the primary Hyperhidrosis , the cause of secondary Hyperhidrosis can be attributed to several medical conditions such as Panic Attacks, Anxiety Disorders, Hyperthyroidism, Hypothyroidism, Cancer and Tumors, Menopause and Obesity.

Treatment options are available and abundant; though some are a bit extreme such as surgery; other treatment regimens are natural, such as acupuncture. The use of acupuncture to treat Hyperhidrosis has been said to be successful. Sweat is considered a key factor in identifying disharmony in the body and is identified as a fundamental substance in Chinese medical text. Chinese medicine is often overlooked by western medicine; however, it is interesting to note that there is an alternative aside from radical surgery and drugs.

Acupuncture is considered to be one of the oldest and most commonly used procedures in the world. It is thought to be more than 2,000 years old. It is a family of techniques of inserting and manipulating filiform needles into specific points on the body. It involves penetrating the skin with thin, solid, metallic needles that are manipulated by the hands or by electrical stimulation. It became popular in the United States in 1971, when James Reston, a New York Times Reporter, wrote about how doctors in China used needles to ease his pain after surgery. It is thought that around this time Hyperhidrosis Acupuncture was also introduced to western society. It stimulates points in the body thought to be directly related to excessive sweating. The American practice of acupuncture incorporates several medical traditions which include those of China, Japan, and, Korea.

Is it painful? Questions on pain are legitimate questions especially when it deals with needles. People can experience hyperhidrosis acupuncture differently. There are those that go through Hyperhidrosis acupuncture with little or no pain at all for long as the treatment is going on. Some even report to be more energized because of the treatment, while others feel relaxed. Problems can occur though and may be due to a variety of reasons. Improper needle placement, excessive movement of the patient, or defects in the needle can cause soreness and pain during the treatment. This is the very reason why it’s important to seek treatment from a qualified hyperhidrosis acupuncture practitioner or a certified practitioner from a qualified body. For instance, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved hyperhidrosis acupuncture needles for use by licensed practitioners since 1996. Aside from approving qualified personnel, the FDA requires the use of sterile, nontoxic needles and that they are labeled for single use only. The dangers of ill-trained practitioners or unlicensed ones include infections, bleeding, and puncturing organs. Complications can also result from inadequate sterilization and improper delivery of treatment.

Sweating is the body’s natural response to an intense situation. The nervous system immediately senses any stressors in the body’s immediate environment and signals the sweat glands to produce sweat. This helps the body, which naturally heats up during stressful moments, regulate its own temperature. This is most obvious when we are subjected to climates warmer than our own, when exercising, or when we feel nervous, angry, embarrassed, or afraid.

While sweating is perfectly normal, excessive sweating may be a sign of an underlying medical condition. Excessive sweating is normally defined as the state when the body produces more sweat than is needed to regulate the body temperature. Excessive sweating is also known by its medical term, hyperhidrosis.

Hyperhidrosis is a medical disorder characterized by excessive sweating at any part of the body. It is a medical condition that causes the sufferer to experience unpredictable and excessive sweating, even at cool and comfortable temperatures, or when they are at rest. Cases of hyperhidrosis usually affect specific parts of the body, such as hands, armpits and feet. Excessive sweating in the hands is called palmar hyperhidrosis; in the armpits, it’s called axillary hyperhidrosis; and in the feet, it’s called plantar hyperhidrosis. The sympathetic nervous system controls much of the sweating process, and any problem affecting it may affect the body’s perspiration system.

Hyperhidrosis can be primary or secondary. Primary hypehidrosis usually starts during or even before the individual’s adolescent stage. In primary hyperhidrosis, the affected part of the body may be the hands, feet, or armpits. Primary hyperhidrosis is also known as focal hyperhidrosis and can run in families. Often, sufferers ignore the symptoms of primary hyperhidrosis – according to studies, primary hyperhidrosis affects 2-3% of the population, and not even 40% of these sufferers seek medical advice regarding this disorder.

Secondary hyperhidrosis, on the other hand, may come unexpectedly. It can affect anybody at any age. This type of hyperhidrosis is the result of an underlying condition, such as a disorder of the thyroid or pituitary gland, diabetes mellitus, tumors, gout, menopause, certain drugs, or mercury poisoning. The symptoms of secondary hyperhidrosis may be more serious than primary hyperhidrosis.

Regardless of the type and reason for onset, hyperhidrosis poses a serious physical and psychological problem for the sufferer. The discomfort and embarrassment the condition brings may affect the individual emotionally, and may cause him/her to delay or even forego treatment. It’s important to set aside fears and see a dermatologist immediately once your levels of perspiration causes you to worry. Identified early, hyperhidrosis may necessitate only mild forms of treatment and be prevented from escalating any further.

Axillary sweating may occur by itself or in combination with any or all of the different kinds of hyperhidrosis disorders, such as in the palms, feet, or face. People afflicted by this disorder are discouraged from wearing particular clothes, materials and colors because the sweat leads to staining and deterioration of the fabric.

Profuse armpit perspiration can turn out to be an exasperating dilemma for those suffering from this condition. Axillary hyperhidrosis manifests itself through increased armpit sweat production and this is prompted by the sympathetic nervous system. A malfunction in the nerves controlling underarm sweat glands results in excessive sweat production. Axillary hyperhidrosis is at times triggered by external factors such as anxiety, psychological stress and tiredness. However, this is not a rule and there are still no evidently identified stimuli that set off unwarranted armpit perspiration.

Individuals suffering from axillary hyperhidrosis sometimes result to wearing clothes in layers, such as donning a jacket over a shirt. This way, the individual may conceal his shirt in case axillary hyperhidrosis kicks in at a bad time. It’s not uncommon for sufferers to have to change their upper garments two or three times a day, sometimes even more, due to the persistent sweating condition. Women suffering form axillary hyperhidrosis also shun garments made of delicate fabrics such as silk, since sweat marks tend to be very noticeable in such fabrics. Whatever the occasion, axillary hyperhidrosis is a cause for embarrassment for the sufferer, and may make him/her less socially secure.

This condition frequently starts during teenage years. There are, however, some cases that occur before puberty. Kids with axillary hyperhidrosis are at risk of social withdrawal at a very early age, as the other kids may find their condition a tempting target for teasing. The teasing often triggers a vicious cycle that intensifies the anxiety endured by kids during this phase, leading to a feeling of hopelessness. The idea that there is no answer to or escape from their embarrassing medical condition may lead to withdrawal and isolation, making recovery even more difficult.

People with axillary hyperhidrosis sometimes do not have the strength to open up and discuss their condition even with their own family. This is because they think that they are the only ones afflicted by this disorder. There have been instances when parents only learn about their children’s suffering after the condition has been hampering their social lives for a number of years. It’s advisable to seek professional help immediately when parents detect a lack of social interaction, grief, and low self-esteem in their child.

Treatment of hyperhidrosis often entails correcting the malfunction of the sympathetic nervous system. Surgery to remove overactive sweat glands may also be the solution. Dermatologists are well-equipped to ascertain the most suitable treatments for axillary hyperhidrosis, as well as administering such treatments.

Sweating is a natural body function to cool the body, but uncontrolled sweating, as in the case of palmar hyperhidrosis, may hamper work-related activities (typing, writing, handling papers, grasping objects, etc.). Ordinary and easy tasks like putting on make-up, buttoning a shirt, and cutting fingernails become extremely difficult. What’s worse is that initiating social contact and maintaining relationships become very uncomfortable as well.

In most cases, hyperhidrosis or excessive sweating has no known cause. While symptoms usually occur after puberty and continue through one’s entire life, it may have started since childhood for some. And in such cases, the condition may have a hereditary cause. Other contributory factors to this condition are emotional distress, anxiety, nervousness, or stress. Surprisingly, for some people, using a harmless skin product such as a skin lotion can also aggravate hand sweating.

Physical activity or a heightened emotional state stimulates the sympathetic nerve system, and adrenaline is sent into the blood system. The adrenaline signals the increase of heart rate and blood pressure, and sweat glands produce sweat to regulate the body’s temperature as a result. This is normal.

But for about 0.1% to 0.2% of the population, these physiological body processes are exaggerated which makes them sweat excessively (regardless of the room temperature), sometimes at unlikely times (even when sleeping!). A hypersympathetic activity of the body best explains excessive sweating for no apparent cause.

Those who suffer from severe palmar hyperhidrosis have cold, wet hands that drip with sweat, which are often causes of embarrassment. They are conscious of their condition and try to hide it from others, either by wiping or hiding their hands behind their pockets. They usually dread handshakes or hand contact. In the long run, all these frustrations build up, and could even lead to social withdrawal.

A treatment option available for those who suffer from excessive hand sweating or palmar hyperhidrosis is thoroscopic sympathectomy. It’s actually a surgical procedure, which involves cutting of a nerve found in the chest. It’s also a treatment for reflect sympathetic dystrophy and hand vascular diseases. However, many are apprehensive with sympathectomy as a viable solution to their condition because of fear of compensatory hyperhidrosis (CH).

Compensatory hyperhidrosis, which occurs after surgery, is a condition where other (non-treated) body parts (e.g. back and trunk) sweat excessively to compensate for the reduced sweating in the treated body part (e.g. palms or armpit). Although there may be reported incidents of CH from patients who have undergone sympathectomy for palmar hyperhidrosis, much has yet to be explored by medical researchers to substantiate the occurrence.

Those who suffer from palmar hyperhidrosis in addition to other medical conditions like hyperthyroidism, menopause or obesity, sympathectomy treatment is not advised. Similarly, individuals suffering from tuberculosis may not be allowed to undergo this treatment.

Botulinum toxin injection is supposed to be minimally invasive and has become an accepted therapy for patients who do not react favorably to more conventional forms of treatment.  This treatment therapy is normally done prior to resorting to surgery. Different therapeutic alternatives also vary in their length of efficacy. Side effects and response speed differ depending on the anatomic area treated. Topical therapy for focal hyperhidrosis or generally called antiperspirant treatment can be carried out with chemicals of several different classes. These classes comprise of astringent agents, topical anticholinergics, local anesthetics, and aluminum and other metallic salt solutions.

Most of the population in developed countries uses easily available over the counter antiperspirants for cosmetic and hygienic control of underarm sweating and odor. Individuals suffering from moderate to severe hyperhidrosis on the other hand require stronger remedies. Prescription medication and specially compounded solutions are commonly required for hyperhidrosis sufferers. Unfortunately these cures do not always give the desired effect.

Various topical agents analyzed are not easily obtainable commercially or do not have United States Food and Drug Administration endorsement and approval for the cure of hyperhidrosis. Only aluminum chloride has the approval of the USFDA for hyperhidrosis treatment. The preliminary treatment usually made for hyperhidrosis is normally non-invasive and does not necessitate any surgical procedure. There are commercially available ointments and salves (i.e., Drysol) that work as astringents and they have a tendency to dry up the sweat glands.

On the other hand, a different and acceptable cure for hyperhidrosis is iontopheresis. This is a hyperhidrosis treatment wherein electrical stimulation is used to lessen sweating. This procedure is normally done on the hands. Patients put their hands in a bath or basin of water wherein an electrical current is passed. This procedure stuns the sweat glands and tends to decrease the secretion of sweat for periods ranging from six hours to about 7 days.

One of the latest cures offered for hyperhidrosis is the injection of botulinum toxin or more commonly known as Botox. It is injected into the area where excessive sweating is experienced. This is a toxin that affects and sort of paralyzes the nerve endings. This toxin eventually reduces the transmission of the nerve impulses to the sweat glands which in turn results to reduce perspiration. It would normally require quite a few injections in the palms of the hands or armpits to complete the procedure.  The effect of the procedure is observed to range from 1 month to 6 months. Continual injections are practically needed to sustain an acceptable level of dryness.

Besides the above-mentioned treatments, many drugs and remedies have been used with varying degrees of success. These include sedatives (for patients with stress induced hyperhidrosis) and medications that have an effect on our central nervous system. A family practitioner or internist is usually the one who makes the diagnosis and initial treatment for hyperhidrosis. Hyperhidrosis cases that do not respond accordingly to simple treatment regimens are often referred to a specialist such as a dermatologist or neurologist. As a rule of thumb, surgery is only considered when the less invasive medical treatments have been exhausted.