Hyperhidrosis is the medical name given to excessive sweating.
Causes & Symptoms
Hyperhidrosis is the medical name given to excessive sweating. This condition causes you to sweat much more than your body requires to cool down and affects two – three percent of the population. At The Skin Hospital, we are committed to helping you manage and then maintain this condition.
Usually, hyperhidrosis occurs in people who are otherwise medically fit, but sometimes it can be linked to an underlying medical condition.
There are two main types of sweat glands in the body – eccrine glands (found mostly on the hands, feet, face and armpits), and apocrine glands (found mostly in the armpit and genital regions). Hyperhidrosis tends to occur in body areas with the highest concentration of eccrine sweat glands, many patients report sweaty hands and feet but it can affect any part of the body.
Treatment
Unfortunately, there are no cures for hyperhidrosis, but there are a number of different treatment options which may help to control excessive sweating. Treatments include self care, physical therapies, medical therapies and surgery.
Avoid triggers that may start sweating; such as spicy food or caffeine.
Wash daily.
Wear clothing and footwear made of natural materials that can breathe, e.g. cotton.
For foot sweating, change socks often and rotate your shoes so you don’t wear the same pair twice in a row
Antiperspirants: these often contain the ingredient aluminium chloride hexahydrate and can be used on parts of the body other than the armpits such as the hands and feet.
Iontophoresis: this process uses electricity to treat the sweat glands, which is usually used to treat the palms and soles. The patient places their hands or feet into a solution which has a small electric current passed through it.
Anticholinergic tablets (glycopyrrolate): These tablets can help to reduce excess sweating, however they may have side-effects such as a dry mouth.
Botulinum toxin (Botox): This procedure, of multiple injections of Botox under the skin,can be particularly useful for treatment of the underarms. This treatment usually lasts several months before needing to be repeated.
As a last resort, a surgical procedure can be performed. This surgery cuts the nerves that stimulate the sweat glands. After discussing this procedure with your doctor and it is thought that this is the most appropriate way forward, then a referral to a specialist surgeon can be made.
Further information
If you would like any further information about excessive sweating, the sites listed provide more in-depth descriptions.
We have a number of Dermatologist specialising in excessive sweating (Hyperhidrosis). If you are concerned, book your appointment with The Skin Hospital.
We would like to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which The Skin Hospital operates. For thousands of years, these lands have been cared for by Indigenous communities and their ancestors. We recognise and appreciate their ongoing connection to Country, culture, and community. We also pay our respects to the elders, past and present, of these communities, as well as to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who have contributed to the cultural heritage of this country.
