When sweating turns out to be excessive, it is more stressful than fun. Who would want to feel drenched in sweat while trying to carry out a simple task? Unfortunately, some people experience excessive sweating even when not exposed to heat or heavy physical activities. Conditions like these are called hyperhidrosis, which is how you effectively treat.
What is hyperhidrosis?
Hyperhidrosis is when your body sweats more than usual or sometimes for no reason. Your body’s sweat glands overact, which causes you to sweat excessively at places and times where other people would not. There are also cases where a medical condition/emotion, such as anxiety, provokes excessive sweating. People with hyperhidrosis find it challenging to control visible symptoms.
Sweating is also uncomfortable and embarrassing, so most people seek help treating or improving the condition.
Focal vs. General hyperhidrosis
There are two types of hyperhidrosis which are focal and general hyperhidrosis.
Focal or primary hyperhidrosis is an inherited chronic skin disorder. It results from a mutation change in your genes. People with focal hyperhidrosis sweat excessively, affecting the hands, feet, armpits, and head. The condition is also said to start early, specifically before age 25.
On the other hand, general or secondary hyperhidrosis is excessive sweating triggered by other medical issues. Several medical conditions like Parkinson’s disease and diabetes cause the body to sweat more than usual. Some medications like zinc supplements and naproxen also cause extra sweating as their side effect. Sources claim that the condition is common in adults.
What are the causes of hyperhidrosis?
The causes of hyperhidrosis vary depending on its type. To treat hyperhidrosis, you and your healthcare provider must identify what type of hyperhidrosis you have. It is also vital to understand that in hyperhidrosis, specific sweat glands work overtime for no reason, which produces the sweat you do not need.
The common causes of general hyperhidrosis include:
- Dysautonomia.
- Severe psychological stress.
- Infections like tuberculosis.
- Metabolic disorders and diseases.
- Humidity and heat exercise.
- Malignancies like Hodgkin’s disease.
- Certain antidepressants and insulin.
Focal hyperhidrosis has primary causes like emotional stress, spinal cord injury, heat, and specific foods and odors like coffee, citric acid, spices, peanut butter, and chocolate.
Furthermore, hyperhidrosis is not typical, as only 2% – 5% of people in the United States experience the condition. However, studies show that these statistics may be higher because people are experiencing excessive sweating, are not comfortable talking about their condition, and never consult a medical professional. Because of this, the number of people experiencing hyperhidrosis is still uncertain.
What does hyperhidrosis do to you?
Aside from affecting your confidence, it is said that hyperhidrosis can have various influences on your everyday life. A daily case of excessive sweating is a huge challenge and may be a constant source of insecurity and frustration.
The condition may affect people differently as sweat may:
- Bead on your forehead or cheeks.
- Pool around your back and under your arms.
- Soak your socks and drip down or dampen your hands.
- Soak your shirt to the extent of needing to change clothes to feel comfortable.
Moreover, excessive sweating may also cause body odor (with the mix of bacteria and sweat particles on the skin), skin changes (wrinkles, cracks, paleness, and discoloration), and residue from mixtures of chemicals (deodorants), bacteria, and sweat.
What body parts does hyperhidrosis affect?
General or secondary hyperhidrosis is excessive sweating all over the body, while focal hyperhidrosis affects the bottom, armpits, palms, lower back, face (including forehead and cheeks), and genitals.
Do you need testing before treating hyperhidrosis?
Before identifying what treatments are efficient for you, you must undergo testing to determine why your body excessively sweats. There are two options for tests which include the following:
- Paper test: This testing involves placing a unique paper on areas affected to absorb sweat then the provider weighs the paper to determine the amount of sweat you produced.
- Starch-iodine test: In this process, your provider will apply an iodine solution to the sweaty area and sprinkle starch over the iodine solution. The solution turns dark blue on areas where extra sweating occurs.
What efficiently treats hyperhidrosis?
Treating hyperhidrosis is not tricky and crucial at all. In this blog, you will find the top three treatments that can address hyperhidrosis:
- Botulinum toxin (Botox): Botox is a treatment not only for excessive sweating but is also typically known for treating wrinkles and other skin issues. The Food and Drug Administration approves the remedy for sweating underarms. According to studies, botox injections reduce underarm sweating by 82% to 87%. The results are immediate as four days and can last from four to twelve months, while some studies prove that it lasts up to fourteen months.
- Iontophoresis: The treatment involves drenching your hands and feet in a shallow water tray for twenty to thirty minutes with a low electrical current traveling through the water. According to experts, this process works by blocking sweat from the skin’s surface.
- Anticholinergic drugs: These types of drugs are recommended when antiperspirants do not work. Anticholinergic drugs stop the sweat glands’ activation. However, they may not be suitable for everyone as it holds risks like dry eyes and mouth, blurred vision, heart palpitations, and difficulty peeing.
Tips for controlling hyperhidrosis
If you are not complacent in treating hyperhidrosis through medical procedures, you can opt for some tips for controlling the sweat, and these are the following:
- Shower daily with antibacterial soap to minimize bacteria buildup that can cause odors. Thoroughly dry yourself before applying antiperspirant.
- Avoid wearing clothes that will trap sweat. Instead, wear bearable and light garments. Healthcare providers also recommend bringing extra shirts when exercising outdoors. Lastly, wear socks that put moisture away from your skin.
- It is best to prevent ordering spicy foods as they can make you sweat and drink hot drinks like coffee and tea.
- It is also wise to use shoe inserts and underarm liners to absorb sweat so it does not ruin your clothes or start to smell.
Hyperhidrosis does not have to bother you anymore because Vital Aesthetics will provide you with the best and most quality service! With their aesthetic injector having 12 years of expertise in Issaquah, Washington, you surely do not need to double-think about your safety.
Rest all your worries aside and contact the best medical aesthetics. Wipe all that excessive sweating away!
