What Is Hyperhidrosis?: Everything You Need to Know

What Is Hyperhidrosis?: Everything You Need to Know

If you experience excessive sweating all the time, with no relation to heat or any form of exercise, then you might have hyperhidrosis. So what exactly is hyperhidrosis? It is a disorder characterized by excessive sweating on different areas of the body such as feet, palms, face, and underarms. It is a common thing to experience, as the International Society of Hyperhidrosis states that 365 million people from all over the world suffer from it. 

Hyperhidrosis symptoms vary from person to person. While sweating is a normal bodily response to physical activity, changes in temperature, stress, and other changes in mood, it’s quite the opposite for those living a life with hyperhidrosis. Excessive sweating means that you will sweat more than usual for no reason at all. The cause of hyperhidrosis depends on which classification you are experiencing, and what symptoms it shows. 

Let’s discuss the causes and types of this disorder. 

What Is Hyperhidrosis: Causes and Types

Hyperhidrosis has its own set of causes. To understand them, let’s first look at the two different types.

1.Primary Focal Hyperhidrosis

This type of hyperhidrosis is characterized by uncontrollable sweating on the feet, hands, face, head, and underarms. This type starts in early childhood, and according to a study, about 30 to 50% of individuals with this type have family members that experience excessive sweating. 

2.Secondary Generalized Hyperhidrosis

This type of hyperhidrosis is caused by a medical condition, or as a side effect of certain prescribed medications. Secondary Generalized Hyperhidrosis starts in adulthood and is characterized by sweating all over the body or in just one area. Sweating while sleeping is also possible, even if the temperature is not affecting you. 

Certain medical conditions that can cause this type of hyperhidrosis are:

• Cancer
• Heart disease
• Stroke
• Adrenal gland disorders
• Menopause
• Hyperthyroidism
• Spinal cord injuries
• Lung disease
• Tuberculosis
• HIV

What Is Hyperhidrosis: Symptoms

If you feel like you are sweating more than usual even if you are not moving, or if you find yourself sweating in situations where other people seem to be comfortable in temperature settings, then you might have hyperhidrosis.

Other symptoms of hyperhidrosis include:

• Excessive sweating on a daily basis for at least six months 
• Sweating on both sides of the body in the affected areas (hands, face, underarm, feet)
• Excessive sweating that occurs at least once or twice a week
• Excessive sweating that interferes with work, relationships, or daily activities
• Underarm sweating cause underarm stains on your clothing even when it’s not hot
• Excessive sweating that began before you hit age 25
• A family history of hyperhidrosis

What Is Hyperhidrosis: Treatment Options

While many typically turn to over-the-counter deodorants before an actual diagnosis, hyperhidrosis treatments usually begin with medical-grade antiperspirants that contain aluminum chloride. 

If this initial solution doesn’t solve the problem, other treatment options include prescription medication, such as anticholinergic drugs. An example of this drug is glycopyrrolate (Robinul), which prevents acetylcholine from working. Acetylcholine is a chemical that aids in stimulating the sweat glands. However, these drugs take weeks to work and may cause side effects, such as dizziness and constipation. 

In severe cases, surgery is presented as a treatment option to either disconnect the nerves responsible for the overdrive of sweat glands or to completely remove the sweat glands. 

Botox as a Non-Invasive Treatment Option

A non-invasive way to treat hyperhidrosis is through Botox injections. Botulinum Toxin can be used to treat excessive underarm sweating, as studies have proven that Botox works by obstructing the nerves responsible for activating the sweat glands. Naturally, the nervous system activates the sweat glands when the body temperature rises, and this is how the body cools itself down. For those with hyperhidrosis, the nerves that signal the sweat glands are constantly active. As a result, the body does not get a chance to settle down to a normal temperature, with sweating as a constant effect.

Studies have shown that Botox has the capacity to successfully treat sweaty palms in 80 to 90% of hyperhidrosis cases. Botox is most effective when used to treat excessive underarm sweating, with multiple sessions happening between four to six months after the first session. Evidence also suggests that Botox injections can significantly reduce forehead sweating by up to 75%.

Call Us Today For a Hyperhidrosis Treatment Consultation 

APT Medical Aesthetics ensures that we give our clients a wide range of treatments, including Botox injections for excessive underarm sweating. Our clients who received Botox injections report that they have noticed significant changes in sweating patterns just two to four days after their initial treatment and that the sweating continues to reduce as days go by.

Call us today for a free consultation so you can learn more about excessive sweating treatments for your specific needs.