WHAT IS HYPERHIDROSIS?
Have you heard of
hyperhydrosis? Hyperhidrosis or excessive sweating is the condition
characterized by abnormally increased perspiration, in excess of that required
for regulation of body temperature. The cause of primary hyperhidrosis is
unknown, although some surgeons claim it is caused by sympathetic overactivity.
Nervousness or excitement can exacerbate the situation for many sufferers.
Other factors can play a role; certain foods and drinks, nicotine, caffeine,
and smells can trigger a response.
TYPES
OF HYPERHIDROSIS
Palmar
hyperhidrosis (Hand Sweating) - The most common and
troublesome form of hyperhidrosis. People with palmar hyperhidrosis have cold
and clammy hands that sweat excessively. Hand sweating can be initiated by
emotional distress, nervousness, stressful situations and anxiety. Excessive
sweating could also be seen with no stimulus. Affected people cannot control
their hand sweating, which can also be aggravated by emotional distress. Many
patients feel a “tingling” sensation and think their skin pores are opening
prior to the onset of sweating.
Plantar
hyperhidrosis (Foot Sweating) - Excessive foot sweating can
be as severe as hand sweating. Most patients who have sweaty hands will also
have sweaty feet. Problems in everyday life such as social and functional
settings can be difficult. Shoes can be ruined, sandals cannot be worn, heels
can be too difficult to wear, and foot odor and fungal infection can become
problematic. It can lead to marital problems as well as difficulties at the
work place. The odor and the discomfort caused by excessive foot sweating
(plantar hyperhidrosis) can lead to difficulties that are not well known in the
medical community.
Axillary
Hyperhidrosis (Armpit Sweating) - All human beings have some
sort of armpit sweating but for about 1% of the population axillary
hyperhidrosis involves extreme, dripping sweat in the armpit area. This type of
excessive armpit (axillary) sweating is resistant to all types of deodorants
and odor controlling medications. The sweat glands in the armpit area are made
of two types of sweat glands; Apocrine and Eccrine glands. The Eccrine glands
are responsible for the production of watery and clear sweat that does not
produce odor. They are innervated by sympathetic fibers. The Apocrine glands
are responsible for the production of more of the thick sweat which also is the
cause of the odor in the armpits. Attempts to control excessive armpit sweating
should always start with conservative measures.
In cases of severe excessive armpit sweating those measures are not
always helpful.
GENITAL
HYPERHIDROSIS (GROIN SWEATING) - Another area of isolated
excessive sweating can happen in the groin area. This is an area rich with
sweat glands apocrine and eccrine. For those affected patients this can be a
bothersome and embarrassing site for sweating. Because of the location
sometimes an odor can accompany this excessive sweating. The exact number of
patients afflicted with this problem is very difficult to ascertain. Groin
sweating has to do with the specific physiological build of the person.
Obviously obesity can contribute to this and weight loss is an obvious first
step to try and eliminate the problem.
Other
types of hyperhidrosis
Truncal
hyperhidrosis - excessive sweating of the trunk area.
Cranio-facial
hyperhidrosis - excessive sweating of the face, scalp and the
neck.
Palmoplantar
hyperhidrosis - excessive sweating of both the palms and the
hands.
TREATMENTS
Medications
Aluminium
chloride – use in antiperspirants.
Injections
of botulinum toxin type A,(Botox, Dysport) - used to block neural
control of sweat glands.
Several
anticholinergic drugs reduce hyperhidrosis, although it has
important side effects, which include drowsiness, visual symptoms and dryness
in the mouth and other mucous membranes.
SURGICAL
PROCEDURES
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