Hyperhidrosis is a disorder of abnormal excessive sweating. This kind of sweating is embarrassing and can cause social anxiety. Besides, it leads to the disruption of daily-life activities. This condition usually begins during adolescence and may persist life-long, if untreated.
Hands, feet, face and armpits are the most commonly affected sites. However, hyperhidrosis may affect the whole body also. People who suffer from this medical condition are mostly healthy, otherwise. In some cases, hyperhidrosis occurs on account of certain medical conditions including:
- Low blood sugar
- Heart attack
- Cancer
- Diabetes
- Thyroid disorder
- Menopause hot flashes
- Infections
- Nervous system disorders
The excessive sweating in case of hyperhidrosis doesn’t occur because of heat or exercise, necessarily and far exceeds than normal sweating. Sweating is experienced in almost all waking hours irrespective of weather or mood. At least one episode a week occurs in case of hyperhidrosis affecting hands, feet, underarm or face.
Diagnosis
A thermoregulatory sweat test is done for diagnosis in which a moisture-sensitive powder is applied to the skin and the colour of powder changes if there is excessive sweating at room temperature.
Some Of The Treatment Options
- Using antiperspirants containing aluminum chloride or aluminum chloride hexahydrate
- Iontophoresis: Ionized water is passed through the skin using electricity
- Using anticholinergics and Botox (Botulinum toxin) to treat sweating
- Permanent killing of sweat glands using microwave energy or lasers
- Thoracic sympathectomy: Surgical procedure for removal of sweat glands
