What is hyperhidrosis? It is a disease condition which causes an abnormal increase in sweating. Sweating is essential to regulate the body temperature but for those who have this disorder, it will be so excess in secretion then required amount. Well, in this article you can find four methods on how to treat hyperhidrosis.Before that let have an insight into the different types of hyperhidrosis and how it can affect your life in the long run.
Before that let have an insight into the different types of hyperhidrosis and how it can affect your life in the long run.
This disease can significantly affect the life in terms of emotional, psychological and social perspective. This disease is also known as a ‘the silent handicap’. Hyperhidrosis can either be generalized or will be targeted to specific regions of the body like hands, groin area, feets, and armpits. Since these areas are more prone to perspiration due to the presence of a high number of sweat glands.
There are four types of Hyperhidrosis.
1. Palmar excessive sweating
Hyperhidrosis disease condition when causing excessive sweating of hands or palms are called palmar excessive sweating or palmar hyperhidrosis. This condition causes lots of psychological reckoning problems. Sweaty underarms can negatively impact your social, educational and professional life.
2. Axillary excessive sweating
Hyperhidrosis which cause excessive sweating of underarms is called Axillary excessive sweating. This also can make the patient feel embarrassed due to isolating nature of the disease. Sweaty armpits are always a discomfort and he will have the fear of getting noticed of the sweat running down his sides or the sweat stains on the clothes.
3. Facial excessive sweating
Excessive sweating face and forehead is yet another form of hyperhidrosis. This could be stressful and embarrassing than other types of hyperhidrosis. Since our face is what represents us towards the world and it is very difficult to hide the effect of excessive sweat on your face. And the way the world responds to you disease make you feel embarrassed and weakens you psychologically.
4. Plantar excessive sweating
The case when one’s feet are prone to excessive sweating is called plantar excessive sweating. This condition can make your shoes or sneakers wet all the time. When you wear a slipper or sandals you might feel afraid of slipping due to excess feet sweating . And you will leave wet footprints throughout the way you walk. Altogether making one difficult to stay social.
DIY tips for how to stop excessive sweating
- Avoid heavy clothes which trap sweat.
- Wear lite clothes like cotton or silk which allows air flow.
- Bath every day. And preferably use an antibacterial soap.
- Use underarm inserts and shoe soles which absorb sweat.
- Avoid eating spicy and hot foods. It can make you sweat.
- Avoid alcohol consumption.
Impact of hyperhidrosis on everyday life
The disease Hyperhidrosis can affect all aspects of life, including work related professional activities, daily life and routine, interpersonal and social life.
Sweaty hands can make you embarrassed while meeting someone for the first time, which causes psychological stress on you. Since the hands are exposed in social and professional settings, many patients with Hyperhidrosis are self-conscious and may avoid social contact. they may be reluctant to shake hands or handle paperwork.
How to treat hyperhidrosis [4 treatment meathods]
1. Antiperspirant
Using antiperspirants are the easiest treatment for hyperhidrosis. Even though antiperspirants are most commonly used by peoples, it is particularly useful for hyperhidrosis patients. Antiperspirants contain aluminum salts, which when applied to the skin, can form an isolation which blocks perspiration.
They are easily available in the local markets or drug stores. You can also consult a doctor for getting the prescription of best suiting antiperspirants for you. And this can cause fewer side effects or irritations then the commonly available ones. Apart from that deodorant for excessive sweating are also available in the market.
2. Botulinum toxin
Injection of Botulinum toxin (Botox) is another treatment for hyperhidrosis. By injecting botox it can prevent the chemical which causes the wet glands to activate. Depending on the severeness of the disease doctors may prescribe to have multiple doses of injection.
3. Iontophoresis
This is a treatment measure for hyperhidrosis, by making use of low electric current passed through your feets, hands or both. The patient is made to sit in a shallow tray of water with their hands and feets dipped in water for about 20-30 minutes, And a low electric current is made to travel through the water which strikes your feets and hands.
Though there are lots of uncertainties on how this works, experts believe that it can block the sweat from getting to the skin surface. It is advised to do this at least once a week. and after repeated applications over sweating may stop.
4. Surgery
Surgery for hyperhidrosis is an option which is advised only when the disease condition is very severe and when the disease is not responding to any other alternate treatments. During the surgery, the doctor will remove the sweat glands which is causing the trouble.
Another surgical method for hyperhidrosis is endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS). In this method, the surgeon cuts the nerves which normally activates the sweat glands. ETS is very effective treatment for hyperhidrosis but is done when none of the other methods works. One major side effect of this is compensatory sweating. It means a particular portion of the body where surgery is done doesn’t sweat at all, But other parts do.
So these are some of the excessive sweating treatments. Consult with your doctor to find the best method suiting your health condition. And he will be a better knowing person for how to treat hyperhidrosis and outcomes of each method.