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Hyperhidrosis, Excessive Sweating
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The medical term for excessive sweating is hyperhidrosis. The problem may be limited to a few problem areas or may be all over. The armpits and the palms are the areas most often troublesome. Excessive sweating starts after puberty. It may be present to some degree all the time, but is at it's worst when under stress such as during exams, interviews or dating. Excess sweating that affects areas other than the armpits and palms may a sign of serious problems. Systemic, neurological and anxiety conditions need to be ruled out; however most cases have no underlying cause.
Most over-the-counter antiperspirants are not strong enough to do the job. The best product is available by prescription (Drysol). It is somewhat irritating and will stain clothing. It is applied at bedtime to completely dry skin. It is washed off in the morning shower. Do not use a regular deodorant afterwards. Repeat the treatment nightly until the sweating is under control. If it does not work after one or two weeks, begin covering the affected area with a square of "saran wrap" overnight. After it begins to work, use once or twice weekly to maintain the effect, and use a regular deodorant on the other days. The medication is less effective on the thick skin of the palms and soles.
If these treatments don't work well enough there are alternatives. Botox injections, a treatment now popular for wrinkles, will control excessive sweating for 4 to 6 months. On the palms, it may cause mild, temporary weakness of the grip. Many insurances are now covering the cost of Botox for this condition. Oral Robinul or Pro-Banthine pills are very safe and will decrease sweating, but they have annoying, mild side effects. Good results are often obtained by dissolving these pills and driving them into the skin directly with a Drionic electrophoretic machine.
The Drionic machine is an electrical device that plugs up the sweat pores. One can purchase the machine (http://www.drionic.com) and apply it to hands, armpits or feet. It causes a tingling feeling that some find unpleasant. After several uses, one will sweat less for 4 to 6 weeks. To really get it to work it needs to be used one half an hour every night per site.
A surgical procedure called 'endoscopic transthoracic sympathectomy' can cure hyperhidrosis of the palms. An experienced surgeon must do it. It will cause some increased sweating on other parts of the body, but most patients don't seem to be bothered by this. Some liposuction surgeons know a special technique to scrape out the sweat glands from the armpits. These treatments should be discussed in detail before they are considered.
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The medical information provided in this site is for educational purposes only and is the property of the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice and shall not create a physician - patient relationship. If you have a specific question or concern about a skin lesion or disease, please consult a dermatologist. Any use, re-creation, dissemination, forwarding or copying of this information is strictly prohibited unless expressed written permission is given by the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.
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