By: Julia Aidan
Submitted: 2009-01-13 18:51:03 | Word Count: 621
Hyperhidrosis, also known excessive sweating, is a common problem affecting a lot of people. There is excessive sweating of hands, foot, underarms and face. People facing this disorder often feel embarrassed in public places as this problem is uncontrollable.
Palmar Hyperhidrosis or sweaty palms is general problem faced by every other person today. The popular cause of hyperhidrosis is that the sympathetic nerves are highly activated in our nervous system. These nerves control the sweating of our entire body, but when these nerves become highly active we tend to profuse sweat.
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Sweaty Hands, called Palmar Hyperhidrosis
Sweaty Armpits, called Axillary hyperhidrosis
Sweaty feet, called Plantar Hyperhidrosis.
People often face a lot of problem. People suffering from Palmar hyperhidrosis face a great difficulty in holding things firmly, people suffering from Plantar hyperhidrosis have wet shoes and socks and this creates an awful smell, for people with axillary hyperhidrosis have wet armpits and stains the garments.
Treatment:
After a physical diagnosis the patient who is suffering from hyperhidrosis is generally discussed as to the time period of this problem, the intervals of sweating and the areas which are affected. This discussion helps the doctor to know how severe the condition is and to start with the treatment.
Many people opt for home remedies or herbal remedies, but these sorts of treatments are temporary and ease the severity for some time. There are other medical methods to improve the condition in case of primary hyperhidrosis.
Oral Medications
Iontophoresis
Botulinum Toxin
Surgery
Out of these surgery is the effective method for permanent eradication of this condition.
Medications
Oral Medications: A person suffering from light hyperhidrosis is given oral medications. Initially, the doctor may prescribe some antiperspirants to be used several times a day, which may help upto some extent but can cause redness or even swollen or irritated skin, and sometimes even skin rashes. If antiperspirants dont help you the doctor may switch over to Oral Medications. Sweating due to stress can be controlled by taking antianxiety or stress relieve medication. These medications are accompanied with side effects like mouth dryness, poor or blurred vision and it also becomes hard to pass urine.
Iontophoresis:
This is just like a mild shock treatment, where the patient is given mild shocks to the hands, feet and armpits with patient immersed completely in water. It sounds quite dangerous but it is actually very safe but Temporary.
Botox or Botulinum Toxin:
This method involves obstructing the nerves that produce sweat glands. It is a painful and a costly treatment, with several injections to be taken and this helps for 6 to 12 months, not more than that.
Surgery:
The best method to get rid of hyperhydrosis completely is through Surgery. This is a permanent treatment which involves complete removal of Sweat Glands or surgery to interrupt the nerve signal.
Sweat Gland Removal: This surgery helps to eradicate Axillary hperhydrosis, meaning excessive sweating in armpits. It may leave some scars and also interrupts shoulder movements.
Surgery to Interrupt Nerve Signals: This surgery helps to give freedom from Palmar Hyperhydrosis and Plantar Hyperhidrosis permanently. The patient needs to consult the best Neurologist before undergoing this kind of surgery.
Endoscopic Transthoracic Sympathectomy
This procedure involves cutting the nerves that carry messages from the sympathetic nervous system to the sweat glands and completely removing part of the nerve chain. This surgery permanently interrupts the nerve signal that causes the body to sweat excessively.
Endoscopic Transthoracic Sympathectomy and Endoscopic Transthoracic Sympathotomy:
The former surgery involves complete removal of the nerve chain that carries message from sympathetic nervous system to sweat glands and the later involves in the removal of the nerve to the second rib only.
But both surgeries help in complete removal of hyperhydrosis and is a permanent treatment.
