What You Should Know About Excessive Sweating

Posted on 05. May, 2009 in Cosmetic Imperfections

While you may not be familiar with the term hyperhidrosis, it is likely you have heard of the disorder it refers to. In layman’s terms, hyperhidrosis is simply excessive sweating. Approximately 3% of the general population suffers from this condition, and many have never been told that treatment is possible.Excessive sweating usually occurs through the underarms or through the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. Untreated, the problem is usually lifelong. In addition to being embarrassing, excessive sweating can ruin clothing and hurt self esteem by making business and romantic situations more uncomfortable. For many people heat and emotions, such as those encountered during a date or job interview can trigger bouts of excessive sweating. For some people, there is no particular trigger and the sweating can occur at any time.

When standard deodorants are insufficient, many patients find relief with prescription deodorant. Others look to a procedure called Iontophoresis, which combats sweating by passing an electric current through the skin to stop sweat production. Botox, a treatment commonly used to treat wrinkles has recently been approved as a treatment for excessive sweating. In few cases, a surgical procedure called a cervical sympathectomy is performed to stop the problem. Because this destroys part of the sympathetic nerve system, however, it is considered by many a last resort surgery.

In short, excessive sweating can be very problematic for many people. For some people, it can greatly impact their quality of life. The good news is that there are many available treatments and that these solutions do work. If you suffer from hyperhidrosis, there is hope and there is treatment. Talk to your doctor today and find out what you can do to stop your excessive sweating and regain control of your life.

Tags: Botox, Hyperhidrosis, Iontophoresis, Sweat