Hyperhidrosis the medical name used for excessive sweating. When you suffer from hyperhidrosis. the sweat isn't necessarily caused by heat or physical activity. The sweating could be so severe to the point where it seeps through your clothing or drops off your fingertips.
In order to avoid touching others, people with hyperhidrosis report feeling socially isolated and withdrawing from others. This includes going out on dates, conducting business (where shaking hands is customary), and engaging in other activities out of concern about body odour and wet clothing.
For people with hyperhidrosis, there problems isn't any extra sweat glands. Instead, an excessive amount of sweat is produced because the sympathetic nerve, which regulates sweating, is oversensitive.
Definition and Types of Hyperhidrosis
There are two main categories of the Hyperhidrosis:
- Primary focal hyperhidrosis: Localized sweating occurs in “focal” areas such as the arm pits, palms, feet and groin
- Secondary generalized hyperhidrosis: Excessive sweating occurs throughout the entire body.
We'll break each of them down for you, so you get a better understanding of them.
Primary Focal Hyperhidrosis
Since primary hyperhidrosis is frequently inherited, one of your relatives may have experienced it. Primary hyperhidrosis, which is more common in women, starts in childhood and gets worse during puberty. As such, each area of the body has a more specific name for the hyperhidrosis condition:
- Armpits (axillary hyperhidrosis)
- Head and face (craniofacial hyperhidrosis)
- Palms and feet (palmoplantar hyperhidrosis)
- Groin (inguinal, or Hexsel’s hyperhidrosis)
- Scalp, face, neck, or chest immediately after eating certain foods (gustatory hyperhidrosis
A persistent skin condition called Focal hyperhidrosis can run in the family. It results from a genetic mutation (change). Additionally known as primary hyperhidrosis
Another type of primary hyperhidrosis is the disorder known as Cranial hyperhidrosis. It results in excessive sweating on the head, face, and scalp. Sweating more than the body need for temperature regulation can be highly uncomfortable.
Secondary Generalized Hyperhidrosis
Secondary or generalized hyperhidrosis causes sweating throughout the entire body. It is related to an underlying medical condition or use of certain medications.
Common medical conditions that can co-occur with secondary hyperhidrosis include:
- Acute febrile infection
- Adrenal cancer
- Alcoholism
- Cancers of the chest cavity
- Congestive heart failure
- Diabetes
- Encephalitis
- Gout
- HIV
- Fibromyalgia
- Hyperthyroidism
- Hyperpituitarism
- Lymphoma
- Menopause
- Obesity
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Shingles
- Stroke
- Substance abuse
- Spinal cord injury
- Tuberculosis
There are also a number of medications that can cause secondary hyperhidrosis, including:
- Anticholinesterases (for Alzheimer’s disease)
- Antidepressants
- Anxiolytic drugs for anxiety
- Asthma inhalers like albuterol
- Celebrex (celecoxib)
- Depo-Provera birth control pills
- Insulin used to manage diabetes
- Methadone for heroin addiction
- Migraine medications including Triptan and sumatriptan
- Opioids like Vicodin and Oxycontin
- Salagen (pilocarpine) for glaucoma
- Propranol for angina and hypertension
- Testosterone
- Thyroid-regulating drugs
Secondary hyperhidrosis is brought on by another disorder or action. Some of them could consist of:
- Psychiatric syndromes
- Thyrotoxicosis
- Sweet diabetes
- Gout
- Menopause
- Medications
- Chronic drinking
- Spinal cord damage
If you only sweat excessively at night, consult your doctor as soon as possible to rule out a serious illness since some tumors are known to produce night sweats.
Symptoms & Signs of Hyperhidrosis
There are a number of signs and symptoms you can look for to check if you might suffer from Hyperhidrosis, the most noticeable ones are:
- More than just this "regular" amount of sweat: Most people tend to sweat a bit extra when they work out or push themselves, when they're in a hot atmosphere, or when they're nervous or stressed. Hyperhidrosis causes significantly more than just this average amount of sweat creation.
- Daily hampered activities: Sweating excessively will make it difficult for you to walk, hold a pen, turn a doorknob or other daily routine.
- Often visible sweat stains: You frequently have sweat-soaked clothing or can see sweat beads on your skin when you are not exerting yourself.
Check the symptoms below to see how many to can check off.
- Clammy or wet palms and soles
- Frequent unexplainable sweating
- Sweat-soaked clothing
- Fungal or bacterial skin infections
- Worries about clothing stains
- Fear of physical contact with others
- Self-conscious about sweating or odor
- Social isolation due to sweating
- Depression and anxiety from sweating
- Career limitations due to fear of physical contact or human interaction
- A constant need to change clothing
- Persistently wiping away sweat
- Wearing bulky or dark clothes to avoid sweat marks
When Should You Visit a Doctor?
Overheating can occasionally be an indication of a serious condition. If you get faint, chest discomfort, or nausea in addition to your profuse sweat production, seek emergency medical assistance right away.
Consult a doctor if:
- Your normal routine is disrupted by sweating
- Sweating results in social disengagement or emotional discomfort
- Suddenly, you start to sweat more than normal.
- You start to shiver at night for no apparent cause.
What Causes Hyperhidrosis?
The sort of sweating that is occurring will determine the hyperhidrosis causes. In most cases, excessive sweating is not harmful. Sometimes, doctors are baffled as to why patients sweat excessively. In other instances, you need to be aware of any medical conditions that could be the source of your hyperhidrosis.
Your body uses sweat as a cooling system. When your body temperature rises, your neurological system naturally causes your sweat glands to release sweating. When you're anxious, you usually start to sweat, especially on your palms.
Complications of Hyperhidrosis
Here are the major compilations of the hyperhidrosis:
- Skin infections: People who sweat a lot are more likely to develop skin infections.
Consequences on Society & Emotions
It might be embarrassing to have clammy or drippy hands or sweat-soaked clothing. Your health may have an impact on how you pursue your career and academic objectives.
Hyperhidrosis Treatments
Treatment for hyperhidrosis usually works, starting with antiperspirants with a prescription. If antiperspirants are ineffective, you might need to try several drugs and treatments. Surgery to remove sweat glands or to cut the nerves that cause excessive sweating may be recommended by your doctor in severe cases.
Medications
Drying Lotions
The initial treatment that is usually offered is a daily topical lotion that dries the skin. These creams often contain aluminum chloride or aluminum chloride hex hydrate. These creams can be quite beneficial when used daily, typically at night, and covered to promote absorption. However, some individuals report unpleasant side effects, such as burning and skin responses.
Oral Drugs
Oral drugs are referred to as systemic therapy since they have an impact on the whole body. These drugs are known as anticholinergic, which denote that they have a drying effect on the body. Patients who sweat in various places may benefit from these oral drugs. Dry mouth and dry eyes are only two of the unwanted side effects. Patients may discover that these drugs no longer work as well after using them for a period.Possible Side Effects from Medication
Patients with hyperhidrosis may feel more stressed out due to their excessive sweating. Although the initial lines of treatment for the physical symptoms of hyperhidrosis are oral and topical drugs, behavior medicine strategies may offer relief from tension, worry, and other unfavorable emotional reactions that can be associated with this condition. In order to enhance emotional, social, and occupational/academic functioning in children and adults with hyperhidrosis, behavior medicine consulting is advised for all patients.
Dietary Changes
According to recent studies, dietary adjustments, such as switching to a vegetarian diet and nutritional supplements may lessen the severity of hyperhidrosis
Botox Injections
In this form of treatment, injections are given directly into the afflicted areas. The temporary reduction in sweating brought on my these injections are quite reliable and normally lasts three to six months.
Sweat Gland Themolysis
The underarm sweat glands are targeted by this treatment. Underarm excessive sweating is promptly stopped by removing the sweat glands there. Only 2% of the body's sweat glands are found in the underarm region, therefore eliminating them there has no effect on the body's capacity to cool. Your doctor will numb the underarm area prior to the surgery. Then, after lifting your underarm skin into the machine, microwave energy is focused on the sweat glands. There are no cuts or incisions made throughout the hour-long process.
Surgery
When all other treatments have failed to control hyperhidrosis, sympatheticectomy is frequently employed as a final option. The sympathetic nerve, which regulates the sweat reaction, is cut during this treatment.
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