Hyperhidrosis is a condition in which patients will experience excessive sweating, most often in their underarm area. It can also occur in other areas including the hands, feet, scalp, neck, back, groin, and more.
Hyperhidrosis is split into 2 categories, depending on the patient’s symptoms:
- Generalized Hyperhidrosis – Excessive sweating along the entire body, at once.
- Focal Hyperhidrosis – Excessive sweating in a specific part or section of the body, such as the underarms.
Causes
While there is no obvious cause for excessive sweating, some factors in your life may be triggering this issue – including:
- Various medications
- Menopause or Pregnancy
- Overactive Thyroid Glands
- Anxiety
- Infections
- Hypoglycemia
- Cancer
The way we sweat is controlled by our body’s internal thermometer. When we are hot, our brain signals nerves to trigger our sweat glands to produce sweat. This is the body’s natural means of cooling itself – however, when an individual suffers from hyperhidrosis, these nerves become overactive, causing us to sweat much more than normal.
Treatment Options
Before opting for more invasive treatment measures, it might help to try and make certain lifestyle changes in order to see how that may help.
- Avoid tight fitted clothing
- Avoid triggers that can make you sweat more profusely.
- Avoid wearing black clothes, on sunny days especially.
- Wear light and loose clothing – made of breathable fabrics.
Unfortunately, most patients will require a more involved method of treatment. Depending on your specific case, we may recommend the use of certain topicals, oral medications, injections or devices (MiraDRY®).
One of the most popular treatment methods for excessive sweating is Botox®. Yes, the same Botox® we use to treat facial wrinkles, is one of the most effective methods of treating excessive sweating!
Botox for Hyperhidrosis
While Botox® might be famous for being one of the most effective treatments for wrinkles and fine lines, researchers have identified a number of other amazing uses for its active ingredient, the botulinum toxin. Hyperhidrosis treatment has become one of the most popular uses for Botox in recent years!
How Does it Work?
The botulinum toxin-A, is designed to prevent the release of a chemical, acetylcholine, which is responsible for muscle activity and also sweat production.
When the body gets hot, our nerves signal our sweat glands to produce sweat. When these nerves become overactive, an individual develops hyperhidrosis. By temporarily paralyzing the nerves that trigger our sweat response, we can prevent the excessive sweating in the specific area. While it is mostly used as an underarm sweating treatment, this method of hyperhidrosis treatment works on other parts of the body as well.
For more information about Hyperhidrosis, or to schedule an appointment, contact Nova Dermatology today.
