excessive sweating also called as “hyperhidrosis' ', abnormally the
excessive sweating involving thenextremities,underarms and face, usually unrelated to body temperature or exercise. hyperhidrosis disorder is a condition that results in
excessive sweating. this sweating can occur in unusual situations such as in cooler weather, or without any trigger at all. it can also be caused by other medical conditions such as menopause or hyperthyroidism. hyperhidrosis, also known as polyhedrosis or sudorrhea , is a condition characterized by
excessive sweating. the sweating can affect just one specific area of the whole body. if heavy sweating has no underlying medical cause, its called primary hyperhidrosis.
this type occurs when the nerves responsible for triggering your sweat glands become overactive and call for more perspiration even when its not needed. primary hyperhidrosis may not be at least hereditary.
the word “hyperhidrosis” is derived from the greeks and simply means ‘sweat’. hyperhidrosis,
excessive sweating, produces a o embarrassment and unhappiness. primary hyperhidrosis occurs in otherwise healthy individuals with no apparent cause. secondary hyperhidrosis is much less common and can be due to certain drugs, a variety of serious systemic diseases, neurology disorders,
facial surgery and anxiety, of the approximately 3% of americans who suffer from
excessive sweating; 50% involve the underarms (axillary hyperhidrosis). underarm problems tend to start about puberty, while palm and
sole sweating may begin earlier, often during childhood. untreated, these problems may continue throughout life.
sweating id embarrassing,stains clothes and may complicate business and social interactions. excessive sweat can have serious practical consequences, like making it difficult to hold tools, grip a steering wheel or shake hands.although not life threatening, it can be uncomfortable and cause embarrassment and psychological trauma.
fast facts
- hyperhidrosis tends to begin during adolescence.
- an estimated 7.8 million americans have hyperhidrosis
- most commonly, the feet, hands, face and armpits are affected
- there are a number of remedies that can reduce symptoms
generally, the only sign of
excessive sweating is the presence of abundant moisture in the anatomical area affected. the presence of the moisture can predispose of skin infections.
signs & symptoms of hyperhidrosis
- clammy or wet palms of the hands
- clammy wet palms of the feet
- frequent sweating noticeable sweating that soaks through clothing.
people with hyperhidrosis might experience the following:
- irritating and painful skin problems, such as fungal or bacterial infections.
- worrying about to make physical contact.
- self-conscious
- socially withdrawn, sometimes leading to depression
- select employment where physical contact or human interactions is not a job requirement
- spend a large amount of time each day dealing with sweat, such as changing clothes, wiping, placing napkins or pads under the arms, washing, wearing bulky or dark clothes
- worry more than other people about body odour.
causes :
the causes of primary hyperhidrosis are not well known
/understood ; on the other hand,secondary hyperhidrosis has a long list of known causes. people used to think that primary hyperhidrosis was linked to the patient’s mental and emotional state that the condition was psychological and only affected stressed, anxious , or nervous individuals. however, recent research has demonstrated that individuals with primary hyperhidrosis are no more prone to feeelings of anxitey, nervousness, or emotional sttress than the rest of the population when exposed to the same triggers. infact, it is the other way round- the emotional and mental feelings experienced by many patients with hyperhidrosis are because of the
excessive sweating. studies have also shown that certain genes play a role in hyperhidrosis, making it look more likely that it would be inherited. the majority of paitents with primary hyperhidrosis have a sibling or parent with the condition.
some causes of hyperhidrosis are the following:-
- spinal cord injury
- alcohol abuse
- anxiety
- diabeties
- heart disease
- hyperthyroidism -an overactive thyroid gland
- obesity
- parkinson’s disease
- respiratory faliure
diagnosis:-
symmetry of
excessive sweating in hyperhidrosis is most consistent with primary hyperhidrosis.
excessive sweating affecting only one side of the body is more suggestive of secondary hyperhidrosis and further investigation for a neurologic cause is recommended.
medications
aluminium chlorohydrate is used in regularantiperspitants. however, hyperhidrosis requires solutions or gels with a much higher concentration. these antiperspirant solutions or hyperhidrosis gels are especially effective for treatment of axillary or underarm regions. normally it takes around three to five days to see improvement. the most common side-effect is skin irritation. for severe cases of plantar and palmar hyperhidrosis, there has been some success with conservative measures such as higher strength aluminium chloride antiperspirants. treatment algorithms for hyperhidrosis recommend topical antiperspirants as the first line of therapy for hyperhidrosis. both the international hyperhidrosis society and the canadian hyperhidrosis advisory committee have published treatment guidelines for focal hyperhidrosis that are said to be evidence-based.
prescription medications called anticholinergic, often taken by mouth, are sometimes used in the treatment of both generalized and focal hyperhidrosis. anticholinergics used for hyperhidrosis include propantheline,glycopyrronium bromide or glycopyrrolate,oxybutynin,methantheline , and benztropine . use of these drugs can be limited, however, by side-effects, including dry mouth, urinary retention, constipation, and visual disturbances such as mydriasis (dilation of the pupils) and cycloplegia. for people who find their hyperhidrosis is made worse by anxiety-provoking situations (public speaking, stage performances, special events such as weddings, etc.), taking an anticholinergic medicine before the event may be helpful.
several anticholinergic drugs can reduce hyperhidrosis.oxybutynin (brand name ditropan) is one that has shown promise,] although it can have side-effects , such as drowsiness, visual symptoms and dryness of the mouth and other mucous membranes.glycopyrrolate is another drug sometimes used. it is said to be nearly as effective as oxybutynin, but has similar side-effects. in 2018, the u.s.food and drug administration (fda) approved a glycopyrronium bromide-containing disposable cloth (brand name qbrexza) for the treatment of primary axillary hyperhidrosis.
for peripheral hyperhidrosis, some chronic sufferers have found relief by simply ingesting crushed ice water. ice water helps to cool excessive body heat during its transport through the blood vessels to the extremities, effectively lowering overall body temperature to normal levels within ten to thirty minutes.through a systematic evaluation of causes and triggers of
excessive sweating,
followed by a judicious, stepwise approach to medical treatment, many people with this annoying disorder can achieve improved quality of life. the decision on initial treatment depends upon the severity of the condition and the anatomical areas that are affected.
it is estimated that the incidence of focal hyperhidrosis may be as high as 2.8% of the population of the united states.] it affects men and women equally, and most commonly occurs among people aged 25–64 years, though some may have been affected since early childhood] about 30–50% of people have another family member afflicted, implying a genetic predisposition.
in 2006, researchers at saga university in japan reported that primary palmar hyperhidrosis maps to gene locus 14q11.2–q13.
doctors sugesst the following:
iontophoresis – the hands and feet are submerged in a bowl of water. a painless electric current is passed through the water. most patients need two to four 20-30 minute treatments.
botulinum toxin (
botox injections) –
botox injections block the nerves that trigger the sweat glands. patients with hyperhidrosis may need several injections for effective results.
anticholinergic drugs – these medications inhibit the transmission of parasympathetic nerve impulses. patients generally notice an improvement in symptoms within about 2 weeks. ets (endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy) – this surgical intervention is only recommended in severe cases which
have not responded to other treatments. the nerves that carry messages to the sweat glands are cut.