Hyperhidrosisis a medical condition which is affecting many people around the globe. In common words, it is the condition of excessive sweating means sweating surplus of the needs of the body. Hyperhidrosis can be categorized in two types. First is Primary hyperhidrosis and the second is secondary hyperhidrosis, the later one is excessive sweating because of some basic medical problem.
What treatment options are out there?
With the advancement in medical science, there are many treatments available to treat hyperhidrosis. Different treatments options include are:
Medications: There are different oral medications are available that can be prescribed to control hyperhidrosis. Antianxiety medications can help patients whose excessive sweating is primarily due to stress-induced anxiety. Antidepressants also have helped patients cope with hyperhidrosis. However, these medications often have side effects such as dry mouth, blurred vision and difficulty with urination.
Topical antiperspirants: Aluminum salt solutions are the most common antiperspirants in use today. Aluminum chloride is the partially neutralized form that is used in cosmetic antiperspirants, while aluminum chloride hexahydrate is the widely used effective antiperspirant and is available in products such as Drysol.Preferred by most patients because of relatively low cost.
Iontophoresis:In this procedure, the patient uses a battery-powered device to deliver a low current of electricity to the hands or feet, and sometimes the armpits, while the patient's body is immersed in water. Although iontophoresis is quite safe, it may be no more effective than a topical antiperspirant. The procedure is time consuming and can be mildly to moderately painful with some mild skin irritation. Frequent and lengthy treatments are necessary to control sweating. Patients who are pregnant or have pacemakers cannot be treated with iontophoresis.
Botox: Many researchers have found this procedure quite effective. In this treatment, Botox injections are injected to treat hyperhidrosis which blockes the nerves that trigger the sweat glands. This is not a cure-all, as it may take several injections to achieve the desired results. Plus, the treatments can be costly and painful, and the results only last from four months to a year.
Surgery treatment: Most patients with severe hyperhidrosis who have exhausted other medical treatments have the option of surgery as a permanent solution. There are basically two surgical options: sweat gland removal and surgery to interrupt the nerve signal.
1. 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.
2.Endoscopic Transthoracic Sympathotomy: Sympathotomy involves cutting the nerve chain at the second rib only as compared to a sympathectomy in which part of the nerve chain is completely removed.
How to know which treatment option is right?
As there are many treatment options available, thus each and every treatment has its own specific risk and benefits. Which treatment option right for you depends upon how severe are the conditions or how severe are the symptoms. Your doctor is at the best position to refer you the most appropriate treatment option according to your medical history.
