Hyperhidrosis (hi-pur-hi-DROE-sis) is abnormally excessive sweating that’s not necessarily related to higher temperatures or exercise.
You may sweat so much that it soaks through your clothes or drips off your hands.
Besides disrupting normal daily activities, hyperhidrosis can cause social anxiety and embarrassment.
Hyperhidrosis treatment usually involves prescription-strength antiperspirants on the affected areas.
Rarely, an underlying cause may be found and treated.
For persistent hyperhidrosis, you may need to try different medications or other therapies.
The excessive sweating experienced with hyperhidrosis far exceeds such normal sweating.
And the sweating usually occurs on both sides of the body.
Your nervous system automatically triggers your sweat glands when your body temperature rises.
Sweating also normally occurs, especially on your palms, when you’re nervous.
With stress or nervousness, the problem becomes even worse.
Often there is no underlying cause of heavy sweating; this condition is called primary hyperhidrosis.
This throw in usually affects your palms and soles and sometimes your face.
It may have a hereditary component, because it sometimes clusters in families.
If the sweating can be attributed to an underlying medical condition, it’s called secondary hyperhidrosis.
This jot down is more likely to cause sweating all over your body.
He or she may refer you to a specialist in skin diseases (dermatologist).
Here’s some information to help you get ready for your appointment.
If your symptoms are obvious, it may be relatively easy for your doctor to diagnose hyperhidrosis.
A number of tests are available to pinpoint the areas of sweating and estimate the severity of your condition.
These include:
The goal of treatment for hyperhidrosis is to control your heavy sweating.
Sometimes you may need to try a combination of treatments.
And even if your sweating improves after treatment, you may later experience a recurrence and need ongoing therapy.
This product can cause skin and eye irritation.
It’s usually applied to the affected skin before you go to bed.
If your skin becomes irritated, hydrocortisone cream might help.
Nerve-blocking medications.Some oral medications block the chemicals that permit certain nerves to communicate with each other.
This can reduce sweating in some people.
Possible side effects include dry mouth, blurred vision, and bladder problems.
Antidepressants.Some medications used for depression can also decrease sweating.
In addition, they may help decrease the anxiety that worsens the hyperhidrosis.
Your skin will be iced or anesthetized first.
Each affected area of your body will need several injections.
The effects last six to 12 months, and then the treatment needs to be repeated.
Further study is needed on possible side effects of using this method to treat hyperhidrosis.
One possible side effect is temporary muscle weakness in the treated area.
You will likely need the treatment twice a day for three to four weeks.
This may reduce your sweating for several weeks, and then the treatment needs to be repeated.
You may need less frequent treatments during maintenance therapy.
You may be prescribed a rig to enable you to treat yourself.
Or you’ve got the option to visit your doctor’s office for therapy.
This treatment is not an option for people who have a pacemaker or are pregnant.
Sweat gland removal.If excessive sweating occurs just in your armpits, removing the sweat glands there may help.
In some cases, this procedure triggers excessive sweating in other areas of your body.
New techniques for treating hyperhidrosis are being studied, including laser, microwave, and ultrasound therapies.
The following suggestions may help you cope with sweating and body odor:
Hyperhidrosis can be distressing.
You might feel embarrassed or anxious about your symptoms and become withdrawn or self-conscious.
You may be frustrated or upset by other people’s reactions.
Besides talking with your doctor, you may want to talk with a counselor or a medical social worker.
Or you may find it helpful to talk with other people who have hyperhidrosis.
Updated: 2015-08-18
Publication Date: 2008-07-30
