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Hyperhidrosis
Hyperhidrosis is a medical disorder, which characterized by excessive perspiration, which is abnormal. In this condition, amount of perspiration is more than required for regulation of body temperature. This condition is experienced by millions of people all over the world. They are excessively sweating all the time from morning to night and then next morning. Medical advice should be sought if there is change in the amount of sweating suddenly, abnormal wetness, stained clothes due to sweating, sweaty wet palms and offensive odor. Amount of sweat oozed out, is influenced by emotion, mental stimuli to heat, eating, and environmental conditions.
Symptoms of Hyperhidrosis
Hyperhidrosis can be on whole body or on any one part of body. It can be localized or generalized. Perspiration is more in areas where there are more sweat glands. These parts are hands, feet, axillae and groin area. These areas are the most affected by hyperhidrosis.
Early signs of these conditions appear in adolescence or even before. It is a kind of autosomal dominant trait. There are two types of hyperhidrosis; primary hyperhidrosis and secondary hyperhidrosis. What we have discussed above is primary type of hyperhidrosis.
Secondary hyperhidrosis can begin at any time in the life. It is an unexpected condition. It may arise due to diabetes mellitus, gout, malfunctioning of thyroid or pitutary gland, menopause, some medicines. Secondary form of hyperhidrosis is more serious than the primary form of hyperhidrosis. There is need of medical advice in this case.
Body Parts affected by Hyperhidrosis
You can name hyperhidrosis according to the area affected.
It is palmer hyperhidrosis which means increased sweating of hands; planter hyperhidrosis meaning excessive sweating of feet, axillary hyperhidrosis means excessive sweating of armpits and facial hyperhidrosis meaning excessive sweating of face. And there is overall general condition of excessive sweating.
Cause of Hyperhidrosis:
Sweating is very important for the regualtion of temperature in our body. It helps to maintain the electrolytic balance when there are different weather conditions.
There is no known cause behind primary hyperhidrosis. Some researches say that this condition is caused by overactive sympathetic nervous system. Sometimes it is related with emoional stress which increases impulse from nervous systems. Hypothalamus is a part of brain and it regulates the sweat functioning. It sends sensory signals to the sweat nerves and these nerves in turn tranmit the ignal to sweat glands to produce sweat. In case of hyperhidrosis, there is a malfunctioning of sweat glands because of wrong interpretation of sinals and excesive sweat is produced which is secreted out of the sweat locations of the body.
Results of excessive sweating:
Excessive sweating result in damp clothes all the day and needs change of clothing many times. Person should wear loose fitting clothes. Damp clothing may lead to skin irritation. Palmer hyperhidrosis may hinder with writing as there is lack of friction in palm. Person feels social emabarrassment due to armpit sweating and feels awkward while shaking hands. Planter sweating may lead to unpleasant smell and some secondary infections. Person has to change socks many times a day. Leave the shoes to get dry after wearing them two days in row.
Treatment of hyperhidrosis:
To treat hyperhidrosis, it has to be diagnosed properly. Hyperhidrosis can be treated by many methods and some tips can manage it. Emotional response to routine stress may be the cause of localized hyperhidrosis. During menopause, women can feel overall excessive sweating. Fever is also one of the reasons for extra sweating. Other cause may be central neurological injury, infectious disease, and peripheral neuropathy, Parkinson’s disease. Some drugs like antipyretics, emetics, insulin, and alcohol may induce Hyperhidrosis.
1 Use antiperspirant sprays, roll-ons and sticks. Apply these products after shower and just before the bed. Make sure before applying this that skin is dry. Wash it in the morning and repeat this for many nights continuously. Deodorants cover the unpleasant smell but do not affect the amount of sweat produced.
2 For controlling mild hyperhidrosis, use talcum powder and corn starch powder. Apply this between toes and other skin folds.
Clinical Treatments:
Doctors may prescribe:
1 anticholinergic drugs but these drugs have their own side effects.
2 Beta blockers but asthma patients should avoid them.
3 Use of diphemanil based powder
4 To treat the sweat of palm, sole and armpits, Iontophoresis is done. A mild electrical current is introduced in the skin surface for several days.
5 For armpit sweating, Botulinum toxin injections are given. These help to reduce sweating or may even stop sweating for few months.
6 A Surgery is done to remove the sweat glands contained in skin of armpits.
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