It’s around this time of year that some people may start to feel uncomfortable about the arrival of warmer weather. They may be thinking about attending a special event such as a wedding, going to job interviews, or even just participating in regular social activities. Why are they worried? Because they may dealing with hyperhidrosis, or excessive sweating.
What is Hyperhidrosis?
Excessive sweating occurs when the nervous system is working at a higher level than normal, causing sweating to occur at unusual or inappropriate times in specific areas of the body. It can have a serious impact on quality of life, affecting your work, school, and social relationships. There are two identified types of hyperhidrosis:
- Primary or Focal – Localized commonly in the scalp, face, armpits, groin, hands and/or feet, this is the most common form of excessive sweating, affecting about 5% of the general population.
- Secondary or Generalized – Usually involves excessive sweating of the entire body, caused by an underlying condition (e.g., menopause, thyroid disease or another disorder that may require medical investigation).
What Are the Treatment Options?
At this time there is no ‘cure’ for hyperhidrosis, but medical advances in the past decade have revolutionized the management options for this condition. These options include:
Topical antiperspirants
- Available over-the-counter
- Lower cost
- Different solutions to choose from
- May cause skin irritation limiting use and/or discolouration at application site
- Does not usually completely control wetness
Oral medication
- Can offer mild-to-moderate relief for some, particularly for generalized hyperhidrosis
- Systemic side effects may include dry mouth, blurred vision and others, which can limit use
Iontophoresis
- Applies low-intensity electric current through tap water to affected areas
- Mid to higher cost, and may not be covered by private health insurance
- No significant side effects
- Frequent treatment sessions required until sweating is under control
Electromagnetic medical device (miraDry)
- Treatment reduces or removes the sweat glands under the arms without surgery through use of microwave energy
- Precisely controlled energy is delivered to the region where the sweat glands are located and eliminates sweat glands non-invasively. Eliminated sweat glands do not regenerate, resulting in lasting reduction of underarm sweat
Botulinum toxin Type A injections
- Needs to be administered under the direction of an experienced physician
- Can cause discomfort or pain at injection site(s) during procedure, although it is usually well tolerated
- No significant side effects
- Higher cost, may be covered by private heath insurance
- Highly effective for most patients in significantly reducing sweat production
Surgery
- Removal of sweat glands or sympathetic nerve chain that supplies the sweat glands
- May cause unwanted side effects, including severe compensatory hyperhidrosis (sweating is redirected to other areas of the body), making this a much less commonly recommended procedure
The best hyperhidrosis treatment will depend on different factors such as the severity of your condition and the location of the sweating. Your doctor will help you determine the right one for your needs. If you are experiencing excessive sweating, there’s no need to suffer in silence.