Hyperhidrosis is a disorder in which there is abnormally excessive sweating, that is neither triggered by exercise or by climate. A person suffering from hyperhidrosis sweats so much that the sweat soaks through the clothes. It causes social embarrassment and anxiety and also disrupts the normal activities of a person. In severe cases, it gets hard to hold a pen, shake hands or grip a steering wheel.
Symptoms
Sweating is normal for people during any physical activity, because of the heat, nervousness, or anxiety. But in hyperhidrosis, sweating is abnormally excessive.
The most common signs of hyperhidrosis are:
- Sweating that occurs on both sides of the body
- Excessive sweating that occurs without any reason
- Sweating that affects the daily activities
Types of hyperhidrosis
There are two types of hyperhidrosis. These are:
- Primary hyperhidrosis:
It is also called focal hyperhidrosis and causes excessive sweating in hands, feet, face, and underarms.
- Secondary hyperhidrosis:
It is also known as generalized hyperhidrosis and excessive sweating is caused all over the body or in a larger area of the body.
Causes
The cause of hyperhidrosis will depend on the type of hyperhidrosis. In primary hyperhidrosis, the nerves that signal the sweat glands become overactive. The exact cause for this is not known, but heredity is a major factor. The reason for secondary hyperhidrosis is mainly an underlying medical condition. Medical conditions that cause this include:
- Diabetes
- Cancer
- Heart disease
- Hot flashes during menopause
- Hyperthyroidism
- Nervous system disorders
- Infections
- Stroke
- Adrenal gland disorders
- Parkinson’s disease and others
Treatment
Secondary hyperhidrosis will automatically be commonly treated by treating the underlying medical condition. For treating primary hyperhidrosis, a combination of different treatments may be prescribed. These usually include nerve-blocking medications, antidepressants, prescription antiperspirants, prescription creams, and botulinum toxin injections. In extreme cases, some surgical procedures such as microwave therapy, nerve surgery, and sweat gland removal may be prescribed.
It is important to get the diagnosis and treatment of hyperhidrosis in order to lead a normal and healthy life.
Disclaimer: The information in no way constitutes, or should be construed as medical advice. Nor is the above article an endorsement of any research findings discussed in the article an endorsement for any of the source publications.
