Excessive Sweating

Sweating is a natural function that regulates human body temperature (thermoregulation). There are approximately five million sweat glands in the human body, and two-thirds of them are in the hands. The functioning of the sweat glands is controlled by the involuntary sympathetic nervous system. Excessive sweating that is not necessary for excessive stimulation of sympathetic nerves and thermoregulation is called hyperhidrosis. It is encountered in 1 percent of the population, equally in men and women.

Excessive Sweating Treatment at Liv Hospital

The names primary or idiopathic hyperhidrosis are used for local sweats (sweating that is not due to a cause). Although the cause is not fully known, it is attributed to genetic factors. Its incidence within the same family is 40 percent. It can be seen alone in the hands, feet, or armpits, or it can be seen in two or more areas at the same time. General Sweating (Sweating Resulting from Disease): Excessive sweating occurs as a result of a disease and the causative primary disease must be treated. Excessive sweating due to the disease is generally seen all over the body. At Liv Hospital Skin and Venereology Clinic, appropriate treatment is given according to the cause and severity of sweating.

Why Does It Happen?

• Hyperthyroidism (goiter): It should be evaluated as an endocrine disease and treated.
• Psychological disorders (anxiety, etc.): Should be monitored by a psychiatrist.
• Menopause: Patients mostly describe it as hot flashes. Feelings of warmth and sweating from the waist up should be monitored by the menopause clinic.
• Cancer patients receiving endocrine therapy
• Excessive fatness (obesity)
• Infectious diseases: May cause fever and sweating.

Types of Local Sweating

• Hand sweating (Palmar hyperhidrosis): It is the most common type of sweating that disturbs the person the most and disrupts the social structure. The hands may sweat to the point of dripping due to humidity. It generally begins in childhood and complaints gradually increase in adolescence and adulthood. It is thought to have a genetic basis and is seen in 40-50 percent of families with hand sweating.
• Foot sweating (Plantar hyperhidrosis): It is seen in most people with hand sweating. Although it is not as extreme as hand sweating, it makes the person socially uncomfortable. They have difficulty wearing sandal type shoes. In some cases, it may cause foot odor and fungal infection.
• Armpit sweating (Axillar hyperhirosis): After adolescence, all people generally experience armpit sweating and odor. However, excessive sweat and odor (bromhidrosis) cause stress and social discomfort in the person. It disturbs the person if the armpit part of the dress or shirt he wears is excessively wet.
• Facial sweating (Facial hyperhidrosis) etc…

Excessive Sweating Treatment Procedures

Medication:
Talcum powder, Al-chloride (Drysol) and similar solutions can be used to keep the skin dry in mild sweating. Various medications help in reducing sweating. However, it is not recommended due to long-term use and drug side effects (e.g. sedation, dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision, etc.).

Antimuscorinic drugs:
It reduces the activity of the nerves that stimulate the sweat glands.

Beta-blockers:
It is especially useful for sweating caused by stress and anxiety.

Anxiolytics (tranquilisers):
It is effective in anxiety-related sweating. It has side effects.

Iontophoresis Treatment:
It is generally the most commonly used treatment method that has no side effects and is easy to apply. It can be applied to the hands, feet and armpit areas. In the application for hands and feet, the hands or feet are placed in a container half filled with tap water. There are (+) and (-) electrodes inside the container. A direct current of 5-20 mA is given to the electrodes from the iontophoresis device. In underarm application, a wetted pad containing an electrode is used. Each application is 30 minutes and is repeated for 15 – 20 sessions.

Reductions in sweating are observed in 95 percent of treated patients. In some people whose treatment has been completed, applying one session a week, especially during the summer months, prevents the resumption of sweating. Iontophoresis treatment does not have any side effects. It can be easily applied to pregnant women and anyone without a pacemaker. There is no pain or discomfort during the treatment.

Botox:
It is a toxin obtained from the bacterium Chlostridium botolinum and has been used for the last 10 years to cause spasticity, involuntary muscle contractions, cosmetic removal of skin wrinkles, sweating, etc. using for. Botox shows its effect through the substances called acetylcholine in the nerve junctions, which provide nerve messages. When injected into the hand and armpit, it disrupts the function of sympathetic nerves and reduces sweating. The effect of Botox lasts 2-6 months, with an average of 3 months. It is mostly applied to the hands and underarms.

Surgical Interventions:
These are surgical interventions performed on sympathetic nerves. ETS (Endoscopic Thoracoscopic Sympathectomy) is performed under general anesthesia. It is mostly applied to patients who complain of excessive hand sweating. It does not have much effect on foot sweating. Complications may occur later in operations performed for facial sweating.

Retrodermal Curettage:
It is a surgical intervention performed by plastic surgeons to eliminate underarm sweat and odor.