Hyperhidrosis Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Understanding
Excessive sweating or hyperhidrosis is a condition where the production of excessive sweat has nothing to do with physical activity or air temperature. People with this disorder often feel that their clothes get wet quickly and their palms often sweat.
Apart from interfering with daily activities, excessive sweating or hyperhidrosis can also reduce the sufferer’s quality of life. This condition causes anxiety and embarrassment.
Complications that can occur in sufferers of excessive sweating or hyperhidrosis are skin infections. It can also cause social functioning disorders and emotional problems. An embarrassment that arises due to excessive sweating or body odor can affect social activities and performance at work.
Symptom
The most easily recognized symptom of excessive sweating or hyperhidrosis is the appearance of excessive sweating in certain parts of the body. For example palms, soles of feet, face, armpits, or even the whole body. These symptoms persist for at least one week.
Excessive sweating or hyperhidrosis usually begins in young adulthood. This excessive sweat production can cause problems, stress, and embarrassment. Excessive sweating will usually cause yellowish marks on clothes.
Reason
The cause of excessive sweating or hyperhidrosis is most often genetic. However, this disorder can also be caused by certain medical conditions. Sweating is basically a normal response of the body to maintain body temperature so it doesn’t get too hot. When body temperature increases, the nervous system will automatically stimulate the sweat glands to secrete sweat.
Sweating also usually appears when there is a feeling of anxiety. In excessive sweating or hyperhidrosis, the nerves that stimulate the sweat glands become overly reactive. When you are stressed and anxious, usually the amount of sweat that is released will increase.
Excessive sweating or hyperhidrosis consists of:
- Primary hyperhidrosis. The cause of this type of hyperhidrosis is not known with certainty, but genetic factors play an important role. Primary hyperhidrosis usually occurs on the palms, soles, and occasionally the face.
- Secondary hyperhidrosis. Excessive sweating in this type of hyperhidrosis appears almost all over the body. Secondary hyperhidrosis is caused by certain medical conditions, such as the use of certain drugs, diabetes, menopause, low blood sugar levels, hyperthyroidism, heart attacks, infectious diseases, cancer, tuberculosis, Parkinson’s, and stroke.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of excessive sweating disorder or hyperhidrosis can be made through a medical interview. Through this examination, the doctor will ask about the patient’s complaints, medical history, and the possibility of using certain drugs.
The doctor will also do a physical examination. If the symptoms are very clear, the doctor can immediately determine the diagnosis. However, if the doctor suspects certain diseases, such as hyperthyroidism or hypoglycemia (low blood sugar levels), laboratory tests will be carried out.
In addition, there is also a sweat test to determine areas of the body that sweat excessively and estimate the severity of the condition. These checks include:
- Iodine-starch test
- Thermoregulatory sweat test
- Skin conductance
Treatment
Treatments that can be done to treat excessive sweating or hyperhidrosis include:
- Use of antiperspirants. Antiperspirant containing aluminum chloride is the initial therapy to be given. Please note that this product can cause eye and skin irritation. The method of administration is by applying it directly to areas of the body that often sweat before going to bed and washing it off when you wake up. If irritation appears, use hydrocortisone cream.
- Anticholinergic drugs. This drug can be used in certain conditions to reduce sweat production.
- Botulinum toxin (botox). This therapy has been declared safe by the American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating hyperhidrosis, especially in the armpit area. Botox injections work by blocking the nerves that produce sweat glands. The effect lasts for 6-12 months and must be repeated.
- Iontophoresis. This tool is used for ionized water to the skin by using an electric current.
- Operation. This procedure is done by removing sweat glands or even nerve surgery. But this is a last resort if other therapies do not work. Neurosurgery is performed by cutting the nerves that control sweating.
Keep in mind that the form of treatment above must be done after consulting a doctor first. The main goal of treatment for excessive sweating or hyperhidrosis is to control the production of excessive sweating. But treatment depends on the cause. If there is a medical condition that is the cause, then of course that is what must be addressed first.