We all sweat. It’s nature’s way of cooling us down and allowing our bodies to get rid of toxins. But sometimes things can get out of hand, and our body goes into overdrive. Excessive sweating is a medical condition and can seriously affect people’s lives.
Causes of excessive sweating
Hyperhidrosis, to give excessive sweating its official name, comes in two types; primary and secondary. It usually affects the feet, hands, face and of course, armpits, and tends to begin during adolescence.
Focal hyperhidrosis is when the sweating is localised, for example if only your hands and feet suffer from excessive sweating, then the condition is called Palmoplantar Hyperhidrosis. If it affects your entire body, it’s called General Hyperhidrosis.
Focal hyperhidrosis is when the sweating is localised, for example if only your hands and feet suffer from excessive sweating, then the condition is called Palmoplantar Hyperhidrosis. If it affects your entire body, it’s called General Hyperhidrosis.
Primary hyperhidrosis
When you sweat excessively and it’s not caused by an underlying condition, it’s called Primary Hyperhidrosis. The causes are largely unknown, but may be at least partially hereditary. If you have a parent with it, you have about a 25% chance of also developing the condition. Primary Hyperhidrosis tends to be localised, usually in areas where there are a higher concentration of sweat glands.
Secondary hyperhidrosis
Secondary Hyperhidrosis is when you sweat more as a side-effect of something else, such a medical condition or taking medication. Obesity, diabetes, menopause, or an over-active thyroid can all cause excessive sweating.
Effects of hyperhidrosis
Physically, the body produces up to five times more sweat than needed in those who have this condition. The psychological effect of this can be significantly damaging.
Excessive sweating can seriously impair a person’s quality of life, damaging their professional and social lives. Public gatherings, relationships, and sporting activities can all be affected, leading to emotional stress, which in turn can lead to more sweating.
Excessive sweating can seriously impair a person’s quality of life, damaging their professional and social lives. Public gatherings, relationships, and sporting activities can all be affected, leading to emotional stress, which in turn can lead to more sweating.
Treatment
The good news is, excessive sweating can be treated simply and effectively with Botox or Dysport injections.
By targeting specific eccrine sweat glands in the armpit, the injections block the release of a chemical, stopping tiny underarm muscles squeezing out perspiration.
For sweating in other parts of the body, such as the palms and feet, a similar treatment is used. Due to the sensitivity of the locations a topical anaesthetic is coated over the area to be treated for an hour before administering the injections.
The treatment itself doesn’t take too long, and the effects can last up to a year with some patients.
By targeting specific eccrine sweat glands in the armpit, the injections block the release of a chemical, stopping tiny underarm muscles squeezing out perspiration.
For sweating in other parts of the body, such as the palms and feet, a similar treatment is used. Due to the sensitivity of the locations a topical anaesthetic is coated over the area to be treated for an hour before administering the injections.
The treatment itself doesn’t take too long, and the effects can last up to a year with some patients.
Let us help
Many people suffer in silence when it comes to excessive sweating, either because they don’t know it’s a medical condition, or they are too embarrassed to see someone about it.
A survey in America found that 85% of people with the condition found excessive sweating to be embarrassing, with 71% admitting it made them feel anxious.
The condition affects millions of people from all over the world, both men and women equally, with some estimates suggesting 5% of the population suffer from hyperhidrosis.
If you’re one of those people, then please book a consultation with us here at the Vein and Skin Clinic. Our professional medical staff have years of experience in dealing with these types of conditions, and are experts in Botox and Dysport injections.
Contact us today if you would like to know more about how we can help with excess sweating, or you have any questions about this harmful, but very treatable, ailment.
A survey in America found that 85% of people with the condition found excessive sweating to be embarrassing, with 71% admitting it made them feel anxious.
The condition affects millions of people from all over the world, both men and women equally, with some estimates suggesting 5% of the population suffer from hyperhidrosis.
If you’re one of those people, then please book a consultation with us here at the Vein and Skin Clinic. Our professional medical staff have years of experience in dealing with these types of conditions, and are experts in Botox and Dysport injections.
Contact us today if you would like to know more about how we can help with excess sweating, or you have any questions about this harmful, but very treatable, ailment.
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