EXCESSIVE SWEATING (Hyperhidrosis)
Uncontrollable sweating is embarrassing, but it is common and it is TREATABLE. Many people suffer needlessly because they are not aware of available treatments. The condition is called hyperhidrosis (literally, “excessive water”). Depending on your needs, treatments may include one or several of the following:
Prescription Strength Anti-Perspirant:
If over-the-counter antiperspirants and deodorants are not effective in controlling your sweating, our licensed doctors may prescribe a stronger antiperspirant. Applied to the hands, feet and/or underarms, these antiperspirants contain ingredients which temporarily block sweat ducts and reduce moisture.
Iontophoresis:
The next option, iontophoresis, is administered at home using a machine that works by immersing the affected areas into tap water and then passing a small electrical current through the skin to temporarily disrupt sweat production. This treatment is most appropriate for hands and feet and on average decreases sweating of the treated area by 50%.
Botox®:
Used safely for years by dermatologists to treat many conditions (including wrinkles), Botox®is a natural, purified protein which interrupts the chemical messages released by nerve endings. It is safe and effective in treating armpit, hand and facial hyperhidrosis, and when injected directly into the site, blocks the nerves that stimulate the sweat glands. Studies have shown that this treatment method relieves excessive sweating for an average of seven months. Some patients come twice a year, others just once (before the summer).
| HOW IT’S DONE: Treatment is preceded by a simple test: a solution is painted onto the underarm skin to identify exactly where the excessive sweating occurs. Then Botox is injected with a tiny needle, very superficially into this area (usually only a few square inches). After a few days, the sweating stops. |
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Oral Medications
Certain medications may be prescribed by our doctors to prevent the stimulation of sweat glands and limit sweating. Symptoms usually improve in two weeks, but there may be undesirable side effects, such as dry mouth. The side effects are temporary and reversible, so that a person can choose when to use the medications and when to discontinue them.
Surgery
When other medical treatments fail to control excessive sweating, surgery may be an option. Our doctors do not perform this surgery. Patients who require and are appropriate for this procedure are referred to a limited number of surgeons who offer a highly advanced, minimally invasive outpatient procedure called endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS).
