This article will discuss the medical condition known as hyperhidrosis and talk about the various hyperhidrosis treatment methods that are available. This condition causes an excess amount of sweating in a particular part or the body, many parts or all over.
If you have excess sweating all over the body then this usually is caused by an underlying condition, this could be a neurological problem, an infection or a disorder of the endocrine gland. This type of generalized hyperhidrosis is usually harder to treat but still can be managed.
But if you suffer from excessive sweating in only certain parts of the body (localized) such as the your armpits, palms and feet then this can be treated with a much higher success rate since this usually occurs in otherwise healthy people.
Hyperhidrosis happens in an estimated 3% of the United States population and strikes those between the ages of 25 and 65 years old. Most sufferers continue to suffer without seeking medical help because they do not think that they can get rid of it.
But sufferers can and do get treated every day for hyperhidrosis and many with a high success rate. Different methods work for different people so you will need to do your research If you are seeking a hyperhidrosis treatment then you need to get educated on the variety of methods that are available.
Types of hyperhidrosis treatment methods:
Surgical Treatments
* Endoscopic Thoracic Sympathectomy (ETS)
This type of surgery is best done by a skillful and highly experienced thoracic surgeon. You will be given a general anesthesia and then the surgeon making an incision in your back. Using a scope to magnify the area, the surgeon will clamp the sympathetic nerves and cut the ganglion nerve. This will reduce the excessive sweating in the problem area.
This expensive surgery is usually effective but just like all surgery there are risks. Some people find that they experience no relief, while others experience only a small reduction in excessive sweating. Some people have even suffered nerve damage.
* Botox Treatment
Believe it or not, but botox can be used as a hyperhidrosis treatment. This is still a very new method of treating Hyperhidrosis and it can be a long, painful and expensive procedure but many people do say that it gives them results. But it only gives a temporary relief, with side affects and needs to be repeated at least two times per year to stop sweating in the part of the body that suffers.
These botox treatments involve having many injections being injected into the part of the body that you want to stop excessive sweating. Many people suffer from side effects from this procedure so you need to weight up the risks and rewards.
General Treatments
* Antiperspirants and ointments
Mild cases of hyperhidrosis can be treated with antiperspirants and ointments. Drysol is a product that can help against excessive sweating that doctors recommend but can be highly irritating to some peoples skin and it stains clothing. Drysol is also not very effective on the palms or on the feet so it is only really good for the underarms.
Try different deodorants for light cases of excessive sweating to see if any of these help. If not then you will need to choose another hyperhidrosis treatment method.
* Oral Medications
Certain neurotransmitters that cause the sweat glands to produce excess amounts of sweat can be stopped with the help of oral medications. Talk to your doctor about these medications. You will usually have to take one tablet once per day. The main problem with these oral medications are that they have a long list of potential side effects. These oral medications have received many mixed results and the general consensus is that it is not worth it.
Alternative Treatments
* Iontophoresis
This treatment uses electrical currents to shuttle ionized drugs into the affected area. Treatment usually takes around four to eight sessions and the results can last up to a couple of months. This hyperhidrosis treatment method is safe and cheap. The machine can be bought and used in your home but you will need to use it for about one and a half hours each day to get results.
For more information about Iontophoresis it is best to ask your doctor.
* Hypnosis
Hypnosis involves using relaxation techniques, positive suggestions and mind programming to stop excessive sweating. This is a hit and miss technique with some people seeing amazing results and others experiencing nothing. If you do want to try hypnosis, finding an experienced hypnotherapist can be hard. Ask for recommendations and research therapists who have successfully helped people with hyperhidrosis.
* Herbs
Naturopaths can put you onto a variety of herbs that have been successful in hyperhidrosis treatment. You must make sure that you use quality herbs if you want to get the best results. Many people have gotten great results from using different Asian herbal treatments.