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Sweating is a normal bodily function that helps regulate your temperature, but this everyday process can become a nuisance for some people. If you sweat excessively and seemingly without reason, you may have a condition called hyperhidrosis.
Learn more about the condition, including how a hyperhidrosis specialist can diagnose it and what treatment options you can benefit from.
Sweating Through Your Clothes: Understanding Hyperhidrosis
Simply put, hyperhidrosis is excessive sweating. It is when your body sweats more than it needs to regulate temperature or when it sweats at random moments, even in cold rooms or while at rest.
First, what is sweat? Sweat is an odorless fluid that your eccrine glands release. These glands reside in your skin, releasing fluid into ducts that allow it to reach the skin’s surface. Sweat then morphs from a liquid to a gas as it evaporates.
Hyperhidrosis occurs when eccrine glands overwork.
It can affect different areas in the body, but the most common regions are:
- Armpits
- Hands
- Soles of your feet
- Face
Two different variants of this condition exist, primary focal hyperhidrosis and secondary generalized hyperhidrosis.
Primary focal hyperhidrosis is an inherited and chronic condition, while secondary generalized hyperhidrosis appears due to an underlying condition or medication use. Conditions can be cancer, anxiety, an infection, and much more.
Diagnosing Hyperhidrosis
If you suspect you have this condition, the first step is to turn to a hyperhidrosis specialist to get an official diagnosis.
At the consultation with your hyperhidrosis specialist, you must fully account for your medical history and any medications you take. You will then receive a physical examination and some tests to see the cause of the hyperhidrosis.
One type of test a hyperhidrosis specialist will perform is an iodine-starch test. The specialist will apply an iodine solution to the area where you sweat excessively and spread starch over it. If the solution turns dark blue, then you have hyperhidrosis.
Another test is the paper test. The hyperhidrosis specialist places a special paper over the targeted areas and then weighs that paper to see how much you sweat.
The specialist can also turn to blood and imaging tests to see if the condition has underlying causes, like hypoglycemia or hyperthyroidism.
Treating Hyperhidrosis: What Options Can Help You?
The treatment of hyperhidrosis will depend on the parts of your body affected by the condition as well as the severity of the problem.
For some people, regularly applying an antiperspirant can help because they work by sealing up your sweat glands. The best antiperspirants and deodorants for hyperhidrosis are those made of aluminum. You can also consider prescription antiperspirants.
Medications can also help. Nerve-blocking medications can prevent the activation of the nerves that trigger the sweat glands. Some antidepressants can also decrease sweating.
One excellent treatment option that not everyone is aware of is Botox injections. Botox blocks the nerves that get your sweat glands working, helping you reduce sweating for as long as three to four months.
MiraDry is one of the most effective options for those with underarm issues, delivering microwave energy that destroys the sweat glands in the armpits. It is a permanent solution to the problem that works in as little as one treatment session.
Sweat gland removal can be appropriate if you sweat heavily from one armpit. It is a procedure that hyperhidrosis specialists can perform by scraping the glands away, suctioning them out via liposuction techniques, or a combination of the two.
Is It Time to See a Hyperhidrosis Specialist?
If you are self-conscious about sweating to the point where you hesitate to hug others or live with constant worry about sweating through your clothes, then it may be time to reach out for help. Ask yourself whether you experience:
- Damp clothing
- Sweat dripping from your face
- Itchy and irritated skin from the sweating
- Cracked or peeling skin
- Body odor
If you have had these symptoms for at least six months, then you can improve your quality of life by turning to a hyperhidrosis specialist and beginning treatment.
At Metropolitan Vein and Aesthetic Center, we offer MiraDry to help you get permanent results that can make it easier to enjoy your everyday life. Contact Metropolitan Vein and Aesthetic Center to schedule a consultation with one of our experts and begin your treatment.
