Hyperhidrosis, or excessive sweating, is a disorder caused by overactive sweat glands. Sweating is a normal body function for most human beings, and is essential for regulating body temperature. However, if this gets out of control, it can cause many problems for the patient. Patients who are sweating too much find it difficult to lead normal lives, which is why treatment is advisable.
There are many different treatments for excessive sweating and excessive perspiration. If the sweating takes place in areas such as the armpits, palms, face or feet, then a local antiperspirant can often do the job. These are extra strength antiperspirants which can come in a spray; roll on or in a cream form. These inhibit the sweat glands, so that they do not produce too much sweat. It is suggested to apply the antiperspirant to the affected areas overnight so that it soaks in completely by the morning.
Another treatment for hyperhidrosis is Botox. Botox is a toxin which paralyses the nerves, so it can be used to paralyze nerves which control the sweat glands in our body. In this way, the nerves will not be able to send messages to the glands for over sweating, and can control the perspiration problem. Botox is advised for small areas of the body such as the face or hands, and is not suitable for larger areas.
In another treatment, electricity is used to cut off the sweat glands entirely. This is a good treatment for the hands, armpits or feet because it will completely eliminate the problem. However, this cannot be used for larger body areas because it has side effects. It is an expensive procedure which may take a number of sessions to be completed. And it is also an extremely risky procedure, so take heed, and follow your doctor's advice. This is usually not done until other treatment options have been exhausted.
Medication can also be used to control excessive sweating in some cases. If topical medications are not working, then medication can be prescribed which controls the body's sweat production.
If the problem is excessive and none of these treatments is working, then some patients may benefit from surgery. It is important to keep in mind that surgery should be the last option, only if other methods are not helping. In this procedure, the nerves or sweat glands which are causing the problem are removed from the body. It is very effective but it does have many side effects, so all the options should be explored before a patient decides to opt for surgery.
Bryan Rivers is an expert in excessive sweating causes and especially armpit sweating, researching and writing about it regularly. You can learn more about sweating too much in general in addition to more specific types of excessive sweating conditions at his site entitled I Sweat Too Much.
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