Term for Excessive Sweating: Hyperhidrosis and its Management

Sweating is arguably one of the most common human experiences. It’s the body’s in-built mechanism to cool down and maintain a balanced internal temperature. However, when the person suffers from excessive sweating—far beyond the normal or what might reasonably be expected, given the conditions—they may have a condition known as hyperhidrosis.

Hyperhidrosis is a medical condition characterized by excessive and unpredictable sweating. People with this condition may sweat even when the temperature is cool, or they’re at rest. It can occur in various parts of the body, such as hands (palmar hyperhidrosis), feet (plantar hyperhidrosis), armpits (axillary hyperhidrosis), or even all over the body (generalized hyperhidrosis).

Hyperhidrosis can be disruptive to everyday activities, often causing physical discomfort and social embarrassment. It can soak through clothes, damage electronic devices, smear ink on paperwork, and make it difficult to grip objects. For many suffering from this condition, hyperhidrosis significantly impacts their quality of life, affecting their personal relationships, professional lives, and self-esteem.

The exact cause of hyperhidrosis isn’t known. Some scientists believe the nerves that control sweating for some reason become overactive, resulting in excessive perspiration. Certain medical conditions such as diabetes, menopause, thyroid problems, low blood sugar, and some types of cancer can increase sweating. Additionally, certain medications and substances of abuse can also cause excessive perspiration.

If you suspect that you may have hyperhidrosis, it’s essential to consult a healthcare provider for a correct diagnosis and individualized treatment plan. The diagnosis would typically be based on a detailed interviewing about the severity and occurrence of your sweating episodes as well as ruling out any other possible causes.

Several treatment options exist for the management of hyperhidrosis, ranging from over-the-counter antiperspirants, prescription creams, nerve-blocking medications, Botox injections, to more invasive procedures like hyperhidrosis surgery.

The choice of treatment often depends on the severity of the hyperhidrosis, the body area affected, and a person’s response to previous treatments. Hyperhidrosis surgery, also known as thoracic sympathectomy or endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS), involves disrupting the nerve signals that make certain parts of your body sweat. It’s typically done through small incisions made in your armpit while you’re under general anesthesia.

However, hyperhidrosis surgery is usually the last resort when all other treatments have failed because it can lead to excessive sweating in other parts of the body, a phenomenon known as compensatory sweating.

If you are suffering from hyperhidrosis, remember that you are not alone. More than 3% of the population is estimated to suffer from this condition. It’s essential to seek medical advice, engage in lifestyle modifications like wearing absorbent materials, avoiding clothes that show stains, and seeking help from support groups to manage this condition.

Seeking help is your first step towards managing the condition and leaving persistent and disruptive sweating behind!