Hyperhidrosis (Excessive Sweating)

Sweat is the fluid produced by sweat glands, primarily composed of water along with some salts. Sweat serves two main functions: regulating body temperature, especially after exertion or exercise, and maintaining skin balance. Sweat production varies greatly and is influenced by individual (personal) and environmental factors. Additionally, many diseases can affect normal sweat production.

Hyperhidrosis is a very common condition that causes significant embarrassment for many individuals. But how do you know if you are suffering from excessive sweating?

Excessive sweating commonly occurs on the hands, feet, face, and underarms. The amount of sweat is significant even without much effort. Inform your doctor if excessive sweating bothers you significantly and occurs at least once a week for a duration of six months. Your clothes become soaked with sweat, the skin may become white and wrinkled or irritated and red. It is also annoying for the patient to have a foul odor accompanying the moisture. Sweat itself is odorless, but when it reaches your skin, many bacteria break it down, causing the unpleasant odor.

Consult a doctor when:

1. Sweating more than usual without significant effort.
2. There is no apparent reason for excessive sweating, such as hot weather or physical exercise.
3. You experience chest pain, fever, shortness of breath, or palpitations.

The causes of hyperhidrosis:

- Primary Hyperhidrosis: Also known as focal hyperhidrosis, it occurs on both sides of the body (hands, feet, underarms, head, face). This pattern often runs in families and usually occurs during early waking hours. The exact cause of this pattern is not precisely known.

Secondary Hyperhidrosis: This pattern occurs due to an underlying cause and is also known as generalized hyperhidrosis. It tends to affect large areas of the body and can occur day and night. The causes can be stress and anxiety, hormonal changes, diabetes, hyperthyroidism, heart diseases, certain types of cancers, excessive caffeine intake, some addictive substances, adrenal tumors (or synthetic steroids intake), neurological disorders (spinal cord injury, stroke, Parkinson's disease), tuberculosis, lung diseases, and finally, some medications can cause hyperhidrosis such as aspirin, some blood pressure medications, and antidepressants.

Diagnosis:

The doctor diagnoses based on medical history. Sweating may be evident, and the doctor may not need any further tests to confirm it. The doctor will look for possible causes of excessive sweating through blood tests, thyroid hormone tests, blood sugar tests, and a test measuring the moisture level on your skin.

Can hyperhidrosis be prevented?

In fact, primary hyperhidrosis cannot be prevented. As for secondary hyperhidrosis, it is often difficult to prevent and depends on the cause. For example, if the cause is certain medications, stopping them is an effective treatment. It may be possible to reduce caffeine intake, but if the cause of secondary hyperhidrosis is heart diseases or similar conditions, it may be challenging to stop them.

Complications of hyperhidrosis:

1. Fluid loss: Hyperhidrosis can lead to significant loss of fluids and salts from the body, which can disrupt the body's electrolyte balance. Therefore, continuous fluid and electrolyte replacement are necessary.
2. Body temperature disorders: Hyperhidrosis can cause a dangerous drop in body temperature, leading to muscle spasms and heat shock.
3. Psychological disorders: Hyperhidrosis can lead to decreased self-confidence, embarrassment, social anxiety that sometimes leads to loss of ability to perform daily activities and loss of direction towards personal desires and goals.
4. Skin infections: Hyperhidrosis can increase the chances of skin infections such as fungal infections due to high moisture resulting from excessive sweating.

Treatment of Hyperhidrosis:

1. Antiperspirants: When regular antiperspirants are not effective, try those containing a high percentage of aluminum chloride hexahydrate. This substance works by closing the sweat glands' channels. Consult your doctor before applying them. The doctor may recommend using these products once or twice a day after cleaning and drying the area well, then reducing the dosage to once or twice a week.
2. Systemic Medications for Hyperhidrosis Treatment: Your doctor may prescribe a medication that inhibits sweat glands, but it may have side effects such as dryness (dry mouth and eyes), constipation, and blurred vision. Do not take such medications without a prescription.
3. Secondary Hyperhidrosis Treatments: These treatments aim to treat the underlying cause of sweating. Medications are used to regulate thyroid hormone levels or treat anxiety.
4. Iontophoresis Treatment: This machine uses low amounts of electricity to close the sweat gland channels and is often used to treat excessive sweating of the hands and feet.
5. Botox Treatment: Type A, commonly used under the armpits to inhibit sweat production. It is an effective and safe procedure with results lasting from 6 to 12 months depending on the patient. It may be painful, but local anesthesia can be used.
6. Surgical Treatment: When other treatments are not beneficial, the doctor may cut nerves that activate certain glands or in some cases perform complete removal of sweat glands. Surgical intervention is a last resort due to its potential complications such as compensatory sweating after surgery, nerve damage, artery damage, and damage to surrounding tissues.

It is essential to consult a dermatologist to determine the appropriate treatment for your condition. Do not use medications without consulting a doctor, as they may be an effective solution for treating hyperhidrosis but could mask symptoms of other diseases in the body (such as heart and lung diseases).

Coping with Hyperhidrosis:

It is very important to cope with any medical condition in the body, especially hyperhidrosis, which can cause social embarrassment and discomfort. Some patients feel embarrassed to perform routine tasks, particularly when excessive sweating affects their hands. There are many steps that can help you deal with hyperhidrosis:

1. Shower daily, using antibacterial soap to combat unpleasant odors caused by sweat.
2. Dry your body thoroughly because moisture is an ideal environment for bacteria growth, which can also help reduce odor.
3. Dry your shoes thoroughly before wearing them.
4. Wear cotton socks that absorb sweat and try changing your socks several times a day.
5. Wear loose-fitting cotton clothes.
6. Use underarm pads to absorb sweat and help you feel more confident.
7. Always carry spare clothes with you at work or elsewhere; you may need to change.
8. Personal hygiene is essential; try to keep your clothes clean as much as possible.
9. Shaving hair in problematic areas like the armpit region is necessary.
10. Change your diet; increase your intake of fluids to compensate for lost salts, avoid spicy foods, and stay away from caffeine.
11. Change some habits; reduce stress as much as possible, use relaxation techniques like yoga, and listen to calming mus.