Hyperhidrosis Treatment

What is Excessive Sweating (Hyperhidrosis)?

Sweating is a natural reaction that controls body temperature. It is a very natural and healthy situation for individuals to sweat in hot weather or while exercising. However, sweating even when the body does not need to cool down can be a symptom of hyperhidrosis, also known as excessive sweating. Hyperhidrosis, or excessive sweating, is characterized by the body producing sweat much more than expected and uncontrollably, in a way that is different from its normal heat regulation.

Hyperhidrosis, or excessive sweating, is usually characterized by sweating that becomes more pronounced in certain areas of the body. Excessive sweating, which can negatively affect a person’s daily life, can cause serious social, physical and emotional problems. Although excessive sweating can sometimes occur without a specific cause, certain diseases or medications can also cause excessive sweating.

Excessive sweating is a condition that manifests itself by constantly sweating even in situations where the body temperature does not need to be reduced. People who have excessive sweating problems may sweat even when they are at rest or even when the weather is cold.

Sweat is an odourless liquid released from the human body by sweat glands and acts to reduce body temperature through evaporation and prevent the body from overheating. When sweat glands work excessively, excessive sweating, or hyperhidrosis, occurs. There are two different types of hyperhidrosis:

Primary hyperhidrosis or primary excessive sweating is also called focal or essential hyperhidrosis. It is a type of hyperhidrosis in which the patient sweats for no apparent reason (also called idiopathic). Although it is usually seen in the form of sweating in the hands, feet and face, excessive sweating in the armpits can also be classified under this category.

Secondary hyperhidrosis, or secondary excessive sweating, differs from primary hyperhidrosis in that it manifests itself with excessive sweating in a wider area of the body or all over. Secondary hyperhidrosis, which occurs due to medical conditions or the effects of drug treatments, is characterized by excessive sweating at night and excessive sweating during sleep.

However, not every excessive sweating should be considered as hyperhidrosis. Excessive sweating can be caused by many different reasons. Therefore, when hyperhidrosis is suspected, it is necessary to see a doctor.

The causes of both types of excessive sweating are different. In primary hyperhidrosis, excessive sweating is observed without any signs of disease or any drug effect. In addition, the symptoms of primary hyperhidrosis usually occur equally on both sides of the body and are more regional. Although the cause of primary excessive sweating is not yet fully known, according to some experts, it is due to the neurogenic hyperexcitability of the sympathetic nerve circuits that innervate the eccrine sweat glands in the affected area.

The incidence of secondary hyperhidrosis is less than primary hyperhidrosis. In this type of excessive sweating, sweating is seen all over the person’s body. Secondary hyperhidrosis is considered a more serious and urgent medical condition because another underlying medical conditions (as mentioned below) may cause secondary excessive sweating and these medical problems must be treated first. Another symptom of secondary hyperhidrosis is that the person sweats excessively at night. Causes of secondary excessive sweating include menopause, pregnancy, diabetes, alcohol addiction, hyperthyroidism (thyrotoxicosis), Parkinson’s, rheumatoid arthritis, tuberculosis and similar infectious diseases, heart failure, stroke, cancers such as lymphoma and leukaemia, and anxiety.

Secondary hyperhidrosis can develop due to certain medications, as well as the medical conditions mentioned above. Various medications, including some blood pressure medications, psychiatric medications, and antibiotics, can also cause excessive sweating. People who consult a doctor due to excessive sweating should inform their doctor about the medications they use regularly in order to make a correct diagnosis.

Why Do We Sweat?

Sweating occurs due to various reasons such as heat stress, fever, exercise, emotional distress and infection. Sweating also helps regulate blood pressure and maintain fluid balance in the body.

The temperature in the human body is controlled by the nervous system and the endocrine system. The nervous system regulates the brain and central nervous system, while the endocrine system regulates the rest of the body. The endocrine system produces hormones that control heat loss from the skin and regulate body temperature. This process is called thermoregulation. The hypothalamus, the part of the brain that controls the production of these hormones, receives signals from the environment and transmits them to other parts of the brain.

Sweating is also an involuntary response to stress. When people feel stressed, the body produces much more adrenaline (epinephrine) from the adrenal gland, triggering the release of adrenaline (epinephrine) into the bloodstream. Noradrenaline (Norepinephrine) is also released from neurons into the synapse gap and stimulates the sympathetic nervous system, which controls the fight-or-flight response. Sweating increases as blood vessels dilate and blood flow increases. Sweating also contributes to cooling body temperature through evaporation. Since water molecules evaporate at a higher rate than other substances, sweating helps reduce body temperature in this way.

What are the Treatment Methods for Sweating?

Excessive sweating is diagnosed after a detailed examination by experts. In this context; factors such as the patient’s complaints about sweating, the areas where sweating occurs, the intensity and frequency of sweating are evaluated, as well as a physical examination. Thus, both the symptoms and the condition of the areas where sweating occurs are examined. At the same time, the patient’s medical history and medication use are evaluated. Special sweat tests are performed to measure the amount of sweating. Psychosocial factors are evaluated if various medical conditions are excluded. After the diagnosis of hyperhidrosis is made, a treatment plan specific to the patient is determined.

Various treatment procedures are applied to increase the quality of life of individuals within the scope of excessive sweating treatment. The treatment to be applied may vary depending on the severity, area and effects of sweating.

In patients with mild sweating problems, solutions such as talcum powder and aluminium chloride can be used to keep the skin dry. Using various medications can help reduce sweating. However, since long-term use of such medications can cause problems such as constipation, blurred vision and dry mouth, they should be used in a controlled manner according to doctor’s recommendations.

Antimuscarinic drugs help reduce sweating by blocking the nerves that stimulate the sweat glands. Beta-blocker drugs can be used to prevent sweating caused by stress and psychological disorders. Anxiolytic drugs are also effective in treating sweating due to anxiety, but they have some side effects.

Iontophoresis treatment is generally the most frequently used, easy to apply and side effect-free sweating treatment method. It is suitable for use in the hands, feet and armpits. The hands and feet are placed in a container half filled with water. There are electrodes in the container. 5-20 mA direct current is given to these electrodes from the iontophoresis device. Wetted electrode pads are used for the armpit application. Each application takes an average of 20-30 minutes, and it is possible to repeat approximately 15-20 sessions. It is recommended that the sessions be applied at 1-2 days intervals. It is known that sweating complaints decrease in approximately 95% of the patients treated with this method. If patients who have completed their treatment receive another session, especially once a week in the summer, the sweating complaint can be prevented from starting again.

Botox treatment is a method that can be applied to reduce sweating by disrupting the function of sympathetic nerves. It is usually applied to the hands and armpits.

In cases where the patient does not benefit from the above-mentioned treatments, a surgical procedure can also be used to reduce the effectiveness of sympathetic nerves as a more permanent solution. The surgical procedure called Endoscopic Thoracic Sympathectomy (ETS) is performed under general anaesthesia. With the ETS method, the sympathetic nerve chain that causes sweating is found and cut or a clip is placed in that area. It is usually preferred for patients with excessive hand sweating. However, it can also be applied to patients with excessive facial sweating.

What are the Benefits of Sweating Treatment?

Treatments applied for excessive sweating provide many different benefits. First among these is the increase in the person’s self-confidence. With sweating treatments, the elimination of shame and social anxiety due to excessive sweating can strengthen the person’s self-confidence. People who avoid socializing due to excessive sweating can start socializing again with sweating treatment. The deterioration in sleep quality due to night sweats can be eliminated with sweating treatment. It is also possible to eliminate skin problems caused by excessive sweating.

What Causes Sweating During Sleep?

The body maintains its own balance by sweating to adapt to weather conditions. Although sweating occurs due to weather conditions, in some cases, night sweating can be a symptom of a disease. In other cases, it can be caused by wrong bed sheet and comforter selection, the body’s adaptation, and various factors.

Excessive sweating during sleep is called “sleep sweating” or “night sweating”. In this case, sweating is not seen during the day or is rarely seen, but occurs intensely during sleep. Since sweating during sleep is a sign of serious diseases in some cases, early diagnosis is very important for treating a possible disease before it progresses.

Night sweats can sometimes be confused with hot flashes. In order for a condition to be considered night sweats, there must be enough sweating to wet the person’s underwear or sheets. One of the symptoms of night sweats during the day is hot flashes. Hot flashes, which develop suddenly and independently of weather conditions, usually start in the chest, face and arm areas and spread to the entire body. Redness in the face area can also be counted among the symptoms of night sweats.

Night sweats can be caused by problems such as gastroesophageal reflux, hormonal changes, diabetes and infection. Stress and neurological problems can also be listed among the causes of night sweats. The treatment for people with night sweats may vary depending on the underlying cause.

Other common causes of night sweats: These can be listed as menopause, anxiety and stress, premenstrual syndrome, hypoglycaemia, pregnancy, sleep apnoea, gastroesophageal reflux, stroke, various types of cancer and influenza infections. Hyperthyroidism, some painkillers, antidepressants, and steroids can also cause night sweats.

When Does Sweating Cause Harm?

Sweating is considered a normal process for many people, especially in the summer months. However, excessive sweating not only negatively affects social life, but can also become dangerous if accompanied by certain symptoms. Sweating, which is a physiological event that allows the human body to maintain constant heat, can be defined as the body’s cooling system.

Sweating is a natural metabolic function that develops outside the person’s will. Sweating moisturizes the skin, stabilizes body temperature and contributes to the body’s excretory system. How much a person sweats can vary depending on the number of sweat glands they have. Although each person is born with a number of sweat glands ranging from 2-4 million, these sweat glands become fully active during puberty.

Hot weather, wrong clothing choices, doing sports, drinking alcohol, consuming hot-spicy foods, excessive humidity, wearing synthetic clothes, stress and excitement can cause sweating. Although sweating is a necessary and healthy reaction for the body, excessive sweating is seen in some cases. Excessive sweating accompanied by high fever, increased pulse, sudden weight loss, chest pain and shortness of breath may suggest a serious disorder. This disorder or disease may require urgent treatment.