Patient Information -
Hyperhidrosis
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1. What is hyperhidrosis?
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| Hands
sweat as a normal process of the body function to cool and
lubricate the skin. Clammy hands are the result of excessive
sweating. It is a very common condition and affects every 1 in
200 persons. The medical term for clammy hands is hyperhidrosis.
It is an embarrassing condition for the sufferer as they are
aware of how nervous they appear to be with clammy hands. Clammy
hands are caused by overactive nerves that send signals to the
sweat glands in the skin in the sympathetic nervous system. All of us
sweat and when it is hot or we are embarrassed or anxious
we sweat more. This is normal and it is only when the sweating
is excessive and causes ruined clothing or extreme social
embarrassment that it is called hyperhidrosis. Generalised hyperhidrosis
may be the result of systemic disease such as chronic infection
or an over active thyroid. Localised sweating confined to
the armpits or hands is not usually associated with any generalised
disease. |
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2. Where does sweat come from?
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| There are thousands of little glands in the skin
that produce sweat. Sweat is one of the ways which the body
uses to cool itself. The amount of sweat depends on how hot it
is and on stimulation of the sweat glands by the nerves
that supply them. |
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3. Do I need treatment?
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| Excessive sweating is not harmful in itself.
Therefore treatment is only required if the sweating is so severe
that it is causing embarrassment or difficulties at work. |
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4. What treatment is available?
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| Sweaty
hands can be overcome by many methods. Creams or powders
containing aluminum chloride can be used to reduce the sweat on
palms and feet. This is applied at night
and washed off in the morning.
Aluminium Chloride is available on prescription basis. Your
family doctor can issue you advice and a prescription for this.
The disadvantage of this method is that creams and powders cause
skin irritation with prolonged use. Other medications work in
different ways. The aim is to prevent the neuron transmitter
acetylcholine form triggering the sweat glands at the roots of
the sympathetic nerves. This reduces the quantity of sweat
produced. The disadvantage is that it produces a side effect.
Users will generally experience dryness in the mouth. Antiperspirants work better in
the armpits than on the hands. If medical treatment is
unsuccessful in controlling the sweating, then an operation to
divide the nerves that supply the sweat glands may be
needed (Thoracoscopic Sympathectomy). |
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5. What if I Only have sweaty armpits?
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| Thoracoscopic sympathectomy is only about 80%
successful for sweaty armpits (axillary hyperhidrosis). If you
only have sweaty armpits Mr Braithwaite may be able to treat the
condition with a set of injections using BOTOX. The
treatment is nearly 100% successful but does need to be repeated
about every 6 months. |
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