Do you have problems with excessive sweating?
Sweating is a normal bodily function we all experience from time to time. It is also very beneficial as sweat plays a role in regulating body temperature.
While sweating is a healthy response to a variety of stimuli, some people have issues with excessive sweating. For these people, the problem can be so severe that it impacts their entire life. They worry about embarrassing incidents involving sweat. Because of this, they spend a considerable amount of time trying to find ways to cover up or absorb sweat that they can’t control.
The medical term for this type of sweating is hyperhidrosis. In this post, we are going to take a closer look at hyperhidrosis and tell you about an effective treatment option now available from Brighton Implant Clinic.
What is hyperhidrosis?
Hyperhidrosis is an excess of sweating more than what is needed to regulate body temperature. Areas, where hyperhidrosis can occur, include underarms, feet, palms or groin area (what is known as focal hyperhidrosis).
However, there are some cases where hyperhidrosis can affect the entire body (what is known as general hyperhidrosis).
Beyond general and focal, there are two different types of hyperhidrosis:
- Primary hyperhidrosis: This means the excessive sweating is the primary symptom, and there is no identifiable cause.
- Secondary Hyperhidrosis: This is excessive sweating that is the result of an underlying health condition or as a side effect of a medication.
The effects of hyperhidrosis
Other than excessive sweating, hyperhidrosis can affect you in many different ways. Below are some of the ways hyperhidrosis could impact negatively on your everyday life.
Excessive sweating can cause significant physical discomfort. People who have hyperhidrosis live with this feeling more than is necessary. Additionally, excessive sweating can contribute to skin irritation and infection.
Hyperhidrosis can also harm your mental wellbeing. You could end up suffering from social embarrassment after sweating excessively. There is also the anxiety that comes with worrying about problems with excessive sweat. As a result, your self-image might change drastically. You may end up avoiding social contact or feel an overwhelming concern towards other people’s reactions.
Excessive sweating can be a hindrance or even a danger during certain activities. With sweaty palms, you might be more likely to drop things or have much more difficulty with driving.
It can even get to a point where the hyperhidrosis dictates much of your life. Examples are how your choice of clothes is limited to reduce or hide sweating, avoiding certain hobbies, and needing to carry a towel or napkin with you. It may even affect your career choices and opportunities.
Ways to deal with hyperhidrosis
For most people, the first approach to dealing with hyperhidrosis is to handle it on their own. Extra-strength antiperspirants or sweat shields are popular solutions for sweating localised in the armpits. With sweaty feet, you might pack a spare pair of socks or put baby powder in your shoes. For the hands, you may carry a handkerchief with you to dry them.
These efforts will be futile for most people with hyperhidrosis. With this, the excessive sweating of hyperhidrosis is usually too much for home remedies.
After the above methods fail, you may then move on to talking to your doctor about treating excessive sweating. The first solution most doctors offer is a prescription-strength antiperspirant for patients who have focal hyperhidrosis in their armpits. For other patients, they might provide medications that inhibit the nerves that stimulate the sweat glands.
Surgical intervention may be an option for severe cases that do not respond to other treatments. One is the debulking of the sweat glands. This surgery will reduce the volume of sweat glands in the affected area.
Another option would be endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy. This surgery severs the nerves that send signals to the sweat glands.
Both antiperspirants and surgery are beneficial to an extent. However, they still have their drawbacks. Prescription antiperspirants only provide temporary relief and need to be reapplied regularly. Furthermore, they can contribute to issues with skin irritation.
Surgical intervention may work well, but it is invasive, painful, and it comes with a significant risk of complications.
Why Botox treatment is a better solution
For a treatment option that is more effective than antiperspirants while being less invasive than surgery, you can now receive Botox injections to control excessive sweating. Similar to Botox injections that some people may get for cosmetic reasons, Botox can also be used to block signals from the nerves that activate the sweat glands.
Botox treatment for hyperhidrosis is a straight-forward procedure that can even only require a single visit. The doctor uses a fine needle to administer several injections into the area affected by hyperhidrosis. While there can be some discomfort associated with the procedure, it is minimal. Most patients should be able to return to their normal activities immediately.
After treatment, it usually takes about 2-4 days to see a noticeable reduction in sweat production in the treated area and about two weeks for it to reach its maximum effectiveness.
Research has shown that Botox is safe and effective for treating hyperhidrosis at the armpits, palms and feet. That said, there is slightly more pain associated with Botox treatments applied to the hands and feet.
Thinking of getting treatment?
It is important to note that some patients may not be suitable candidates for Botox as a treatment for hyperhidrosis. If your hyperhidrosis is the result of a health condition or if you have had surgery like debulking in the past, you may not be eligible for Botox treatments.
Brighton Implant Clinic is now offering Botox injections as a treatment for hyperhidrosis. Contact Brighton Implant Clinic or schedule an appointment for a consultation.