Sweating is the body’s natural mechanism to regulate its temperature and eliminate toxins. Factors such as hot weather, physical exercise or situations that activate our autonomic nervous system, such as fear or shame, intervene in perspiration. However, some people suffer from excessive sweating that is not due to any of these causes, which can cause significant emotional and physical damage.
Hyperhidrosis can affect some parts of the body such as the armpits, hands and feet, or face, and has a certain hereditary component. But when excess sweating affects most of the body surface, it can be related to health problems such as diabetes, hyperthyroidism or respiratory failure. That is why it is essential to see a doctor to assess the degree of sweating and rule out possible underlying causes.
There are treatments to help those affected by mild hyperhidrosis. This is the case of antiperspirants, a product that you can freely access, which is applied directly to the parts of the skin that secrete excess sweat. Antiperspirants contain aluminum chloride which clogs the eccrine glands. It is recommended to apply this product at night, when the sweat glands are less active, and space its use 2 to 3 times a week when you notice the results to avoid possible skin irritations.
Another option to treat excessive sweating is taking anticholinergics. These medications act on acetylcholine, a substance that triggers sweat production. Some topical solutions such as glycopyrrolate are focused on easy hyperhidrosis, while oxybotunin is taken orally and is used for generalized cases of excessive sweating. In any case, these drugs must be prescribed by a dermatologist.
Patients with a high degree of hyperhidrosis can undergo more advanced treatments. One of them is iotophoresis, which consists of immersing the area to be treated in an aqueous solution, through which the passage of a mild electric current is induced to temporarily block the sweat glands. It is a very useful technique for hands or feet, which requires several sessions to obtain optimal results.
Botox and surgery are other recommended treatments for those who have not been successful with the above techniques. For one, botulinum toxin is injected in small amounts, every six months or so, to inhibit acetylcholine, the neurotransmitter that promotes sweat production. On the other hand, surgery can be considered as a last resort for the treatment of hyperhidrosis. The intervention consists of performing an endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy to stop the nerves that activate the sweat glands.
