We have all heard the saying, if you look good you feel good. Looking sweaty and having a sweaty handshake is definitely not something easy to cope with, especially if it’s impacting your success in business as well as your personal life.
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Every time you meet someone new you feel you need to explain yourself or even worse apologise for your medical problem.
Here is what you need to know to solve this.
Excessive sweating can be socially embarrassing, may stain clothing or footwear and impact on your quality of life. This can also predispose you to skin conditions such as fungal infections, eczema and rashes.
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What is hyperhidrosis?
Excessive or uncontrollable sweating, also known as hyperhidrosis, occurs in approximately 2.8 per cent of the population.
Sweating is your body’s normal mechanism to cool itself, but some people produce more sweat than is needed.
Dr Andrew Bullen, a vascular specialist in the Illawarra, reports there are a number of measures that can be undertaken to limit the impact of the condition.
The treatment depends on the underlying cause:
There are two types of excessive sweating:
- Focal hyperhidrosis: excessive sweating in certain areas of the body, usually the armpits, hands, feet or face.
- Generalised hyperhidrosis: excessive sweating that affects the entire body, usually due to an underlying medical problem.
Causes of excessive sweating
Sweating normally happens when the nervous system triggers the sweat glands to produce fluid to cool the body.
This can happen in response to the temperature, physical activity or stress.
Sometimes, the nerves become overactive and trigger the sweat glands even without heat or physical activity. This type of hyperhidrosis often runs in families.
It can be worse if you are nervous or stressed.
Excessive sweating can also be caused by a medical condition such as:
- Diabetes
- Menopause
- Thyroid problems
- Low blood sugar
- Some types of cancer
- Nervous system disorders
- Infections
Some medicines can also cause excessive sweating.
Treatment
Dr Bullen says treatment options range from simple lifestyle remedies or prescription strength antiperspirants and medication, to more invasive therapies.
These include immersing the hands or feet in water and passing a mild current to the skin, injections of muscle relaxants or minimally invasive surgical treatment.
Advancements in surgical techniques mean treatment of severe cases can be performed through keyhole day surgery.
Endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS) is a procedure that is used to treat hyperhidrosis of the palms or armpits, that has not responded to other therapy.
This procedure involves dividing the nerves that supply the sweat glands in the arm and hand, using laparoscopic surgery.
ETS is very effective at stopping sweating of the hands in over 95 per cent of cases.
By taking control of your excessive sweating, you’ll experience less socially embarrassing situations plus you’ll be less predisposed to fungal infections, eczema and rashes.
If you experience excessive sweating or wish to discuss more permanent treatment options, call Dr Andrew Bullen today to make a consultation on 4226 9333.
