Hyperhidrosis Symptoms & Causes

Hyperhidrosis Intro

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Sweat.

It helps to regulate our temperature and cools us down when our bodies overheat, to detoxify and cleanse our systems, and even helps to fight off bacteria leading to illness. For some, however, it can also do a little more than that.

...Make clothes chafe uncomfortably, blister the skin, stain clothing and become the source of incredible social anxiety - to name a few. Talk about going beyond the call of duty.

If you are experiencing excessive sweating which has started to affect your daily life - just like an estimated 365,000,000 people worldwide - then you too may be suffering from Hyperhidrosis.

What is Hyperhidrosis?

Understanding your Condition

Hyperhidrosis is a recognised medical condition where sufferers produce an excessive amount of sweat - most commonly from the underarms, the hands and the feet. It is typically an inherited condition, although can equally be a sign of various underlying health conditions such as diabetes, hyperthyroidism or heart disease.

Hyperhidrosis can be thought of as a problem with the body's internal thermometer. It is the result of a heat perception problem - the body interpreting its outside temperature incorrectly and kicking into action to cool itself. It is in the body's natural cooling mechanism - the instinct to sweat - that sufferer's bodies lead them astray.

Hyperhidrosis sufferers spend a great deal of time catering to their symptoms - whether that be avoiding things which encourage sweating (such as spicy food, alcohol or warm weather), excessively bathing or even withdrawing from social activity altogether. At Harley Street Skin, we believe that quality of life is never something that should be compromised. That's why we're on hand to help you get Hyperhidrosis under control...

A surplus of sweat can prevent you from enjoying a night out, feeling comfortable being intimate with a partner - even dancing at your own wedding. You're stuck in a cycle of excessive showering, packing a spare change of clothes and throwing out the old stained ones. It can truly overtake the best part of your life.

Harley Street Skin understand just how all-consuming this condition can become. In fact, many sufferers begin feeling very self-conscious and anxious, only aggravating the condition further. But never fear, the cycle can be broken as Hyperhidrosis is a condition which can be very well managed with appropriate treatment.

Hyperhidrosis affects an astonishing 350 million people across the world - unsurprising when we think that each and every one of us has up to 5 million sweat glands each. All is not lost, though, as sensitive sweaters can put their worries behind them with a little bit of biological know-how and one swift trip to Harley Street Skin...

How Can I treat Hyperhidrosis?

With a wealth of treatments, designed just for you...

There are a few different approaches to Hyperhidrosis, some more effective than others. These include:

The use of Strong Antiperspirants. Typically, those containing low doses of metal salt - such as aluminium chloride - are most effective. This is because the salt deposits work to form an obstruction in the gland ducts. These types of antiperspirants can either be bought over the counter or higher strengths can be prescribed by a medical professional.
Oral Medications known as anticholinergics. This can be effective for generalised sweating, although is not ideal for those suffering with a surplus of sweat in one particular area.
Laser Treatments can target and permanently kill particular sweat glands. It is an ablative treatment which prevents sweating from a specific area of the body.
Severe cases can call for Surgical Intervention. This operation is known as ETS ('Endoscopic Thoracic Sympathectomy'), and is not only very risky, but can be equally problematic longer term. This is because a high percentage (80%+) of patients then develop what is known as 'Compensatory Hyperhidrosis'. This is where sufferers then begin to develop sweat problems elsewhere on the body - effectively meaning that the output of sweat is not corrected but moved.
Our personal favourite: Botox. Botox is a cost-effective, and reliable method of treating Hyperhidrosis, taking around 30-45 minutes to complete and granting the sufferer up to 1 full year of relief.

Botox works by blocking nerve signals from the brain to the sweat glands (typically of the armpit, hands or feet). This prevents the sympathetic nerves from reacting in their typical way, and the body's sweat response is curbed significantly. Patients that have undergone treatment in fact report an up to 85% reduction in sweat production in their problem area. That is why, at Harley Street Skin, we have every faith in this minimally-invasive method - as do hundreds of our pleased patients from the past.

You can watch the lovely Claire Richards undergoing Hyperhidrosis treatment to find out just why so many people rely on this method for going completely sweat-free!