Put an End to Excessive Sweating

  Contributed by: Justin King, Pharm.D. Candidate

                        KU School of Pharmacy
Text Box: Many individuals are forced to live with an often-embarrassing condition known as hyperhidrosis, which basically means excessive sweating. This isn’t just the kind of sweating that goes on during physical activity or when you are outside on a hot, balmy day. It involves constant sweating regardless of temperature, social situation, or time of day. Those who suffer from hyperhidrosis know all too well its consequences. Their hands and feet always seem to be moist and sweaty; their armpits always seem to have a ring of sweat underneath. The problem isn’t necessarily just the physical discomfort of being sweaty, but it is the manifestation of anxiety and social discomfort that an individual feels when this excessive sweating occurs. By the numbers, approximately 1 in 25 individuals experiences hyperhidrosis, and most are unaware of the treatment options available. There are two types of hyperhidrosis recognized by health practitioners: primary focal and secondary generalized. Primary focal has no underlying cause. The issue of excessive sweating is the medical condition itself. The most common areas of sweating occur at the hands, feet, underarms, and head or face. Secondary generalized is a form of excessive sweating caused by another condition. It may be caused by a disease state such as diabetes or cancer, or it may simply be a side effect of a medication. Often, treating the underlying disease can resolve the secondary form of hyperhidrosis. Thankfully, there are several different forms of treatment available to reduce or eliminate the incidence of primary hyperhidrosis. Treatment Options: When treating hyperhidrosis, we start Text Box: with basic topical antiperspirants. These are the antiperspirant containing underarm bars that most people are familiar with at the local store. These over-the-counter (OTC) antiperspirants can be applied anytime during the day, however, studies show that they are more effective if you apply them in the evening before bed rather than in the morning (or you can apply at both times). Another topical product that is more effective but is sometimes more difficult to obtain is aluminum chloride. There is an OTC and a prescription (Rx) formulation available (which are essentially just different concentrations) and are marketed commonly under the brand names Certain Dri® (OTC) and Drysol® (Rx). This product is applied before bedtime and usually does not require continuous use. The newest treatment recently becoming available in 2004 is Botox®. It is an FDA approved injection that can be performed by a physician in a matter of minutes and can last for longer than 6 months. It is injected locally to the area of excessive sweating (such as the armpits). There are also many specific oral prescription medications that can be prescribed for hyperhidrosis with the help of a qualified physician. One of the last non-surgical options is called iontophoresis. This is a physical treatment that consists of placing the hands or feet in a tray of water and running a very mild electrical current through the water. This procedure is painless and is done at a physician’s office under supervision. Some cheaper electrical current devices are available without a prescription, however these devices seem to lack effectiveness. Text Box: If all of the above options have been tried and showed non-effective, there always remains surgery as a last option for treatment. This is quite a bit more involved and won’t even need to be a consideration for the majority of patients. One can remedy most cases of hyperhidrosis with a single or combination of options listed above. It is important though to recognize if you think you suffer from this condition and to not be afraid to discuss treatment options with your physician. With the multiple therapies available, there is no longer any reason to be embarrassed by uncontrollable sweat. A great website where you can find much more information on the topic of hyperhidrosis is located at www.sweathelp.org. It is the official website of the International Hyperhidrosis Society and it expands on the information listed here as well as offers many links and even physician locator services. Text Box: Next Page Text Box: Previous Page