Managing Hyperhidrosis: Effective Treatments to Reduce Excessive Sweating

What medical condition do you think is characterized by excessive sweating? You guessed it – Hyperhidrosis! Typically with this condition, the sweat glands end up producing more sweat than is necessary to regulate body temperature. Maybe you have experienced bouts of excessive sweating in life or perhaps you deal with it daily. Either way, it’s not uncommon to feel uncomfortable, embarrassed, or even isolate yourself socially due to this condition. This is because it can affect multiple body parts including the hands, armpits, feet, and face. However, fear no more because there are effective sweating treatments available for you! Let’s take a closer look.

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What is Hyperhidrosis?

Believe it or not, hyperhidrosis is when a part of your body is excessively sweating that is not necessarily due to exercise or heat. Don’t be surprised if your sweat drips off of various body parts and soaks your clothes. As stated earlier, it can affect multiple body parts and usually occurs on both sides of the body. While the body’s normal mechanism to cool itself is through sweating, hyperhidrosis is caused by faulty nerve signals. And yes, there are certain conditions that can cause it, including but not limited to:

• Infections.
• Thyroid Issues.
• Diabetes.
• Certain Types of Cancer
• Menopausal Hot Flashes.
• Nervous System Disorders.

Some risk factors include blood relatives who sweat heavily, medicines, and certain medical conditions. Now that we know what can cause hyperhidrosis, let’s dive into the difference between primary and secondary hyperhidrosis!

Primary Hyperhidrosis

Primary hyperhidrosis refers to excessive sweating with no clear cause (idiopathic) and is often considered genetic. Specific body parts are normally targeted with primary hyperhidrosis.

Secondary Hyperhidrosis

Secondary hyperhidrosis is excessive sweating caused by a known medical condition or medication. Typically, most of the body experiences heavy sweating. So, are you curious about the treatments that are actually available for you? Let’s check em’ out!

Treatment Options Available at Dream Med Spa

If topical treatments are not sufficient for your sweating issues, the use of botulinum toxin injections or Botox can help! Basically, these injections block the nerve signals that activate sweat glands. Fortunately, this effectively reduces sweat production in targeted areas like the underarms, soles of the feet, and let’s not forget the palms! The “International Hyperhidrosis Society” found that people who have received Botox injections have discovered excessive sweating decreases by 85%! The Botox duration can vary from person to person. The effects can last anywhere between 3-6 months, but may wear off quicker for hands and feet. So, what body parts are typically treated? The areas that are commonly treated include:

• Face
• Scalp
• Underarms
• Palms of the Hands
• Soles of the Feet

If you choose not to take the Botox route, there are topical treatments and prescription medications available. Now, there is some fancy terminology for the topical treatment options including; anticholinergics, aluminum chloride, and other agents. Glycopyrrolate, Oxybutynin, and Sofpironium are some examples of topical anticholinergics. Aluminum chloride, Boric acid, Tannic acid, Resorcinol cover some of the other accessible topical agents.

If none of those topical treatments are appealing to you, there are certain prescription medications like antiperspirant, antidepressants, nerve blocking medications, certain creams and wipes, and more to choose from. Look at all the options you have! So, what can you expect from a treatment session?

What to Expect from a Treatment Session

To begin, you’ll want to pick up your phone and book a consultation with your local Plainfield med spa! Be prepared to discuss:

1. Your sweating patterns.
2. The severity of those patterns.
3. The bodily areas mainly affected.

You may have to review your medical history in order to identify any prospective contraindications. This will help to eliminate potential complications, so it’s worth it! The consultant will explain the list of treatment options and discuss the side effects and risks involved.

Now, for the actual procedure itself, it often involves Botox injections. First, the treatment area will be cleaned, and for comfort, a topical anesthetic might be applied. Botox injections will be precisely targeted into the affected sweat glands. There is minimal discomfort and only a light stinging sensation during injections. And voila — all done!

Post-care instructions advise to avoid strenuous activity and hot baths for at least 24 to 48 hours. Please put that deodorant away as well as other topical products as the treated area should be left alone for a short while. If swelling is an issue, ice packs can be applied. And if any unusual side-effects appear, do not hesitate to call your health provider!

Take Control of Excessive Sweating: Call Dream Med Spa Today

We hope this article has offered more insight into the world of hyperhidrosis and excessive sweating treatments in order to reduce symptoms. Remember, there are a variety of topical treatments and prescription medications, with Botox injections being a popular choice! Also, if you take the Botox route, there is minimal pain and discomfort.

We would like to highlight that regular checkups are important to accurately assess treatment effectiveness and possibly schedule additional injections. We recommend scheduling your next consultation soon to stay on top of your treatment plan. Your comfort and results matter to us, and we’re here to help every step of the way. We look forward to seeing you!