Hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating)

All individuals sweat, and it is essential for regulating body temperature. However, some people experience excessive sweating that becomes a nuisance, affecting up to 3 per cent of the population. This can manifest as stains on clothing or sweaty palms. This condition is called hyperhidrosis in medical terms, which means sweating more than necessary for regulating body temperature.

What is hyperhidrosis?

Sweating is the body's way of regulating heat. There are two types of sweat glands: One type of gland contributes to cooling by evaporation (sweating) and is found all over the body except for the lips. The second type is called the "scent glands", which give the smell of sweat and are mainly found in the armpits, in the abdomen and around the nipples.

In some people, the body produces more sweat than is necessary and it is called hyperhidrosis in the technical language. Excessive sweating is completely harmless but can be embarrassing for those affected.

Treatment

The most effective treatment is treatment with botox. Only localized hyperhidrosis can be treated with Botox, as only the areas that are injected will feel the effect. Generalized sweating is rather treated with tablets to inhibit the sweating.

Botox is a muscle relaxant that blocks the nerve impulses from the sweat glands, so you produce less sweat. This is done by injecting Botox deep into the skin where the most active sweat glands have been located. The effect will not spread to other places in the body where Botox has been injected.

The effect itself lasts for 4-6 months, so it is not a permanent solution. It may still be a better alternative than using daily medication and creams to keep the sweating problem at bay. If you repeat the treatment over time, the sweat glands will also become less active, and the effect will last all the longer.