Excessive Sweating for both men and women
This problem known as hyperhidrosis is not at all uncommon especially at this time of year when the weather is hotter and more humid.
Sweating is the body's best way of losing heat and some people simply have more sweat glands than others. Most of these sweat glands are concentrated in certain areas like the armpits, feet and hands but they do occur all over the body.
Solutions
Botulinum Toxin is used to treat excessive sweating. Botulinum toxin (known as Botox has been found to be effective in the management of excess sweating. It is a bacterial protein, which blocks certain nerve impulses. Before skin treatment commences, a powder is dusted loosely over the area, which allows the overactive sweat glands to be identified. Botulinum toxin is then injected into the skin, which enters the sweat glands and specifically blocks the nerve impulses to the sweat glands. Other nerve functions such as feel and touch are uninterrupted.
How long does it last?
The treatment works for up to 3 months before a top-up is required.
Does it hurt?
Discomfort is minimal and we can apply an anesthetic cream if your skin is sensitive.
Driclor
The best over-the-counter preparation you can use is Driclor otherwise known as aluminium hydroxide. You apply it regularly at night until you become drier and then use it as and when necessary.
How does Driclor work?
Aluminium chloride is an effective antiperspirant that is applied to the skin to control severe excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis). It works by blocking the sweat glands. This causes the pressure of fluid within the sweat glands to rise to the point where it shuts off sweat production. The antiperspirant is applied before going to bed at night and should be washed off in the morning. It should not be re-applied during the day. Over time, sweating will stop during the day and the number of times you apply the antiperspirant at night can be reduced. (See the information leaflet provided with this medicine for further details.)This medicine should only be used on small areas of skin, ie the armpits, hands or feet, to ensure that no detrimental effects occur from widespread blocking of pores and obstruction of sweating.
Surgery
In extreme cases, there is an operation called a transthoracic sympathectomy, which cuts the nerves in the neck (via an incision in the armpit) which are responsible for profuse sweating. But it is somewhat drastic and only recommended if simpler measures fail.
Procedure information is copyright Department of Health (http://www.dh.gov.uk. Reproduced under the terms of the Click-Use Licence.
