Excessive Sweating Treatment (Hyperhidrosis)

Hyperhidrosis is when the body secretes more sweat than it normally physiologically needs. It causes psychological and physical discomfort to those affected. The amount of sweat secreted to the skin surface increases due to hyperactivity of the eccrine sweat glands. It occurs with a frequency of 0.6-1% in our society. It usually begins in late childhood or adolescence. It may persist throughout life or disappear spontaneously at the age of 25-30 years.
The sweat secretion is usually odorless and milky. After bacterial destruction, an individual sweat odor develops. Factors such as consumption of odorous foods that pass into body secretions and bathing habits influence sweat odor. Sweat secretions contain fat and cholesterin. These properties do not play a role in excessive sweating.

Excessive sweating may be physiological or may occur in some diseases due to hormonal activity. Physiological hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) occurs after an increase in body temperature, when overweight, after physical exertion, in hot and humid environments and due to thick clothing.

Hyperhidrosis that begins in childhood usually appears on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. There may be a family history. This type of sweating also increases with physical activity or stress. Excessive sweating in the armpits and on the upper lip is also common.

Excessive sweating of any kind is a condition that distracts people from social life and affects the quality of life, causing depression and panic attacks. Treatment should be selected based on the area where the excessive sweating most often occurs. The nature of the condition should be determined by physical examination, and etiologic factors (laboratory, imaging, etc.) should be investigated. The choice of treatment for hyperhidrosis should be methods that the patient accepts, are feasible, meet the expectations of the patient and physician, and have no side effects. For example, especially underarm sweating causes serious psychological changes in many young adults.

“Botox applications” achieve very good results for this type of sweating. They improve the quality of life of those affected and allow them to adapt to social life. The use of Botox, which is very effective especially for underarm sweating, should be decided after a good evaluation before using it for hand and foot sweating.