HYPERHIDROSIS
About Hyperhidrosis
Hyperhidrosis is a medical condition that causes excessive sweating and affects men and women equally. An estimated 15 million people in the U.S. have Hyperhidrosis, which roughly equates to 1 and 20 people. This condition is most commonly present in individuals between the ages of 18 and 39 but affects all ages, genders, and races of people. Hyperhidrosis requires a medical diagnosis and has two possible classifications, primary or secondary Hyperhidrosis. The cause of primary Hyperhidrosis remains unknown, and secondary Hyperhidrosis result from a wide variety of reasons that include such things as medical conditions, injuries, or as a side effect of certain medications and food supplements.
Many people who have Hyperhidrosis sweat from one or two areas of the body. Most often, they sweat from their palms, feet, underarms, or head. While the rest of the body remains dry, one or two areas may drip with sweat.
This excessive sweating can interfere with everyday activities. Hands can be so sweaty that it becomes difficult to turn a doorknob or use a computer. Sweat from the underarms often soaks through clothes, causing noticeable sweat marks. Because the skin is often wet, skin infections can develop.
Part of the Body Affected by Hyperhidrosis
Hyperhidrosis or excessive sweating can occur on any part of the body where sweat glands exist. People with this condition most often experience it in at least one to two places on their body.
Some common body parts affected
- Underarms
- Forehead
- Hands
- Feet
Who Gets Hyperhidrosis?
It is hard to say how many people have Hyperhidrosis, the condition often goes undiagnosed for many reasons–including embarrassment, or a lack of awareness about the condition or treatments. We do know that Hyperhidrosis equally affects both males and females and can occur at any age in life. Some people can be more likely to have this unwanted condition. Some experts estimate one in 20 people in the United States have some form of this condition, which roughly equates to about 15 million people by our estimate.
Treatments Options
A wide variety of treatments exist to manage hyperhidrosis or excessive sweating conditions. Individual treatment recommendations will depend on the type of Hyperhidrosis diagnosed, and the parts of the body affected. Your current state of health will also influence possible treatment options. The good news is there are newer treatments now available, including high tech ones that are far less invasive, yield fast and dramatic results, require little to no downtime and affordable and easy administered.
- miraDry®
- Botulinum Toxin Injections
- Improving Preventable Health Conditions
- Antiperspirants
- Medication/Supplement Changes
- Lifestyle Modifications
- Surgical Procedures
- Home Therapies
- Diet Management
- Weight Loss
- Medication
Further Insights and Interesting Facts
- The actual cause of Hyperhidrosis remains unknown.
- It is more likely to occurs among family members when one or members have the condition
- Dermatologist believe that this condition is under-diagnosed
- Excess sweat causes a great deal of stress, anxiety, and embarrassment for many people
- Fear of embarrassment can cause people not to speak with a doctor about their symptoms
- Climate is not a factor in Hyperhidrosis.
- For people with Hyperhidrosis, you do not have to be hot or overheat to sweat excessively
- The average person has approximately 2-4 million sweat glands throughout their body, and the underarm alone typically has less than 2 percent of these glands alone.
- This condition affects people of all races.
- This condition can occur at any age and equally affects both males and females.
- Children can suffer from this condition.
- Certain medical conditions, medications, or supplements can cause Hyperhidrosis.
- Many people have never sought diagnosis or treatment for this condition
Scientists are still studying this condition to identify the cause and how to prevent or treat it. The good news is, there are treatments available, including such high tech, non-invasive options as miraDry—an FDA approved treatment for excessive underarm sweat. Healthcare providers and patients alike consider miraDry laser technology a real game-changer in the treatment of excess sweat.
Common Signs and Symptoms of Hyperhidrosis
While everyone sweats, a hyperhidrosis or excess sweat sufferer experiences more sweat than normal. Sweat is a normal and important part of bodily functions which is typically activated to cool a body down to help prevent the body from overheating. A person with Hyperhidrosis differs in that they sweat when the body does not need to be cooled, and they also produce an unusually excessive amount of sweat. This type of excessive sweating is often the cause of stress, embarrassment, and can even disrupt the activities of everyday life.
Diagnosing Hyperhidrosis
Diagnosing Hyperhidrosis requires medical evaluation. Proper diagnosis will also help determine your best course of treatment to manage excess sweat. It is also important to rule out possible underlying medical conditions that could be cause for concern.
- Physical Exam
- Lifestyle Assessment
- Medical Testing
- Review of Medications and Supplements
- Questions about medical history and symptoms
Tips For Managing And Treating Hyperhidrosis
Many people who sweat excessively do not realize that they have a treatable medical condition. The following tips can help you gain some control over this unwelcome condition.
Take note of any possible triggers that could cause you to sweat excessively. These may include stressful situations, bouts of fear or anxiety, heat, foods or beverages you consume, or perhaps nothing clearly apparent. Identify the times of day and situations you are in when you experience excess sweating. Were you sleeping? Feeling relaxed? Working at your computer? Did you just finish a meal? Or, perhaps you just completed an important presentation at work? Timing, situation, and environmental factors can all play a role in bouts of in excess sweating. Also, where on your body do you experience excessive sweat? Is it all over or isolated to spots like your hands, feet, forehead, underarms or everywhere?
Seek medical evaluation to help you determine if you have Hyperhidrosis and what kind you may have. A medical professional can also review treatment options with you to help you determine your best approach to managing unwanted symptoms.
When meeting with a medical professional about your excess sweat, they will likely ask you a series of questions to help diagnose the condition and cause(s) of your excess sweat.