Every summer, you cannot help but sweat under the excessive heat of the sun. To beat the sticky feeling of sweating, you try to stay inside an air-conditioned room in the house, lying on your back, even fanning yourself. You think to yourself that sweating is really a nuisance, blaming the heat for it. To some people, however, excessive sweating is medical condition that needs more than just the cooling breeze from the air-conditioner. Excessive sweating is embarrassing—it causes body odor, embarrassing stains and ruins clothes, complicating personal, social, and business interactions.

Excessive sweating, also known as hyperhidrosis, is a common problem suffered by millions of people around the world. Based on statistics, one out of 20 people suffers from hyperhidrosis. Those who suffer from hyperhidrosis sweat excessively even when doing non-exertive tasks, and even when the temperature is cool. Excessive sweating may occur all throughout the body, or it can be focused on particular parts only, such as the underarms, the palms, the feet, or the face. Severe cases of excessive sweating have various practical consequences that make life hard to live. For people who are suffering from these severe cases, holding a pen, gripping the car’s steering wheel, or shaking hands can be an uncomfortable task.

The sympathetic chain of the nervous system of the body is primarily responsible for a person’s sweating. The sympathetic chain is autonomous, which means that it cannot be voluntarily controlled. Based on extensive studies on hyperhidrosis, it has been found out that the most common cause for this condition is genetic predisposition. More than 50 percent of people suffering hyperhidrosis came from a family with a genetic history of the condition. Some diseases, such as obesity, hyperthyroidism, and diabetes, are also pointed at as causes for hyperhidrosis. Other causes for hyperhidrosis include emotional changes, such as anxiety or tension.

People suffering from excessive sweating know how embarrassing and uncomfortable their condition is. It may seem as if treating the condition is hopeless, but there are actually highly effective treatments for excessive sweating. What follows are the trusted ways to get rid of excessive sweating. You may be surprised at the variety of cures and treatments available for hyperhidrosis, with some cures as simple as changing antiperspirants and deodorants and others as complex as surgical procedures.

Dry off with Antiperspirants

For slight cases of excessive sweating, especially under the armpits (axillary hyperhidrosis), the first recommended treatment is the use of antiperspirants. Antiperspirants are good at preventing sweating in various parts of the body, as well as in reducing body odors. In most antiperspirants, the main and active ingredient is aluminum chloride hexahydrate. For those who have a slightly higher case of excessive sweating, some doctors may prescribe stronger antiperspirants with a higher aluminum chloride hexahydrate content. Before using antiperspirants, it is advisable to undergo a skin test first to determine if skin irritation may arise from the use of the treatment. Two of the most commonly used antiperspirants for excessive sweating are Maxim and Drysol. Drysol is available in various strengths and needs a prescription to be used; Maxim, on the other hand, is less acidic and can be bought without prescription. More patients show positive results with Maxim, which is generally less irritating than Drysol.

Take Medications

Doctors may also prescribe medications to treat excessive sweating. One example of a prescription medication for excessive sweating is glycopyrrolate. Medications for excessive sweating work by preventing the over-production and over-stimulation of sweat glands. Three of the most commonly used medications for excessive sweating are Ditropan, Robinul, and Probanthine, all of which come from the same family of drugs. These medications are not specifically formulated for treating hyperhidrosis, but are known to produce dryness in the body. Medications may work for slight cases of hyperhidrosis but may not be as effective for others, making the success rate very limited. Aside from this, medications for hyperhidrosis also have several bothersome side effects such as dry mouth and dizziness.

Iontophoresis Treatment: What It Does to Hyperhidrosis

Due to the developments in medical technology, new treatments for excessive sweating were introduced. Iontophoresis treatment with the use of the Drionic machine is a treatment process that uses electric currents to temporarily disrupt and turn off the functioning of the sweat glands. Based on the nature of the treatment, it is better suited for use on the hands and feet. To perform the treatment, the hands and feet are placed in tub of water where a gentle electric current is allowed to pass through. Iontophoresis sessions last at about 20 minutes. The procedure needs to be repeated several times to achieve the desired results. It has minor side effects that rarely occur, such as cracking of the skin as well as formation of blisters.

Prevent Sweating by Stretching with Botox

Botox, or botulinum toxin, which is widely used commercially to get rid the fine lines and wrinkles on the face, can also be used to get rid of severe underarm sweating. A few of doses of pure Botox is injected into the skin on the underarm area. This blocks the sweat glands from being stimulated and productive. One injection of Botox in the underarm area can be effective for about 3 to 6 months. Other bodily areas may also be injected with Botox to treat excessive sweating, but the procedure can be painful, which is why it is commonly done only on the underarms. The FDA has not approved of using Botox on the palms to cure palmar hyperhidrosis.

Surgical Procedures for Treating Excessive Sweating

Various surgical procedures are carried out to treat excessive sweating in specific parts of the body. These surgical procedures are minimally invasive and are performed to cut the nerves responsible for the excessive sweating. For people who suffer from extreme hyperhidrosis, the best solution is to undergo any of these surgical procedures. Sweaty palms, also known as palmar hyperhidrosis, can be cured with a procedure known as Thoracic Sympathectomy. Developed a few decades ago, Endoscopic Thoracic Sympathectomy (ETS) is performed through the back, lower part of the neck, or the chest cavity. On each side of the chest cavity, small incisions are made through which medical instruments, such as a fiber optic camera, are inserted. The sympathetic chain is then resected, coagulated, or clamped. The success rate for curing sweaty palms with this procedure is a high 98 percent, although there is the possibility of reversal. For patients suffering from excessive foot sweating, or plantar hyperhidrosis, the procedure performed is Lumbar Sympathectomy, which is done with the patient under general anesthesia. Usually, the surgeon makes three small cuts on both sides of the retro-peritoneal area. The success rate for Lumbar Sympathectomy is around 90 percent, with possible side effects that can include pain, bleeding, and discomfort.

Excessive sweating may be a grave problem, but there are various ways to treat it. Do not let sweat take over your life—if you are suffering from any form of excessive sweating, it is time you have it treated by a medical professional. Visit your doctor now and ask for the best way to cure this condition.