The Basics of Hyperhidrosis Medicine
September 12, 2009 by anthony
Filed under Hyperhidrosis
Hyperhidrosis is a condition in which a person experiences excessive sweating in their hands (palmar hyperhidrosis), underarms (axillary), face and/or feet (plantar). Everyone perspires more when they get nervous or excited or when they exercise, but people with this condition perspire excessively, often for no apparent reason.
The sympathetic nervous system, which controls involuntary responses such as sweating, blushing, and salivation, simply fails to regulate sweating in these body areas. Consequently, people with hyperhidrosis often experience sweating so severe that it becomes a source of embarrassment, making them reluctant to shake or touch hands.
It also can interfere with everyday activities such as writing, driving, taking tests, making presentations or even holding or grasping objects. The severity of the condition varies from person to person, but in most cases the sweating proves problematic both socially and professionally. The prevalence of hyperhidrosis is not well-documented, but it is estimated to affect up to one percent of the U.S. population.
The most common non-surgical treatments for this condition include:
Topical anti-perspirants, such as aluminum chloride. Drysol, a topical lotion applied two to four times a day, is usually the first medication tried. It is often very effective for those patients with the mildest symptoms, but it can cause chapping and cracking of the skin.
Oral medicines: Anticholinergic medicines (such as Robinul) are used to block certain receivers on nerve receptors at involuntary nerve sites. In people with hyperhidrosis, this leads to decreased sweating. Some psychotropic drugs (drugs that affect mental function), like amitriptyline, have also been prescribed for hyperhidrosis.
Iontophoresis (Drionics): This involves applying low-intensity electrical current to the hands or feet while they are immersed in an electrolyte solution. When used daily, it can decrease the problem or even solve it temporarily. However, the procedure is time consuming and can be mildly to moderately painful.
Botox: This substance, a derivative of the deadly botulism toxin, is injected into the affected area. The success rate is only fair for axillary hyperhidrosis and even less so for palmar symptoms. Although it can sometimes work, its effectiveness wears off after 3 to 4 months. Therefore, the person has to undergo periodic and potentially painful injections.
Stop Sweating Start Living Know What Excessive Sweat Can Do To You
May 27, 2009 by anthony
Filed under Stop Sweating
Sweating is a very natural process that occurs in human beings; there is no one that does not sweat. But yes, the amount of sweat does differ from one person to another. In some people, the volume of perspiration is so high that it may affect his or her social life and cause a baggage of other problems. This is the reason why there are so many tips on how to prevent body odor nowadays. These range from very simple techniques like drinking a lot of water to medical methods like surgical obstruction of the way in which the sweat glands work. The very prevalence of these methods indicates how significantly sweat affects a person’s life.
The first effect is on the person’s self confidence. A person who sweats a lot will also be quite conscious of it. This has more chances of happening if the person’s sweat also carries a foul odor. Due to their excessive sweatiness, these people will not be very confident of interacting with people. They will love to remain inside their homes and not want to get out in the sun. Furthermore, they will be very conscious of the marks that sweat can leave on their shirts. That is the reason why they will try to buy more clothes of a darker color, or try to put in more shirts inside so that they can absorb the sweat.
Nervousness causes people to sweat more. But since sweating makes a person nervous, this can lead to a chain reaction. A person will nervous because he or she sweats and then this nervousness will make them sweat more. In that way, a copious amount of sweat can be produced. Due to this reason, it can be said that sweating is symptom of a psychological disorder.
Hence, sweating can strongly influence the kind of life a person leads. From being a proactive social creature, a person can get to be a recluse. There are people who are much socially active in the winter season, but as the summer months approach, they tend to become invisible out of their homes. This is naturally a disorder that is waiting to be researched upon.
It is no wonder then that people are investing so much time, money and effort on ways to stop underarm odor. Sweating does influence life in a great way, whether you accept it or not. The silver lining, though, is that sweating can be cured completely with certain effective and well-researched methods.
