Hyperhidrosis is a condition characterized by increased sweat separation due to excessive secretion of sweat glands. Without causing any particular physical suffering, this condition can bring certain inconveniences and the development of a difficult social adaptation associated with it.
Reasons
It is customary to distinguish between primary and secondary hyperhidrosis. In the first case, the causes of the disease should be called increased nervous tension, sleep disturbance, anxiety. As a rule, primary hyperhidrosis is associated with adolescence.
Secondary hyperhidrosis is associated with a particular pathology in the human body. Often, increased separation of sweat occurs against the background of taking certain medications.
In a number of diseases in which the phenomenon of hyperhidrosis develops, you can put:
obesity and diabetes mellitus;
rheumatism;
neurasthenia;
hyperplasia of the sweat glands;
functional disorders of the nervous system.
Do not forget that hyperhidrosis itself can cause the development of various skin lesions, including candidiasis.
According to the degree and severity of the course of the condition, local and generalized hyperhidrosis are distinguished. In the local form, increased sweating is observed in certain areas of the human body. As a rule, her armpits, palms and feet sweat a lot.
With a local form, a person sweats in the face and head area. Sometimes sweating is observed in all of the above areas simultaneously.
Symptoms
The symptoms of the disease are clear and are expressed in increased sweating.
Diagnostics
As a rule, the diagnosis is made on the basis of complaints and the clinical picture. Medicine has developed qualitative and quantitative methods for diagnosing this condition.
Among the quantitative methods , there are:
Evapometry (measuring the amount of sweat on a person’s palm with a special device).
Gravimetry (a method using filter paper whose weight is known in advance).
A qualitative method of diagnosing hyperhidrosis was and remains the iodine-starch method or the Minor test, based on the ability of starch staining when human sweat is excreted. In this case, the patient’s skin is pre-treated with iodine.
Treatment
Medicine has developed several methods of treating this condition. In addition to ordinary therapeutic measures, surgical aids can also be used.
It is worth remembering that without therapy of the underlying disease, which caused the development of secondary hyperhidrosis, it is impossible to achieve success. Among the most effective treatment measures for this condition should be highlighted:
The use of various antiperspirants that reduce the intensity of sweating.
Application of physiotherapy measures in the form of radiotherapy, ionophoresis.
Taking sedative and anticholinergic drugs.
Injections of botulinum toxin into areas of increased sweating.
Surgery to block the sympathetic nerve responsible for regulating the activity of sweat glands.
Operation curettage. It is indicated for hyperhidrosis of the armpits. In its course, the subcutaneous fatty tissue in the armpits is scraped out with simultaneous removal of sweat glands.
Removal of a flap of skin with an increased concentration of sweat glands is often indicated. With all the effectiveness of the method (and it reaches almost one hundred percent), it is associated with serious cosmetic defects in the form of the formation of a noticeable scar.
Prevention
The main preventive measure is body hygiene. It is important to avoid stress, carry out tempering procedures, dress according to the season. To eliminate unrest, light sedatives should be used.
