Hyperhidrosis, or excessive perspiration. Perspiration is a normal reaction of the body and is necessary to cool down, but if this perspiration becomes disproportionate, it can be referred to as hyperhidrosis. Hyperhidrosis is a condition that is not very common, but for patients it is a very unpleasant part of their lives that can often make them feel uncomfortable.
How does it arise?
When the eccrine gland (sweat gland) is overactive, this will result in excessive perspiration of the body. These sweat glands are located all over the body and can therefore cause perspiration anywhere. But this excessive perspiration will mainly occur in the palms of the hands, on the soles of the feet and in the armpits. When one suffers from hyperhidrosis, one can hardly do anything about excessive perspiration. However, there are a number of factors that can increase this (excessive) perspiration, such as:
- exercise
- heat/cold
- hot drinks, smoking and spicy/spicy foods
- strong emotions, such as stress and anxiety
It is not known where hyperhidrosis occurs in certain people. It is known that approximately 1/3 or half of people with hyperhidrosis have a family member with the same complaints.
The diagnose
Hyperhidrosis, the primary type, can be diagnosed when excessive sweating persists for 6 months. This in combination with at least 2 of the 6 symptoms below, which must be clearly evident:
- extreme and relatively symmetrical sweating in the armpits, palms, soles of the feet or on the face.
- experience hindrance in daily activities.
- it occurs regularly, with a minimum frequency of once a week.
- the person in question is younger than 25 years old.
- has a positive family history.
- sweating does not continue during sleep.
Some “easy” methods to find out if someone has hyperhidrosis include: Extreme sweating in the armpits is easy to recognize by the sweat spots it makes on worn shirts and the like. Sweat spots that are between 10 and 20 centimeters in size usually indicate hyperhidrosis. In the palms, hyperhidrosis can be recognized by wet hands, from which the sweat drops come off.
Before making this diagnosis, it is also desirable to be able to provide a definitive answer to some factors that could also be a possible cause of excessive sweating, such as:
- HIV
- diabetes
- drug use
- alcoholism
But if the patient’s story reveals any points of interest that require further investigation, this will be carried out in order to initially rule out factors other than hyperhidrosis.
The consequences
Hyperhidrosis mainly causes psychological and psychosocial problems (the visibility of sweating can cause shame, etc.). In addition, excessive sweating can also lead to painful or irritated skin, wet skin is also more sensitive to bacterial and fungal infections.
Measures against excessive perspiration
If you suffer from hyperhidrosis, you can take some measures yourself that can contribute to reducing the visibility and amount of sweating. Some tips are:
- Wear “cool” clothes.
- Keep your working environment cool and well ventilated.
- Avoid foods and drinks that cause perspiration. (This will be different for everyone and it is therefore best for everyone to determine for themselves).
- Stress, emotions and anxiety are problems for everyone, but people with hyperhidrosis especially have many problems with perspiration. It is therefore important to take time for yourself in which you can relax. It can also be useful to discuss hyperhidrosis with others.
In addition, you can opt for treatment of hyperhidrosis, including ionthophoresis with hidrex therapy or injections with Botulinum Toxin (Botox).
