Definition
Hyperhidrosis is a syndrome characterized by excessive sweating, generalized or circumscribed at the level of the palms of hands and feet, armpits, forehead. Indicatively, a person complains of hyperhidrosis properly when the secretion of sweat - in normal conditions - is estimated at around half a liter a day.
Causes
The causes of hyperhidrosis are multiple and heterogeneous: excessive intake of caffeine, capsaicin, thermogenic substances, treatment with antidepressant drugs, antipyretics, cholinergics, pain, emotional factors, hyperthyroidism, hypoglycemia, nausea, obesity, psychological pathologies, vomiting.
Symptoms
The only symptom associated with hyperhidrosis is represented by the increase in sweating, easily perceived by the subject; sometimes, sweating can be foul-smelling (bromidrosis) or can dye clothes with yellow patches and sweat stains (chromohydrosis). Hyperhidrosis can heavily influence the individual's emotions, sometimes hindering relational life.
Information on Hyperhidrosis - Hyperhidrosis Drugs is not intended to replace the direct relationship between health professional and patient. Always consult your doctor and / or specialist before taking Hyperhidrosis - Hyperhidrosis Drugs.
drugs
The treatment for hyperhidrosis is certainly not a life-saving measure, or it is not equally essential to avoid some complications; however, many people who are affected decide to follow a therapeutic path, since the condition often causes many hardships in the workplace and in society. It is however necessary to remember that hyperhidrosis can reflect more important diseases, such as hyperthyroidism or hormonal disorders, therefore medical supervision is always recommended.
- Aluminum chloride: antiperspirant, recommended to treat severe hyperhidrosis. The products containing this active ingredient are generally deodorants or creams, indicated for excessive perspiration underarms; formulations containing 10-20% of aluminum chloride are used, or in more serious cases higher concentrations may be used. Antiperspirants can cause skin irritation.
- Glycopyrronium bromide or glycopyrrolate (eg Robinul): it is an anticholinergic drug, an alternative to the classic treatments for hyperhidrosis, but the product is not available in Italy; it should be taken orally at a dose of 2 mg, three times a day.
- Botulinum Toxin A (eg Botox, Vistabex, Bocouture, Xeomin): the botulinum toxin is highly toxic: 1 gram is sufficient to kill millions of victims. In infinitesimal doses, this toxin is used in therapy against hyperhidrosis (indicated for axillary hyper-sweating, for patients who do not respond positively to the treatments described above): this toxin exerts its therapeutic activity only in the injected anatomical site, determining a muscle relaxant action; consequently, the secretion of the sweat glands is lost. The effect of the toxin is about 4-6 months; after this period of time, the sweat glands resume their secretory activity, therefore the patient can undergo a similar treatment again. For other patients, it is sufficient to undergo this practice once a year.
Sedatives and anxiolytics : they are used in therapy against hyperhidrosis associated with stress and alteration of emotion; these drugs, by performing their therapeutic action on mood, improve hyperhidrosis on the whole. The choice of drug, the dosage and the duration of treatment are of medical competence, based on the severity of the psychological condition.
Alternative therapy for the treatment of hyperhidrosis: ionophoresis
Iontophoresis appears to be used effectively for the prevention of hyperhidrosis; we are talking about a practice that can promote a temporary loss of the ability to secrete sweat. The sweat glands are no longer able to produce sweat, since their ducts are blocked; this operation is possible thanks to the use of low intensity energy charges to which the patient is subjected (the subject must immerse his hands and feet in two water containers, connected to a low voltage current generator electrode). The efficacy of this technique in the treatment of hyperhidrosis varies from subject to subject, and is strongly influenced by the severity of the condition.
