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Could you be suffering from hyperhidrosis without knowing it?
July 8, 2009 - Follow me on Twitter
Feature by our Editorial Assistant Colleen
Sweat marks are one of the most embarrassing and annoying things, and summer doesn’t exactly alleviate this problem. Normally sweating is a natural and healthy part of everyone’s daily life but when does it actually become a serious problem?
Perhaps you’ve noticed a little more sweat every now and then. Are your palms constantly sweaty? Are you noticeably sweaty in places you never thought you would be like your armpits or feet?
If you are, then there is a possibility that you might be suffering with hyperhidrosis. This condition is when your body sweats up to four times more than needed. The purpose of sweat is to regulate your body temperature but it becomes excessive when you sweat more than the average person. This effect is concentrated where your sweat glands are located in your palms, armpits, face and feet (focal or primary hyperhidrosis) or sometimes it affects your entire body (generalized or secondary hyperhidrosis).
You’re probably wondering how much sweat is excessive sweat? Luckily there’s a scale that you can use.
There are four scores. The first two suggest a mild case of hyperhidrosis and the scores of three and four suggest a more severe case.
Score #1: The sweat that you produce is hardly noticeable nor does it interfere with your daily activities.
Score #2: The sweat that you produce is tolerable, however, the sweat does interfere with your daily activities.
Score #3: The sweat that you produce is scarcely tolerable and it does interfere with your daily activities frequently.
Score #4: The sweat that you produce is not tolerable and interferes with your daily activities all the time.
Although you may find it embarrassing, hyperhidrosis is very common and highly treatable.
Here are a couple of options for treatment:
1) Antiperspirants – This probably seems like an obvious solution but try some heavy duty antiperspirants first. Some deodorants contain antiperspirants (this means that there is an addition of aluminum in the product, which reduces the amount of sweat formed).
2) Botox therapy – Believe it or not but this is actually a certified treatment. Injecting Botox into your sweat glands prevents the production of sweat. The effects of Botox last up to seven to 12 months. A Botox Access Program is available for Canadians looking for reimbursement, which covers the first treatment of hyperhidrosis.
3) Topical powders and ointments – There are powders and ointments that can be used to decrease the amount of sweat you produce, much like antiperspirants. This is great if you suffer from excessive sweat in the armpit region. You would use these products daily but you might experience skin irritation, rashes or stinging.
4) Inotophoresis – This treatment uses an electric current in water. You then submerge your hands or feet in the water and this shuts down the sweat glands in these areas. Do not use this if you experience excessive sweat in the armpit area.
5) Anticholinergic medications – This is an oral prescription drug. The medication is good if you experience sweat all over your body as it blocks sweat production.
6) Surgical treatment – This is probably the last treatment you should think about taking if all else fails. Endoscopic Transthoracic Sympathectomy is a surgical treatment that you can undertake which cuts or removes sympathetic nerves that control perspiration in specific parts of your body, with a high rate of success in the palm area. It’s not that great for getting rid of sweat in the armpit area. There are side effects! A common one is a high rate of compensatory sweating or sweating in areas of the body that aren’t treated.
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Posted by Beauty Match on July 8, 2009 | Permalink
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