Treatments
Palms are sweating all the time?
There are several hyperhidrosis treatment options for those who wish to stop excessive sweating in thier armpits, hands, face and body.
ANTIPERSPIRANT
An antiperspirant is an astringent that decreases eccrine and apocrine sweat secretion. Topical antiperspirant contains aluminium chloride hexahydrate. Aluminium salts collect in the sweat ducts and obstruct them resulting in reduction in sweating. Results may be satisfactory especially for patients with axillary hyperhidrosis. This medication is applied onto the affected area which must be clean and dry just before bedtime, then left overnight before washing it off the following morning. It requires an initial daily application of 7-10 nights in a row, then once a week for maintenance.
Source: myhealth.gov.my
Treat mild forms of hyperhidrosis
Side effects: Irritation, burning or stinging sensation
Inconsistent results
Can cause cancer
IONTOPHORESIS
Iontophoresis is a device which passes direct electricity through the skin using tap water to block the sweat glands. Total treatment duration is about 20 minutes at an initial frequency of every 2-3 days, then stretched till once every 2 weeks. This mode of treatment is contraindicated in patients who are pregnant, those with severe skin lesions or local wound, and those with pacemakers and abnormal heart rhythm (cardiac arrhythmias). It may cause transient tingling sensation and irritation.
Exact mechanism of action is still unclear
Time consuming (initially one session 3 times per week until the desired results are seen, then maintain with one session per week)
Stinging feel
Side effects: dry peeling skin
ORAL MEDICATIONS
The preglandular neurotransmitter for sweat secretion is acetylcholine. Anticholinergics are drugs that inhibit the binding of acetylcholine to their receptors which results in decreased production of sweat. Examples of anticholinergics are glycopyrrolate and propantheline bromide. They are not commonly used due to side effects such as dry mouth, blurring of vision, constipation, difficulty in passing urine, dizziness, palpitations and insomnia.
POSSIBLE side effects: dry mouth, palpitations, blurred vision, urinary retention, constipation
Contraindicated: athletes (overheated due to sweat mechanism is turn off), glaucoma patients etc
1 dose = RM 6
BOTULINUM TOXIN (BOTOX)
Botox has been around for many years to treat muscle spasms and wrinkles. It consists of proteins that permanently block the nerve endings that supply the eccrine glands, thus preventing the glands from producing sweat. Treatment involves injection into the affected areas and needs to be repeated every 4-5 months. Drawbacks include pain and temporary muscle weakness.
For underarm sweating - 50 units are injected at 20 points, 1cm apart in each site with or without the use of local anesthesia (1 vial - 100 units)
Side effects: pain at the injection side, itching, headache
ENDOSCOPIC THORACIC SYMPATHECOTOMY (PERMANENT)
Hyperhidrosis is due to overactivity of sympathetic nerves located in the chest cavity. Sympathectomy is an operation which destroys part of the nerve supply to the sweat glands in the skin. This procedure should only be performed after all the other measures have failed and after consultation with the surgeon.
The surgeon makes small incisions just below the armpit and inserts a special endoscopic instrument into the chest. The lung is briefly deflated for better visualization followed by destruction of the nerve. The extent or level of the sympathetic blockade varies according to the type of hyperhidrosis.
The most common side effect of ETS is compensatory sweating, which is an exaggerated sweating that may occur in the lower chest, back, abdomen, thighs and legs.
Under general anesthesia
15 minutes operation
Minimal pain and minimal scarring
Result: immediate and permanent cure
Side effect is rare if done correctly
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