Hyperhidrosis affects up to 3% of the population and complications are rarely severe. However, the excessive sweating It significantly affects every person’s daily life, causing the inability to perform even simple activities, such as driving.
It also has psychological, social and medical implications. These include skin problems, such as bacterial, fungal and viral infections. Fortunately, existing therapies can rid the sufferers of the various consequences and improve their quality of life, which is strongly affected. “Sweating is a physical function that helps regulate body temperature. Its function is controlled by the autonomous nervous system, which is part of the nervous system that works without conscious control of the individual, ”explains Dermatologist – Venereologist Dr. Christos Stamou.
‘Sweat secretion is done by their three million sweat glandsthat exist in the body. The secretive sweat glands across the body produce odorless sweat, while from the Halloween on the head, armpits and groin a heavier oily sweat that, when mixed with the bacteria of the skin, produces the characteristic odor. The most common sweating areas are armpits, face, palms and soles.
Sweat production is normally increased when changes in body temperature occur, e.g. Due to fever or eating of hot foods, at the outside temperature or in human emotional state, e.g. When he gets angry, he is afraid, ashamed or anxious. A small percentage of people produce less sweat than the one needed and more excessive. Both disorders can cause problems, “he adds.
OR hyperhidrosis is a disorder which causes disproportionate to the homeostatic requirements of the body’s temperature sweating. Some people are caused by hyperactivity of the glands, often due to heredity, and in others in underlying disease, such as infection, diabetes, thyroid problems, nervous system disorders, cancer, conditions such as menopause, etc. or from medicines, e.g. Antipyretic.
This disorder has a negative physical impact on patients, as it affects activities such as clothing, hygiene and jobs. Daily activities, such as shopping, are avoided or restricted due to the anxiety and embarrassment caused by sweat. Manual activities and handling of objects such as sewing needles, car steering wheel are often impossible.
Excessive sweating makes it more difficult to open doors, sports involvement and increases the risk of electric shock to professionals. It undermines the use of open high footwear, as it increases the likelihood of injuries such as sprain.
Patients are psychologically strained as fight with anxiety and depression. Hypertension can lead to embarrassment, anxiety, sadness, anger and feelings of despair. The psychological impact may be equal to or greater as other inflammatory skin diseases, including psoriasis and acne.
75% of patients report that there is a discount on their social life as well as their emotional and mental health. They find it difficult to have physical contacts, including simple handshake to sexual intercourse. In addition, they have low self -esteem of concern about the perception of others about them. Because of their symptoms they often avoid social gatherings, thereby undermining their career and erotic life. It has also been shown to affect the psychosocial development of children and adolescents.
Skin problems
But beyond the social and emotional effects, excessive sweating also causes skin problems, as it creates a fluid environment that leads to a skin barrier disorder, favoring colonization and infection. More specifically the skin becomes more vulnerable to:
Fungal skin infection in the groin (Tinea Cruris) – affecting genital, pubic, perineal and peripheral skin and is caused by pathogenic fungi known as dermatophytes.
Athlete’s foot (moth) – A fungal infection of the feet, which often begins between the fingers, where excessive sweating is more intense.
Onychomycosis – Because fungi thrive in wet environments and can affect both the nails of the feet and the hands of patients with local hyperhidrosis.
Warts and bacterial infections – Since disturbance of the continuity of the skin by severe sweating allows bacteria and virus infestation, including warts.
Eczema – Excessive sweating of hands can also cause pain, cracked skin and eczema in people with local but not with generalized hyperhidrosis.
Bromidrosis – Because the substances that create skin bacteria when they come into contact with the oily fluid secreted by the Halloween glands cause extremely unpleasant odor in the areas of the armpit and genitals of some people.
Lifestyle adjustments can reduce the amount of sweat, but this does not mean that if adopted by sufferers they will sweat to a normal degree.
The choice of lighter clothes that allow the skin to breathe, the application of an antipersoner to the armpits or deodorant to reduce odor, the exception of hot foods from the diet and the treatment of sweating diseases limit, to a small extent, the problem.
The treatments
If they do not help, there are treatments that can control the condition. Specialized medication can prevent sweat gland stimulation, but like all medicines they are likely to cause side effects and are not suitable for everyone.
Iontoforing is a process that uses electricity to temporarily deactivate the sweat gland and is more effective for sweating hands and feet. Side effects, though rare, include skin bursting and blisters.
Botuline toxin (botox) is used to treat severe sweating in the armpits, palms and plantar areas of the foot. When injected into the armpit, it temporarily blocks the nerves that stimulate sweating. Side effects include mild pain at the point of infusion.
When these treatments do not reduce the problem, a little is recommended invasive surgery called sympathy.
“The best therapeutic approach depends on the specific needs of the individual and the severity of their condition. Proper diagnosis helps to determine the most appropriate therapeutic plan and starts with the cause of it. If it is not due to any condition, then only treatment focuses on sweat control, ”concludes Dr. Stamou.