Hyperhidrosis, or excessive sweating, can be a difficult medical condition to live with. Fortunately, there are a number of effective treatment options available to help control or eliminate symptoms entirely, and we’re proud to offer many of them at Worcester and Chelmsford Dermatology Associates.
Our practice is dedicated to providing clients with patient-centered, comprehensive dermatological care. If you’d like more information about any of the services we offer or are interested in scheduling a consultation appointment, contact us today.
What is it?
Hyperhidrosis is a medical condition that causes excessive sweating, even when the body does not need to be cooled. While sweating is a natural part of biological function, sweating excessively can be both embarrassing and medically dangerous — because the skin is often wet, it is significantly more prone to infection or irritation.
Individuals with this condition usually sweat from a few specific areas of the body, including the:
- Palms
- Feet
- Underarms
- Head
What are the Different Types?
There are two kinds of hyperhidrosis: primary focal hyperhidrosis and secondary hyperhidrosis. While both of these conditions have similar symptoms, their root causes and the way they manifest themselves is slightly different.
Primary Focal Hyperhidrosis
Primary focal hyperhidrosis usually develops early in life, and triggers sweating on a single or a few specific areas of the body. The underarms, hands, feet, and forehead are the regions most commonly affected. Individuals with this type of hyperhidrosis usually do not sweat while sleeping.
Secondary Hyperhidrosis
While primary focal hyperhidrosis usually develops in childhood or adolescence, secondary hyperhidrosis develops later in life. Usually, it is a side effect of a medication or an underlying medical condition.
Some of the most common conditions and a sign to include:
- Diabetes
- Gout
- Menopause
- Frostbite
- Obesity
- Hyperthyroidism
- Tumor
- Head trauma
Individuals with this condition usually sweat from all areas of their body, not just particular, localized regions.
What are my Treatment Options?
Simple antiperspirant typically isn’t enough to control the symptoms of individuals with this condition. While there are many effective treatment options available to people with primary focal hyperhidrosis, secondary hyperhidrosis is most effectively eliminated by addressing its underlying cause.
BOTOX® is an effective way to control excessive sweating without the need for surgery or downtime. It works by temporarily blocking chemical signals from the nerves that stimulate the sweat glands. When these sweat glands are no longer triggered, sweating in the area stops. Because the results of this treatment only last between 6-7 months, repeated injections will be necessary to maintain your results.
miraDry® is another excellent treatment option that we offer. This FDA-approved procedure provides both an immediate and permanent solution to excessive sweating. It utilizes the power of electromagnetic energy to heat the sweat glands of the underarms, effectively disabling the underarm glands.
Are you suffering from hyperhidrosis and would like to seek treatment from expert dermatologists, we can help. Contact either our Worcester or Chelmsford offices today to schedule your consultation appointment.