Hyperhidrosis

Dr Teng performing anti-sweat injections for excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis)

What is hyperhidrosis?

“As many as 3 in every 100 Australians have excessive sweating” (Healthdirect, 2019).

Hyperhidrosis is the medical terminology used to describe the medical condition involving excessive and uncontrollable sweating. Some people with hyperhidrosis experience sweating generally (all over the body) or focally (occurs in certain areas only).

Primary hyperhidrosis mostly starts in childhood or by adolescence. This type of hyperhidrosis if often hereditary and effects other members of the family. Secondary hyperhidrosis is less common and can occur at any age.

What areas does hyperhidrosis commonly effect?

Hyperhidrosis commonly effects the face, hands, feet, underarms and groin. Hyperhidrosis can occur on its own (primary), or be due to medications, medical conditions or injury (secondary).

What is the cause of Hyperhidrosis?

Hyperhidrosis is thought to be a genetic condition with approximately a third of patients having other family members affected.

Primary hyperhidrosis is caused by faulty nerve signals that trigger eccrine sweat glands to become overactive. It usually affects the palms, soles, underarms and sometimes the face. Whilst secondary hyperhidrosis is caused by an underlying medical condition or by taking certain medications, such as pain relievers, antidepressants, and some diabetes and hormonal medications. This type of hyperhidrosis may cause sweating across the whole body.

What can trigger hyperhidrosis?

Some triggers include: hot environments, anxiety, consumption of caffeine, alcohol, spicy foods etc.

Treatment options for Hyperhidrosis

Skinfluence Clinic offers many solutions for hyperhidrosis:

An appointment with our Nurse Practitioner is a great way to start to assess, diagnose and educate on the treatment options available.
Topical prescription antiperspirants
Prescription creams
Nerve blocking medications
Botulinum toxin injections
Iontophoresis

With so many treatment options for excessive sweating Skinfluence Clinic can provide you with the education to understand your condition and treatments to achieve success.

Botulinum Toxin Injections for Axillary Hyperhidrosis

Treatment with botulinum toxin are performed by our dermatologist. These work by blocking the message that our nerves send to trigger the sweat gland. This treatment is subsidised by medicare for eligible patients when performed by a Dermatologist. Treatments can be performed every 4 months. Treatment is performed by a series of small injections in the underarm to directly effect the sweating region.

Treatment is performed via a series of small injections under the arms directly into the sweating region.

Most patients start to notice a reduction in sweat within one week following treatment however some patients may take up to two weeks to notice results. Results on average will last six months however for patients with their initial treatment may notice that results last four months.

Iontophoresis for hand and feet hyperhidrosis

Iontophoresis is used for the treatment of hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) in focused areas such as the feet and hands. Some iontophoresis devices can treat the axilla area; however, this is less effective than treating the hands and feet.

Surprisingly, the mechanism of action of iontophoresis in treating hyperhidrosis is not completely understood. When humans sweat, it is known to form in response to an electrical gradient which is produced by the sympathetic nerve activity on the cells of the sweat gland.

Some of the theories thought as to how iontophoresis disrupts this communication is:

Ions produced by iontophoresis might physically block the sweat ducks located in the stratum corneum.
The electrical current produced by the outside source (ionto machine) might disrupt the normal sympathetic nerve transmission
The accumulation of hydrogen ions causes the pH in the sweat glands to drop