Don't Sweat It: Help for Hyperhidrosis

By Jane Farrell

At least 15 million people in the U.S. experience diminished quality of life due to excessive sweating, or hyperhidrosis.

Many treatments are available, say dermatologists from the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), and yet half of people with the condition delay treatment for 10 years or more.

“We all sweat to some degree,” says board-certified dermatologist Maral Skelsey, MD, FAAD, director of the Dermatologic Surgery Center of Washington, DC and clinical associate professor at Georgetown University. “However, some people sweat heavily for years without realizing it’s a medical condition and that something can be done about it.”

Skelsey notes that if a person is sweating buckets while exercising or sitting outside in the summer heat, that doesn’t necessarily mean he or she has hyperhidrosis. The condition causes excessive sweating when no triggers, such as temperature or activity level, are present. It affects adults and children in the armpits, feet and hands and typically starts before age 25, with at least one episode a week. It does not cause sweating at night.

“It can be really devastating for children,” says Skelsey. “It affects their social life. Nobody wants to hold their hand. They can’t use crayons because they get all wet. They don’t want to go to school.”

For adults, hyperhidrosis can affect big things like dating and career choices, as well as seemingly smaller things like clothing options.

The good news is that there are several treatments for hyperhidrosis.

“Hyperhidrosis can have a long-term impact if you constantly avoid professions or situations where you interact with people and shake hands,” says Skelsey. “Additionally, people with hyperhidrosis are more likely to have attention deficit disorder, depression and anxiety, as well as other skin conditions like warts and eczema.”

The good news is that there are several treatments.

“Nobody has to live with this,” says Skelsey. “There’s a lot we know about this condition. It doesn’t have to have such a profound effect on a person’s quality of life.”

For many people, prescription or over-the-counter clinical strength antiperspirants are effective when applied at night to the armpits or hands. Skelsey says there are also new prescription topical wipes that can decrease the amount of armpit sweat in kids as young as nine years old.

Botox injections in the armpits and hands are also used to treat hyperhidrosis, and most insurance plans will cover it, the AAD says.

Skelsey says a process known as iontophoresis is a good option for the hands and feet when supervised by a doctor. A patient puts his or her hands or feet into a pan of water, and a direct current goes into the water and enters the skin surface, blocking sweat production. The treatment is well tolerated and has limited side effects, says Skelsey, making it a good option for kids.  The AAD emphasizes that this is a medical procedure and not to be done at home.

The oral medication glycopyrronium is sometimes prescribed, but can have side effects like dry mouth, constipation and urinary retention.

Microwave thermolysis is usually not covered by insurance, but is FDA approved, according to Skelsey. It uses electromagnetic energy to stop the sweat glands from functioning.

A few patients choose laser surgery, which started being used to treat hyperhidrosis after doctors noticed that sweat glands were affected in people who had laser hair removal.

Surgery to remove sweat glands is the last resort for people whose hand sweating doesn’t respond to other treatments. The problem with this, Skelsey says, is it can increase sweating elsewhere. The bottom line, according to Skelsey, is to talk to a board-certified dermatologist.

“There are so many treatments available that can improve patients’ daily life and quality of life substantially,” Skelsey says. “If one thing doesn’t work, there are other options.”

To find a board-certified dermatologist in your area, click here.

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