Has the thought of summer heat got you down, simply because you know it means suffering the embarrassment of relentless sweating? It’s not just you. Hyperhidrosis, or excess sweating, affects many people and causes undue stress and anxiety for its sufferers, particularly in the warmer months.

It’s typical to work up a sweat when you’re going for a run, or even when you’re scaling a particularly long flight of stairs—but for those with hyperhidrosis, sweating can be a constant struggle. If you suffer from excess sweating, you may find that you need to bring a change of clothes with you everywhere they go. You may even avoid social situations completely as the weather gets warmer because of the self-consciousness and discomfort you feel.

Fortunately, there are several non-invasive solutions that can quell your sweating and allow you focus on more important things.

How Does Sweating Work?

You probably already know that sweating is the body’s way of cooling itself down and is necessary for proper body function. There are two types of sweat glands: eccrine and apocrine [1]. Eccrine glands are distributed on the feet, palms, forehead and armpits, and they release a clear, odourless fluid that regulates body temperature. This is the main type of sweat produced by people suffering from hyperhidrosis. Apocrine glands, located mostly in the armpits and genital area, produce a thicker fluid that reacts with the skin’s bacteria to cause body odour.

Generally, sweating is triggered when the brain sends a message through the nerves to these glands to communicate that the body is too hot. Usually, this happens during exercise and emotional stress—but for people with excessive sweating, the glands activate without the presence of typical triggers.

The Causes of Excess Sweating

There are two main categories of hyperhidrosis, and they are classified based on whether a particular cause is known.

Primary hyperhidrosis has no clear-cut cause. Doctors think that it could stem from a malfunction of the sympathetic nervous system, which controls the body’s unconscious functions. It’s possible that this type of excess sweating is triggered when the brain sends signals to the sweat glands in situations when the body does not need to be cooled [2].

Secondary hyperhidrosis is excess sweating that can be linked to another medical condition. It can also be a side effect of certain medications. This type of hyperhidrosis often affects more generalised areas [3].

Treatments: Botox vs. MiraDry

Revere Clinics offers two non-invasive treatments that can alleviate your excess sweating—no surgery necessary.

You may be surprised to hear that Botox treats hyperhidrosis, but the injectable is useful for much more than just its wrinkle-smoothing abilities. We use Botox to reduce excess sweating because it blocks the nerves that supply the sweat glands, stopping their sweat production. The treatment entails a number of injections across the affected area, and it provides temporary relief from excess sweating. It can be used in any area where sweating is a problem, including the hands, face and groin, and is effective for about three to six months after the procedure.

We also recommend miraDry to patients suffering from excess sweating. miraDry is a medical device that distributes electromagnetic energy to the underarm area to eliminate the sweat glands there. Unlike other treatments, which only disable the sweat glands temporarily, miraDry works by destroying the glands completely for a long-term solution. In addition, it treats both the eccrine and the apocrine glands, eliminating sweat and odour at the same time. MiraDry is specially designed for treatment of the underarm area, and can currently only be used on the underarms.

The results of the miraDry treatment are long-lasting and can be felt immediately. For some patients, a second miraDry treatment may be necessary to achieve maximum results.

Which Treatment is Right for Me?

Botox is an excellent treatment for patients who suffer from excess sweating in areas other than their underarms, such as hands and brows. If your main problem area is your underarms and you seek a permanent solution, consider miraDry.

Book a complimentary consultation with the experienced cosmetic doctors at Revere to determine the right treatment for you, and enjoy a cool, carefree summer.

References

[1]http://www.sweathelp.org/home/understanding-hyperhidrosis.html

[2] http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Hyperhidrosis/Pages/Causes.aspx

[3] http://www.sweathelp.org/home/types-of-hyperhidrosis.html