Do you sweat excessively, even in Winter and when you are not exercising?
Does sweating hinder your daily tasks?
If hyperhidrosis bothers you, don’t worry; excessive sweating can be treated. First, it is essential that if you suspect you may suffer from it, you consult with a health professional to get a proper diagnosis and an individualized treatment plan according to your needs.
Some of the treatments that your doctor may recommend are:
- Topical antiperspirants
- Iontophoresis
- Botulinum toxin injections
- Topical and oral anticholinergics
- Miradry®
- BrellaTM SweatControl PatchTM
- Laser
- Surgical treatments
- Ecrisens®
Keep reading to discover them in more detail!
Topical antiperspirants
Aluminum chloride is the most common topical medication used to relieve mild to moderate symptoms of primary focal hyperhidrosis.
Aluminum metal salts interact with sweat to form precipitates that block the ducts of the eccrine sweat glands. Although it has the advantage of being a non-invasive treatment, its effect is not permanent, as the plug falls off when the skin is renewed and may cause skin irritation.
Iontophoresis
Iontophoresis consists of immersing the hands or feet in a water tray and passing a current for 20 to 30 minutes through a commercial device.
It is especially indicated for palmar and plantar hyperhidrosis. It is not invasive, but it is not recommended if you are pregnant, suffer from epilepsy or heart disease, or have a pacemaker and metal implants.
Its side effects are redness, blisters, erythema, burning sensations, and pinching. The treated area may become dry, cracked, or fissured. In addition, it cannot be applied for excessive axillary or craniofacial sweating.
Botulinum toxin injections
Botulinum toxin injections are the most studied treatment for hyperhidrosis. Botox is injected in the affected area under the most superficial layer of the skin.
It is usually used to treat primary focal hyperhidrosis in the hands, soles of the feet, face, and armpits. Its effect, although not permanent, lasts between 6 and 8 months.
The main side effect is the pain caused by the injection, which a health professional must perform. It can also cause muscle weakness in the palms of the hands, making it difficult to grip.
Topical and oral anticholinergics
Oral anticholinergics are commonly used to treat primary generalized hyperhidrosis or, in severe cases, primary focal hyperhidrosis in which aluminum chloride, botulinum toxin, or iontophoresis have not worked. Dry mouth is a common side effect.
Qbrexza® is a topical anticholinergic in wipe form. It is used to treat axillary hyperhidrosis. It must be applied continuously, and its main side effects can be classified as mild to moderate, including dry mouth, erythema or redness of the area, and burning.
MiraDry®
MiraDry® uses a non-invasive hand-held device to deliver electromagnetic energy under the skin of the armpit (between 2 and 5 mm) to the specific area where the sweat glands are located. The heat produced by the electromagnetic energy eliminates the sweat glands.
It is used to treat axillary hyperhidrosis; it has not yet been approved for use in other areas of the body. A healthcare professional must apply this treatment, and the results are usually permanent.
Side effects include swelling, redness, and tenderness in the armpits for several days.
Brella™ SweatControl Patch™
Brella™ patches generate heat in contact with the water present in our sweat. This heat causes an injury to the sweat glands and inactivates them.
It is used to treat axillary hyperhidrosis. A healthcare professional must apply the patches; the reaction takes only 3 minutes. The results last between 2 and 4 months. Its main side effects include mild redness or swelling of the area.
Unfortunately, this treatment is currently only available in the United States.
Laser
The laser is used to destroy the sweat glands. After their destruction, they are removed with a suction probe. Small incisions are made in the armpits (preceded by local anesthesia) to allow the laser tool to pass under the skin.
It is used as a treatment for axillary hyperhidrosis. The destruction of the sweat glands is permanent. Side effects include swelling, bruising and numbness, which disappear after one or two weeks.
Surgical treatments
Surgical treatment is the last option. It is usually used when all other treatments have failed, as it is a very invasive technique.
Local surgical techniques for axillary hyperhidrosis aim to remove the sweat glands in the area. Radical skin removal has undesirable side effects, such as scarring and restriction of arm movement.
Sympathectomy, a surgical procedure that cuts the nerves communicating with the sweat glands, preventing signals from reaching and activating them, can also be performed. It is indicated for severe cases of hyperhidrosis in the palms of the hands, armpit, face, and soles of the feet. The most common complications of this treatment are recurrence of focal hyperhidrosis and compensatory sweating in other areas such as the abdomen, back, legs or, buttocks.
Ecrisens ®
Current treatment alternatives are not entirely effective. They block the pores by preventing the thermoregulatory role of sweat or are invasive, as in the case of Botox or sympathectomy.
Ecrisens® is the first neurodermatological cream, developed by Prospera Biotech, which helps control excessive sweating without affecting the body’s thermoregulatory needs. In addition to caring for the skin, its neuromodulatory formula acts on two neurosensory targets: on the one hand, it modulates eccrine gland activity and, on the other, increases its activation threshold. It maintains the thermoregulatory action of perspiration, preserving the sweating degree necessary to protect the skin.
In addition, it can be applied to any area, helping to treat palmar, plantar, axillary or facial hyperhidrosis. Ecrisens® is not an antiperspirant, but a product that acts progressively. It should be applied twice a day continuously.
Haven’t you tried it?
And if you want to know more, don’t forget to download our guide with everything you need to know about hyperhidrosis. Find useful information on the causes of hyperhidrosis, how it can affect your daily life, extended information on available treatments and some recommendations on how deal with it.
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References
- International Hyperhidrosis Society. Hyperhidrosis Treatment Overview. [cited 1st March 2023]. Available at: https://sweathelp.org/hyperhidrosis-treatments/treatment-overview.html
