Hyperhidrosis

What is Hyperhidrosis?

Hyperhidrosis is unusually excessive sweating of the hands or palms not associated with heat or exercise. This heavy perspiration can disrupt normal activities and cause social anxiety and embarrassment.

Hyperhidrosis happens when the nerves responsible for triggering sweat glands become overactive. Treatments for hyperhidrosis can help relieve symptoms and improve your quality of life. There is most often no medical cause for hyperhidrosis, though an underlying cause is found and treated in some cases.

Learn more below about the signs and symptoms of hyperhidrosis, along with preventative steps and the treatment we offer to help get you back to living normally.

Causes Of Hyperhidrosis

There is no direct medical cause of hyperhidrosis, though it can be hereditary and pass on through families. Some medical conditions can cause heavy sweating. This less common type of hyperhidrosis is called secondary or generalized hyperhidrosis.

Risk Of Hyperhidrosis

Those with certain conditions may be at higher risk of excessive sweating. These conditions include:

Diabetes
Menopause hot flashes
Thyroid problems
Hypoglycemia
Certain cancers
Heart attack
Nervous system disorders
Infections

Signs & Symptoms Of Hyperhidrosis

Individuals with hyperhidrosis experience sweating far beyond normal levels usually associated with heat or physical activity. Sweating from hyperhidrosis primarily affects the hands, but can also occur on the feet, underarms, or face. Episodes usually occur at least one a week and affect both sides of the body.

Consult your doctor is you experience the following signs and symptoms that may indicate hyperhidrosis:

Sweating that disrupts your daily routine or causes emotional distress or social withdrawal
Sudden increased sweating
Night sweats (especially without any apparent cause)
Itching and inflammation when sweat irritates the skin
Body odor
Skin changes like discoloration, cracks, or wrinkles

Prevention Of Hyperhidrosis

Hyperhidrosis can’t be prevented, but certain lifestyle modifications can help lessen the impact of sweating and body odor from hyperhidrosis, especially in minor cases:

Use antiperspirant containing aluminum
Apply an over-the-counter astringent containing tannic acid on the affected area
Bathe regularly
Wear shoes and socks made from natural, breathable materials
Air your feet when possible and change socks often
Practice relaxation techniques like yoga, meditation, and biofeedback to manage stress that can worsen sweating
Talk with your doctor and/or a counselor to help manage social anxiety and self-consciousness

Complications Of Hyperhidrosis

When left untreated, hyperhidrosis can lead to complications such as skin infections and social or emotional discomfort. Fortunately, hyperhidrosis is very treatable, and patients experience an improvement in their quality of life with treatment.

Treatment Of Hyperhidrosis

At Vascular and Interventional Specialists, we offer minimally invasive treatment for hyperhidrosis to relieve symptoms and help you get back to living your best life.

We use a procedure called endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy wherein the sympathetic nerve(s) that control sweating in the affected area(s) are clamped to reduce the nerve signals that cause overactive sweat glands. The procedure takes about an hour and involves two to three small incisions on each side of the chest below the underarm, through which the surgeon will insert a small camera and surgical tools to clamp the relevant nerve.

Please Call Your Vascular Specialist to Schedule an Appointment

VIS is here to help. If you are at risk for Hyperhidrosis or have experienced one or more of the signs & symptoms, please reach out to schedule a screening. We’ll walk this journey with you.

If you are experiencing chest pain or tenderness, back pain, persistent hoarseness when speaking, cough or shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, weakness or paralysis on one side of the body, sharp pain in your upper back that radiates downward, or pain in the chest, jaw, neck, or arms, seek urgent medical attention by dialing 911.