Exessive Sweating

Sweat is produced by glands in the dermis layer of the skin and helps control body temperature by evaporating to keep the skin cool.

What is hyperhidrosis?

Hyperhidrosis is the medical term for sweating in excess of what would normally be expected. Whilst it is normal for people to sweat during certain everyday activities such as with exercise, in some people the sweating can be excessive and uncontrolled.

How common is hyperhidrosis?

It is relatively common affecting nearly 3% of the population making it a common condition affecting millions of people around the world. The highest prevalence is among adults aged 18 to 54 years old.

Why is it important?

Excessive sweating can not only make people feel uncomfortable but it can also be a source of great embarrassment. Sufferers of excessive sweating often go to a great extent to conceal their condition. This can include multiple changes of clothing, avoidance of certain clothing such as white shirts, the need for frequent showers and much higher laundry and dry cleaning costs.

Where does it occur?

Uncontrolled sweating can occur in various parts of the body but especially the underarms, hands and feet.

What causes hyperhidrosis?

Although high temperatures or stress can increase perspiration they don’t cause hyperhidrosis. Instead, hyperhidrosis is probably an inherited trait. A positive family history has been found in some studies to be up to 65% of patients with hyperhidrosis that stops the body from properly regulating its temperature.

What can be done?

There is a simple non-surgical solution to help ease it and help people sweat at a normal rate for as long as 6-12 months (average 7.5 months), before needing further treatment. The procedure typically takes 15 minutes and involves a series of tiny injections into the skin. There is no downtime and people can continue their normal daily activities straightaway.

How does it work?

A protein based product is injected to treat excessive sweating at its source. Once injected by your doctor, the protein enters the specific sweat glands responsible for excessive sweating. There it blocks the release of a chemical that signals the perspiration.