Facts on File Encyclopedia of Health and Medicine

Treatment Options and Outlook
Treatment options currently available in the
United States include topical products, oral med-
ications, BOTULINUM THERAPY, iontophoresis, and,
when other treatments are unsuccessful, surgery.

• Topical products block the pores of the sweat
  glands. Those commonly used include alu-
  minum chloride preparations, boric or tannic
  acid solutions, glutaraldehyde, and potassium
  permanganate. These products may stain the
  skin and clothing. Most people apply them at
  night and wash them off in the morning.


• Oral medications interrupt the action of the
  nerves that regulate sweat gland activity. Those
  commonly used are anticholinergics such as
  propantheline and benztropine, which block
  the action of the NEUROTRANSMITTER acetyl-
  choline. Dermatologists sometimes prescribe
  other medications such as beta-blockers and
  calcium channel blockers. These medications
  may have unacceptable side effects, however,
  and they are not approved for this use in the
  United States.


• Iontophoresis uses mild electrical current in a
  water-based solution to shrink the sweat gland
  pores and is a treatment option for hyperhidro-
  sis of the hands and feet. Relief generally
  requires daily treatments over a period of sev-
  eral weeks.
  
  
  • Botulinum therapy (localized injection of puri-
    fied botulinum toxin) blocks acetylcholine,
    interrupting the flow of NERVEsignals to the
    muscles that contract to push fluid from the
    sweat glands. The effect can last for six months
    or longer.
  
  
  
  


• Surgery to sever some of the nerves supplying
  the sweat glands, or to remove clusters of sweat
  glands such as in the axillae, is a treatment of
  last resort for severe hyperhidrosis that does
  not respond to other treatments. The effects are
  permanent.

Many people who have hyperhidrosis use com-

binations of these approaches to control their

symptoms. Hyperhidrosis is often deeply embar-

rassing to those who have it, particularly adoles-

cents. Because stress plays a key role in

hyperhidrosis, stress management techniques are

often helpful for coping with the condition as well

as reducing the stimuli that exacerbate symptoms.

Risk Factors and Preventive Measures

When an underlying health condition is the cause

of the hyperhidrosis, treating the condition elimi-

nates the hyperhidrosis. Primary hyperhidrosis is a

lifelong condition for which there are no known

risk factors or preventive measures.

See also OFF-LABEL USE; STRESS AND STRESS MAN-

AGEMENT; TINEA INFECTIONS.

hyperhidrosis 165