Causes of excessive sweating: and discover the best treatment methods
Hyperhidrosis disorder is a disorder that leads to excessive sweating, whether in the summer or winter, which may disturb the lives of many people. But they may get used to coping with it as normal, but it may be due to an underlying medical condition. So what is it Causes of excessive sweating and how can be treated?
Excessive sweating
Sweating is a natural reaction of the body in certain situations such as a high air temperature, physical activity, or exposure to various emotions such as tension, stress, or fear. However, with excessive sweating, the body begins to excrete sweat at a greater rate than usual, and without an apparent reason behind that. Sweating may be in different parts of the body or in one area only.
Types of hyperhidrosis
There are two types of excessive sweating:
1. Focal primary sweating: This causes excessive sweating in the hands, armpits, feet, and face for no apparent reason.
2. Secondary generalized sweating: This causes excessive sweating all over the body or in one area of the body instead of the hands, face, feet or armpits. It is caused by a medical condition or taking certain types of medication.
Causes of primary excessive sweating
People get this type as a result of the sweat glands, which are spread especially in the hands, armpits, feet, and face. So with the rise in body temperature or exposure to emotional changes or as a result of hormones, the sweat glands activate, causing excessive sweating, such as sweating in the event of anxiety and stress.
Methods for treating primary excessive sweating
People with focal primary hyperhidrosis can get: Non-invasive treatment such as:
- Use antiperspirants that contain aluminum.
- Botox injections for sweating, which are also used to treat wrinkles.
- Taking medications such as anticholinergics, which affect the nerve signals of the sweat glands.
Also, in some cases, it may be resorted to using:
Heat wave therapy:
And that is by using the device that generates heat waves (MiraDry System) in order to eliminate the sweat glands. This treatment consists of two sessions, the duration of one session ranges from 20 minutes to 30 minutes, for a period of 3 months.
Surgical procedures:
In the event that the body does not respond to various treatments, the doctor may resort to a surgical procedure such as:
- Removing the sweat glands: This is done by cutting, suctioning, or scraping the sweat glands.
- Neurosurgery: By performing endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS), which is used by making small incisions in order to cut the stimulating nerves of the sweat glands in the armpit.
Causes of generalized excessive sweating
Certain medical conditions may lead to excessive (secondary generalized) sweating, such as:
- pregnancy
- diabetic
- Obesity
- Gout
- heart disease
- lung diseases
- Reaching menopause
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Hyperthyroidism
- Adrenal gland disorders
- Parkinson’s disease
- Infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, AIDS or malaria
- some types of cancer
- Side effects of some medicines
Taking some medications may lead to side effects, including excessive sweating, such as:
- Antidepressants such as desipramine or nortriptyline.
- Pilocarpine, which is used to treat glaucoma.
- Anticholinesterases for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.
- Propranolol to treat high blood pressure.
- Taking zinc as a dietary supplement may also lead to increased sweating.
Methods of treating secondary excessive sweating
In order to determine the appropriate treatment for secondary excessive sweating, you must first visit a doctor for examination and diagnosis to find out the underlying cause of excessive sweating disorder and to determine the appropriate treatment according to each disease.
In the case of excessive sweating caused by taking some types of medications, the doctor may prescribe an alternative for you. And if you need medical advice to determine the causes of your excessive sweating and how to choose the most appropriate treatment for you, you can contact a specialist at any time via this link.