hyperhidrosis

Hyperhidrosis or excessive sweating is a common disorder affecting many people. Palmar hyperhidrosis or sweaty palms is the most common form of hyperhidrosis, causing excessive sweating of the hands.

Hyperhidrosis can also cause excessive foot, underarm and facial sweating. It is thought that hyperhidrosis is a result of over activity of the sympathetic nervous system.

Sweating is often uncontrollable, embarrassing and not anticipated . Normal sweating is needed for thermal regulation however in people suffering from hyperhidrosis, sweating exceeds the bodys need for physiological thermal regulation.

Hyperhidrosis is an inherited problem that has been seen in almost every ethnic group. People don’t get used to living with hyperhidrosis but they continue to suffer throughout their lives from it.

Hyperhidrosis can have severe physiological consequences such as cold and clammy hands, dehydration, and skin infections secondary to maceration of the skin. Hyperhidrosis can also have devastating emotional effects on one’s individual life.

Affected people are constantly aware of their condition and try to modify their lifestyle to accommodate this problem. This can be disabling in professional, academic and social life, causing daily embarrassments. Many routine tasks become impossible chores, which can psychologically drain these individuals on a constant basis.