Questions and Answers About Hyperhidrosis

Here are some frequently asked questions regarding hyperhidrosis, it’s symptoms, and treatment options.

• What is hyperhidrosis?
• What causes hyperhidrosis?
• Is hyperhidrosis a genetic disorder?
• Is hyperhidrosis life-threatening?
• What if my sweating isn't limited to a certain area of my body?
• Is hyperhidrosis treatable?
• What are the non-surgical treatment options?
• Are non-surgical options effective for hyperhidrosis?
• When is surgery the right treatment option?
• What are the surgical treatment options?
• How successful is surgery?
• What are the side effects of surgery?
• What happens after surgery?

Q. What is hyperhidrosis?
A. Hyperhidrosis is a disorder of the eccrine, or sweat, glands. Sweating is the way your body naturally cools itself off. But people with hyperhidrosis have excessive sweating--usually on the palms, the soles of their feet, or in their underarm area.

Q. What causes hyperhidrosis?
A. The causes of hyperhidrosis are not understood. The condition occurs daily, often without provocation. It can be worsened by stress, anxiety, a warm environment, and physical activity.

Q. Is hyperhidrosis a genetic disorder?
A. Experts aren't sure. But a study in the Journal of Vascular Surgery indicates that palmar hyperhidrosis may be due to genetic factors. While more research is still needed, experts agree that excessive sweating is controlled by the sympathetic nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system prepares the body to cope with stressful situations. Normally, this system helps the body with its "fight or flight" responses. But in people with hyperhidrosis, something goes wrong and excessive sweating is the result.

Q. Is hyperhidrosis life-threatening?
A. Although this type of profuse sweating is not life-threatening, it can be extremely embarrassing and may interfere with a person's daily life. Someone with hyperhidrosis may have difficulty grasping objects because of wet hands. He or she may have to change clothes frequently during the day due to underarm perspiration. They may have increased foot odor due to moist socks.

Q. What if my sweating isn't limited to a certain area of my body?
A. Occasionally, people will have profuse sweating throughout their body. This is called secondary hyperhidrosis because it usually occurs as a sign of a serious underlying condition, such as thyroid disease or tuberculosis. If you have this type of sweating, you should contact your physician.

Q. Is hyperhidrosis treatable?
A. Yes. The University of Chicago Hospitals offers a variety of ways to treat hyperhidrosis. Depending on the severity of the patient's condition, a University of Chicago physician will recommend non-surgical or surgical methods of treatment.

Q. What are the non-surgical treatment options?
A. Non-surgical treatment options include antiperspirants, iontophoresis, and Botox injections.

Q. Are non-surgical options effective for hyperhidrosis?
A. Although non-surgical options provide incomplete relief for most patients, these measures should be explored before surgery is considered.

Q. When is surgery the right treatment option?
A. For patients who have moderate to severe hyperhidrosis, surgery may be the best option.

Q. What are the surgical treatment options?
A. Surgical treatment options include older forms of surgery and a variety of newer techniques using minimally invasive approaches.

Q. How successful is surgery?
A. Success depends on the type of surgery you have and the location of your sweating. Surgery is effective for 95 to 98 percent of hand hyperhidrosis and 75 to 80 percent effective for underarm hyperhidrosis.

Q. What are the side effects of surgery?
A. Although it is considered minimally invasive, there are some side effects that may occur as a result of surgery. Your surgeon will discuss your specific risk factors with you.

One common side effect is compensatory sweating: Excessive sweating shifts from the hands, armpits, or face to another area of the body, such as the chest, abdomen, or groin area. It is the most common side effect, and occurs to some extent in virtually every patient undergoing this operation. Most patients find that compensatory sweating is an acceptable trade-off.

A few of the more uncommon side effects include the following:

• Gustatory sweating: Facial sweating after eating or smelling foods.
• Horner's Syndrome: A condition that occurs on one side of the face including droopy eyelid, constricted pupil, and loss of sweating. Horner's Syndrome occurs in only a fraction of 1 percent of patients and, at times, corrects on its own.

Risk factors vary from surgery to surgery. Also, a patient's underlying conditions may increase their risk for certain side effects. For example, patients suffering from emphysema may be at greater risk for lung problems after surgery.

Q. What happens after surgery?
A. Surgery is performed on an outpatient basis, but the operation does require general anesthesia. Most patients experience discomfort or pain in the chest wall area for a week or two following the surgery. Doctors recommend that patients restrict themselves to light activity, such as climbing stairs or walking, a few days after the surgery.

Dry hands are also a typical result of surgery. Daily use of hand lotion can relieve this problem.

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