Hyperhidrosis, also called perspiration or sweating, happens when we sweat more than our body needs to regulate our temperature. We may experience sweating when we’re at rest, in cold temperatures or randomly at times when we wouldn’t expect to sweat.
Sweat is an odorless fluid released from our eccrine glands (sweat glands). Sweat’s job is to help regulate our body temperature and prevent overheating. We have eccrine glands in our skin. Sweat moves from our glands through tubes called ducts until it reaches the surface of our skin. Once sweat leaves the ducts, it changes from a liquid to a gas and evaporates from our skin to cool down your body.
Hyperhidrosis is the result of our sweat glands overworking.
Types of hyperhidrosis
There are two types of hyperhidrosis:
- Primary focal hyperhidrosis: Focal hyperhidrosis is a chronic skin condition. A genetic change (mutation) causes this condition. You can inherit it from your biological family. This is the most common type of hyperhidrosis. It usually affects your armpits, hands, feet and face. It tends to start before age 25.
- Secondary generalized hyperhidrosis: Generalized hyperhidrosis is excessive sweating caused by an underlying medical condition or it’s a side effect of a medication. Some examples include diabetes and Parkinson’s disease and medications, such as naproxen, diclofenac, all types of antibiotics, paracetamol, vasodilators etc. Generalized hyperhidrosis may cause you to sweat while sleeping.
Symptoms and causes
The main symptom of hyperhidrosis is sweating. When you sweat, you may feel:
- Wetness on your skin.
- Damp clothing.
- Beads of fluid dripping from your cheeks or forehead.
Over time, hyperhidrosis can lead to the following symptoms:
- Itching and inflammation when sweat irritates your skin.
- Body odor, which occurs when bacteria on your skin mixes with sweat particles.
- With over growing Fungai on your skin.
Hyperhidrosis symptoms can range in severity. You may have minor symptoms that come and go.
Sweat comes from eccrine glands, which exist in the skin throughout our body (over 4 billion). Everybody has the most eccrine glands in:
- Axillary hyperhidrosis (Armpits or underarms).
- Soles of our feet (plantar hyperhidrosis).
- Palms of our hands (palmar hyperhidrosis).
- Forehead and cheeks (craniofacial hyperhidrosis).
- Genitals.
- Lower back.
The most common location on our body to experience excessive sweating is the palms of our hands.
Causes
Overactive sweat glands cause hyperhidrosis. Our eccrine glands (sweat glands) create sweat to cool down your body when we get hot. This process is activated when we exercise or when a person is nervous. You
We may experience sweating at random times of the day when there isn’t something like an activity or emotion causing our glands to produce sweat.
Triggers that cause sweating
Our body produces sweat to cool it down and prevent overheating. There may be certain triggers in our environment that can cause sweat glands to produce more sweat for example:
- Certain emotions like stress, anxiety, fear or nervousness.
- Warm temperatures or humidity.
- Exercise or physical activity.
- Certain foods and beverages, (spicy foods, fatty foods, sugary and salty foods, and foods with high levels of protein. Beverage examples include caffeinated beverages (coffee), hot drinks and alcohol).
Medications that cause sweating
Certain allopathic medications can cause sweating as a side effect, including but not limited to:
- Albuterol.
- Bupropion.
- Hydrocodone.
- Insulin.
- Levothyroxine.
- Lisinopril.
- Naproxen.
- Omeprazole.
- Sertraline, etc.
Health conditions that cause sweating
Hyperhidrosis (generalized) could be a sign of an underlying medical condition including but not limited to:
- Acromegaly.
- Infections (for example tuberculosis, malaria, dengue, hyperthyroidism).
- Anxiety.
- Cancer.
- Diabetes.
- Heart disease or heart failure.
- Hyperthyroidism.
- Menopause.
- Obesity.
- Parkinson’s disease.
Complications of hyperhidrosis
Hyperhidrosis can cause complications that include:
- A skin infection.
- Skin changes, such as paleness, discoloration, cracks or wrinkles.
- Maceration (unusually soft, moist skin).
Diagnosis
A god healthcare provider will diagnose hyperhidrosis after a physical exam and learning more about patient’s symptoms and medical history. If patient experiences excessive sweating for at least six months and answered yes to at least two of the following questions, it may lead to a hyperhidrosis diagnosis:
- Sweating occurs on the patient’s underarms, palms, soles or face.
- patient sweats the same on both sides of his/her body.
- patient don’t sweat at night or sweat less at night.
- An episode of sweating lasts for at least one week.
- Patients have a history of hyperhidrosis in his/her biological family.
- Sweating interferes with the patient’s ability to do certain activities.
- The patient’s age is less than 25 years.
Tests required are:
Use one of the following tests to determine the cause of hyperhidrosis:
- Starch-iodine test: Doctor applies an iodine solution to the sweaty area and sprinkles starch over the iodine solution. In places where patients have excess sweating, the solution turns dark blue.
- Paper test: Place tissue paper on the affected area to absorb sweat, weigh the paper to determine how much sweat patient has.
- Blood or imaging tests: These tests can take a sample of patient’s blood or take pictures underneath the skin to help the doctor learn more about what causes symptoms.
Allopathic treatment for hyperhidrosis
Treatment for hyperhidrosis varies based on the part of the body affected, the severity of diagnosis and what treatment options work for patient. A dermatologist can find the best treatment options to help and manage a patient’s symptoms.
Medications to reduce hyperhidrosis:
- Anticholinergic agents, for example glycopyrrolate and oxybutynin.
- Antidepressants.
- Beta-blockers.
- Medicated wipes (glycopyrronium tosylate).
- Aluminum chloride gel.
Sometimes the best treatment for hyperhidrosis is a strong, prescription-strength antiperspirant. Excessive sweating can also be treated with a methenamine solution. This solution generates small amounts of formaldehyde, a powerful astringent, which works to stop skin from sweating without the overwhelming smell of full-on formaldehyde.
Be very careful about the side effects of the medication you prescribe to each and every patient.
Hyperhidrosis treatment therapies
If your symptoms don’t improve with treatment, recommend more specialized therapies like:
- Iontophoresis: Patient places his/her hands or feet in a shallow tub of tap water. A special device emits a low electrical current through the water, blocking sweat glands over time. Each treatment takes 10 to 20 minutes. You may need repeated treatments (a few months).
- Botulinum toxin injections: Injecting botulinum toxin into an overactive nerve can stop sweat production for months at a time. Repeat treatments are necessary.
- Microwave therapy: Doctor places a device against the affected area of the skin. The device emits thermal energy (heat), which destroys sweat glands permanently. This is an hour-long procedure. (be very careful – by destroying sweat gland, you could harm patient’s overall health permanently).
Surgery for hyperhidrosis:
- Endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy: ETS is a minimally invasive type of surgery where a surgeon will cut thoracic nerve to turn off the signal that tells glands to produce sweat.
- Sweat gland removal: Removing sweat glands using a laser or scraping (curettage) or cutting (excision) or by liposuction.
Are there side effects of the treatment? Yes, each type of treatment has too many side effects, for example:
- Skin irritation, cracking or blisters.
- Drugs side effects on liver, spleen and kidneys etc.
- Skin discoloration, pigmentation and chronic infection like cancers, tuberculosis etc.
- Scarring etc.
Homeopathic Treatment for Hyperhidrosis
Homeopathic treatment is the most efficient, long lasting and without any side effects method. There are many other medical conditions that may be treated along with hyperhidrosis based on the circumstances of the patient, for example:
Menopause
Menopause plays a little trick on the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus is embedded deep inside the brain. It does several things, but one of the hypothalamus’ most important functions is controlling our body temperature. When a person is too cold, it’s the hypothalamus that tells our muscles to shiver, and vice versa.
About 80% of menopausal women will experience dropping estrogen levels throw the body’s temperature regulation out of whack. Symptoms include becoming flushed and sweaty.
Alcoholism
When a person drinks, that can’t be processed by your kidneys accumulates in the bloodstream. Alcohol enlarges the blood vessels near the surface of the skin, and this leads to sweating.
Side Effect of allopathic Medications
Our skin growing extra damp after starting an allopathic medication, for example:
- Antidepressants.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), antibiotics etc.
- Blood pressure.
- Cancer.
- Diabetes.
Being Pregnant
Whether it’s hot flashes while you’re awake or night sweats (nocturnal hyperhidrosis) as you sleep, pregnancy can be a sweaty affair. Although it may have many causes, nocturnal hyperhidrosis is one early sign of pregnancy.
The cause is estrogen. As in the case of menopause, fluctuations in estrogen can cause sweaty problems for pregnant women.
Here are few Homeopathic medicines or hyperhidrosis:
Bovista Lycoperdonosis
Bovista lycoperdonosis has a marked effect on the skin. Severe weakness of all joints; clumsiness with hands, drops things from hands, sweaty hands all time. Sweat in axillae. Tip of coccyx itches intolerably. Moist eczema on body especially on hand. Itching and eczema of feet and legs. Edema in joints.
Blunt instruments leave a deep impression on the skin. Urticaria, with rheumatic lameness, palpitation and diarrhea. Itching on getting warm. Eczema – moist; formation of thick crusts. Pimples cover the entire body; scurvy; herpetic eruptions. Pruritus ani. Sweaty urticaria on waking. Pellagra.
Dulcamar
It has a specific relation also to the skin, glands, and digestive organs, mucous membranes secreting more profusely while the skin is inactive. The rheumatic troubles induced by damp cold are aggravated by every cold change and somewhat relieved by moving about. Results from sitting on cold, damp ground. Icy coldness. One-sided spasms with speechlessness. Paralysis of single parts. Congestive headache, with neuralgia and dry nose. Patients living or working in damp, cold basements. Eruptions on hands, arms or face around the menstrual period. The back part of head sweaty and chilly, heavy, aching, even in cold weather. Ringworm of scalp. Scald head, thick brown crusts, bleeding when scratched. Humid eruption on cheeks and face generally. Rashes on skin. Dysmenorrhea, with blotches all over; breasts engorged and sore. Perspiration on palms of hands. Rheumatic symptoms after acute skin eruptions. Night sweats and pains.
Adenitis. Pruritus. Herpes zoster, pemphigus. Swelling and indurated glands from cold. Vesicular eruptions. Sensitive bleeding ulcers. Little boils. Red spots, urticaria, brought on by exposure, or gastritis. Warts, large, smooth, on face and palmar surface of hands. Anasarca. Thick, brown-yellow crusts, bleeding when scratched.
Hepar Sulphur
Eruptions and glandular swellings. Unhealthy skin. Sweating patient pulling blanket around him. Locally, it has special affinity to the respiratory mucous membrane, producing croupous catarrhal inflammation, profuse secretion, easy perspiration. After the abuse of Mercury. Infected sinus with pus forming. The tendency to suppuration. Humid scald-head itching and burning. Cold sweat on head.
Yellowish complexion. Vesicular erysipelas, with pricking. Herpes, sensitive, and bleeds easily. Ulcers externally on prepuce similar to chancre. Excitement and emission without amorous fancies. Itching of glans, frenum, and scrotum. Suppurating inguinal glands. Fig warts of offensive odor. Humid soreness on genitals and between scrotum and thigh. Itching of pudenda and nipples, worse during menses. Manses late and scanty. Abscesses of labia with severe sensitivity. Extremely offensive leucorrhea. Profuse perspiration at the climacteric.
Abscesses; suppurating glands – very sensitive. Papules are prone to suppurate and extend. Acne. Suppurate with prickly pain. Easily bleed. Angio-neurotic oedema. Unhealthy skin: every little injury suppurates. Chapped skin, with deep cracks on hands and feet. Ulcers, with bloody suppuration. Sweats day and night without relief. “Cold sores” are very sensitive. Putrid ulcers, surrounded by little pimples. Chronic and recurring urticaria. Smallpox. Herpes circinate. Constant offensive exhalation from the body. Profuse sweat; sour, sticky, offensive.
Acid Nitricum
Selects for its special seat of action the outlets of the body where the mucous membrane and skin meet. Sticking pains. Discharges are very offensive, especially urine, feces, and perspiration. Soreness and burning in glans and beneath prepuce. Ulcers; burn and sting; exude, offensive matter.
Fetid foot-sweat, causing soreness of toes, with sticking pain; chilblains on toes. Sweating of palms, hands; cold, blue nails. Offensive sweat in axillae at night. Warts, large jagged; bleed on washing. Ulcers bleed easily, sensitive; splinter-like pains; zigzag, irregular edges; base looks like raw flesh. Exuberant granulations. Black pores on face, papules worse on forehead.
Sulpher
Trembling of hands. Hot, sweaty hands. Rheumatic pain in shoulders. Heaviness; paretic feeling. Rheumatic gout, with itching. Burning in soles and hands at night. Sweat in armpits. Ganglion. Frequent flashes of heat. Violent ebullitions of heat throughout entire body. Night sweat, on nape and occiput. Perspiration of single parts. Disgusting sweats. Remittent type.
Skin dry, scaly, unhealthy; every little injury suppurates. Freckles. Itching, burning. Pimply eruption, pustules, rhagades, hangnails. Excoriation. Skin affections after local steroid treatments. Pruritus.
Jaborandi (Pilocarpus)
Jaborandi or Pilocarpus is a powerful glandular stimulant and the most efficient diaphoretic. Its most important effects are diaphoresis, salivation and myosis. Hot flushes, nausea, salivation and profuse perspiration on face, ears and neck, deeply flushed, and drops of perspiration break out all over the body. Night-sweats of consumptives. Acts upon the thyroid and its sudorific action. Exophthalmic goiter, with increased heart’s action and pulsation of arteries; tremors and nervousness; heat and sweating; bronchial irritation. Excessive perspiration from all parts of the body. Persistent dryness of skin. Dry eczema. Semi-lateral sweats. Chilliness with sweat.
Tilia Europaea
Intense sore feeling about uterus; bearing down, with hot sweat. Soreness and redness of external genitals. Pelvic inflammation, tympanites, abdominal tenderness and hot sweat which does not relieve. Urticaria. Violent itching and burning after scratching. Eruption, Small red itching pimples. Sweat warm and profuse soon after falling asleep. Sweat increases as rheumatic pain increases.
Thuja occidentalis
Polypi, tubercles, warts epithelioma, naevi, carbuncles; ulcers, especially in Ano-genital region. Freckles and blotches. Perspiration sweetish, and strong. Dry skin, with brown spots. Zona; herpetic eruptions. Tearing pains in glands. Glandular enlargement. Nails crippled; brittle and soft. Eruptions only on covered parts; worse after scratching. Very sensitive to touch. Sweat only on uncovered parts, or all over except head, when sleeping; profuse, sour, smelling.
Psorinum
An ideal medicine for hyperhidrosis with highly offensive odor. Psorinum is very beneficial for persons who cannot tolerate cold air even in hot weather. Excessive heat in palms, soles and head with increased sweating. Worst cases of offensive sweating. Easy perspiration when walking – offensive. Humid eruption on scalp; hair matted. Humid eruption on face. Sickly. Eruption around fingernails. Fetid foot-sweats.
Dirty, dingy look. Dry, lusterless, rough hair. Intolerable itching. Herpetic eruptions, especially on scalp and bends of joints with itching. Enlarged glands. Sebaceous glands secrete excessively, oily skin. Indolent ulcers, slow to heal. Eczema behind ears. Crusty eruptions all over. Urticaria after every exertion. Pustules near fingernails. Fever – Profuse, offensive perspiration; night-sweats.
Petroleum
Skin symptoms are very marked, acting on sweat and oil glands; Ailments are worse during the winter season, from riding in cars, carriages, or ships; lingering gastric and lung troubles; chronic diarrhea. Long-lasting complaints follow mental states-fright, vexation, etc. Chlorosis in young girls with or without ulceration of the stomach. Moist eruption on scalp. Eczema, intertrigo etc, in and behind ears, with intense itching. Fissures in meatus. Herpetic eruption on perineum. Itching in urethra. Genitals sore and moist. Sensation of moisture. Itching and mealy coating of nipple. Fetid sweat in axillae. Itching at night. Chilblains, moist, itch and burn. Bed-sores. Herpes. The slightest scratch makes skin suppurate. Intertrigo; psoriasis of hands. Thick, greenish crusts, burning and itching; redness, raw; cracks bleed easily. Eczema. Perspiration on feet and axillae.
Silicea Tera
Excessive sweating on hands, feet, and armpits, but silicea tops the list. silicea is a very beneficial remedy for controlling sweat of feet, hands and armpits. The sweat is extremely offensive in character – with sour or putrid odor. Foul smelling sweat in armpits.
Baryta Carb
Pain in axillary glands. Cold, clammy feet. Fetid foot-sweats. Numbness of limbs. Numb feeling from knees to scrotum; disappears when sitting down. Toes and soles sore; soles painful when walking. Pain in joints; burning pains in lower limbs.
Merc Solibulus
Merc Sol is one of the best treatments for sweating profusely over the whole body that worsens at night – offensive or sour. Weakness along with profuse sweating. Skin almost constantly moist. Excessive odorous viscid perspiration; worse, night. There is a general tendency to free perspiration, but the patient is not relieved thereby. Vesicular and pustular eruptions. Ulcers, irregular in shape, edges undefined. Pimples around the main eruption. Itching, worse from warmth of bed. Crusta lactea; yellowish-brown crusts, considerable suppuration. Buboes. Orchitis.
P. S: This article is only for doctors having good knowledge about Homeopathy and allopathy, for learning purpose(s).
For proper consultation and treatment, please visit our clinic.
None of above-mentioned medicine(s) is/are the full/complete treatment, but just hints for treatment; every patient has his/her own constitutional medicine.
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Dr. Sayyad Qaisar Ahmed (MD {Ukraine}, DHMS), Abdominal Surgeries, Oncological surgeries, Gastroenterologist, Specialist Homeopathic Medicines.
Senior research officer at Dnepropetrovsk state medical academy Ukraine.
Location: Al-Haytham clinic, Umer Farooq Chowk Risalpur Sadder (0923631023, 03119884588), K.P.K, Pakistan.
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