Excessive sweating

There are studies linking overactive sweat glands with an over activity in the sympathetic nerve system, concentrated to the Thoracic Sympathetic Ganglion nerve chain which is running inside the chest cavity, along the spinal vertebra.

Excessive sweating - what is it

Hiperhydrosis is what's known in plain English as severe perspiration. The condition can affect the armpits (anxillary hiperhidrosis), the feet (plantar hiperhydrosis) or palms (palmar hiperhidrosis or sweaty palms), thighs, groins or trunk (less common). Excess sweat is also common on the forehead (facial).

With a small percentage (1%) of people, the sympathetic nerves have become over stimulated with the result that sweating is taking place to a greater extent than necessary for temperature control - resulting in sweaty hands, excess sweat, or hiperhidrosis. The exact reason why the sympathetic nerves have become overstimulated (over active sweat glands) is not known.

Types of hyperhydrosis:

• Palmar (sweaty hands - the most common hyperhydrosis)
• Plantar (sweaty feet)
• Axillar (sweaty armpits)
• Facial (sweaty forehead)

Excess sweat symptoms

Symptoms in general are excessive perspiration from one or several of the affected areas (see type of hiperhidrosis), either intermittently, or more constantly.

In severe cases of the palmar variety of the disorder (sweaty hands), sweat can actually be dripping from your hands. In less severe cases, your palms may be moist, or very moist most of the time and sometimes feel cold at the same time (something that is reported by many patients).

Treatment of excess sweat

It is otherwise best treated by addressing the underlying cause of the severe perspiration. If the cause is the menopause, there are hormone treatments available that may reduce the excess sweating. Botox (botulinum toxin) via injections of small amounts, can also be used as treatment or at least offer some sweat relief.

For severe cases of overactive sweat glands there are also two main surgery methods available, either by removing sweat glands from the underarm, or by cutting the nerves stimulating the sweat glands. More on hyperhidrosis surgery here.

Hyperhydrosis
Profuse sweating, or hyperhidrosis, is a socially embarrasing condition but hyperhydrosis can be cured!

Hyperhidrosis symptoms
Heavy perspiration symptoms and causes, treatments available.

Hyperhidrosis symptoms
Sweaty palms and heavy perspiration symptoms.

Profuse sweating causes
Hyperhydrosis causes, what can be done to prevent sweaty hands and excessive sweating in the first place.

Excessive sweating - sweaty palms
Severe perspiration most common form is probably sweaty palms.

Excessive underarm perspiration
Sweaty armpits - common form of overactive sweat glands.

Excessive perspiration
Excess perspiring - causes and cure

Hyperhidrosis treatment
Treating hiperhidrosis, excess facial sweating (underarm, armpit, hand).

Hyperhydrosis surgery
Treatment of profuse sweat with surgery has developed a very good success rate.

Hyperhidrosis botox injections
Botox injections against excess sweat in armpits, palms, underarms.

Hyperhydrosis causes
What causes excessive sweat?