Hyperhidrosis, or excessive sweating, is a serious medical condition that affects millions of people around the world, and can be a debilitating condition for those who suffer from it. Sadly, however, it is still a largely misunderstood condition within the medical community.
To add to this, most health insurers in Australia do not cover any of the cost of treatment for Hyperhidrosis, leaving sufferers to cough up the fees alone. Depending on which part of the body produces excessive sweat, those treatments can be ongoing and expensive.
Causes of Hyperhidrosis
The cause of excessive sweating is still largely unknown, but recently more research is being done on the role of apoerccrine sweat glands (that is, those that develop during puberty in the underarms and perianal area). Still, it’s a long way to go until the role of sweat glands is fully understood, and why, in some people, this cooling mechanism in the body malfunctions, producing up to five times the sweat of other glands.

Treatments and research
Treatments for Hyperhidrosis range from prescription-strength anti-perspirants to regular Botox injections. The latter have been used with some effectiveness for excess sweating of the hands and feet, but, ironically, can be dependent on how much the extremities are sweating at the time of treatment.
The use of Botox as a treatment for Hyperhidrosis is a relatively new development. One clinical study in the US involving 322 patients revealed that 81 percent of severe underarm sweating was reduced by over 50 percent. In around half of those people, the sweating did not return for almost seven months.
Increasingly, it is becoming popular among dermatologists for the treatment of head and underarm hyperhidrosis. Botox, or Botulinum toxin, works by temporarily blocking the secretion of the chemical that turns on the sweat gland.
Iontophoresis is the treatment preferred by some dermatologists for Hyperhidrosis of the hands and feet. During the treatment, the patient places their hands and feet into shallow trays of water for around 20 to 40 minutes. The water sends a mild electrical current through the skin’s surface, and, although it’s not fully understood why it works, it’s believed that the electric current and mineral particles in the water work together to thicken the outer layer of skin microscopically. This in turn blocks the flow of sweat, resulting in a dramatic reduction in sweating.
Iontophoresis is not permanent, and most people have to repeat the treatment after around four weeks. Pregnant women, people with pacemakers of other cardiac conditions, people who suffer from epilepsy or those who have large metal implants are not suitable for this treatment.
More recently, the Skin and Cancer Foundation in Melbourne has begun conducting trials of a new topical medication that is applied directly to the skin of the affected area. If successful, this treatment could prove to be a cheaper and more readily available option for many sufferers.
There is help out there
The most important thing to remember if you suffer from Hyperhidrosis is that you are not alone. One worldwide organisation dedicated to the issue of excessive sweating is the International Hyperhidrosis Society. Their website has a wealth of information on the causes and treatments of Hyperhydrosis (www.sweathelp.org). The Skin and Cancer Council of Victoria is also very helpful on the subject, and it may still be possible to apply for the new topical treatment trial (http://www.skincancer.asn.au).
This article has been provided by The Victorian Cosmetic Institute who offer solutions for excessive sweating issues along with other procedures to treat Manboobs (Gynaecomastia), along with other cosmetic treatments including laser hair removal and tattoo removal anti wrinkle injections, microdermabrasion and laser tattoo removal.

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