Hyperhidrosis is abnormally excessive sweating that’s not necessarily related to heat or exercise. You may sweat so much that it soaks through your clothes or drips off your hands. Excessive sweating is divided into two categories to help clinicians and sufferers understand their cause, and then approach to treating hyperhidrosis. The two types of hyperhidrosis are: Primary Focal and Secondary Generalized.

Primary Focal – Sweating mainly occurs on your feet, hands, face, head, and underarms. It usually starts in childhood. About 30 to 50 percent. Trusted Source of people with this type have a family history of excessive sweating.

Secondary generalized hyperhidrosis – sweating caused by a medical condition or as a side effect of certain medications. It generally starts in adulthood. With this type, you might sweat all over your body, or in just one area. You might also sweat while you’re sleeping.

Signs and symptoms of hyperhidrosis may include:

• Clammy or wet palms of the hands
• Clammy or wet soles of the feet
• Frequent sweating
• Noticeable sweating that soaks through clothing

Treating Hyperhidrosis:

OnabotulinumtoxinA injections – OnabotulinumtoxinA (OnA) injections (Botox) are used to control excessive sweating by paralyzing the muscles that stimulate overactive sweat glands. The treatment has been in use since 2004, and research has shown an 82% reduction in sweat production 16 weeks after one treatment and positive effects lasting up to 9 months post treatment.

Oral medications – Depending on the patient’s symptoms and treatment preferences, oral anticholinergic medications can be prescribed to target generalized sweating and craniofacial perspiration.

Glycopyrronium – These are wipes that makes the treatment simple and convenient for patients. The product’s active ingredient, glycopyrronium, blocks the receptors that cause excessive sweating. One wipe is used daily, and each wipe comes individually packaged for use under both underarms.

Iontophoresis – the hands and feet are submerged in a bowl of water. A painless electric current is passed through the water. Most patients need two to four 20-30 minute treatments.

ETS (Endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy) – this surgical intervention is only recommended in severe cases which have not responded to other treatments. The nerves that carry messages to the sweat glands are cut.