Sometimes, though, sweating can get out of control and then it's called hyperhidrosis. This is not a widespread complaint, but it does exist and it does cause problems for those who suffer from it. It can cause excessive sweating day or night from palms (palmar), feet (plantar), armpits (axillary) or face (facial), or just a general sweating all over the body.
At times it can become downright embarrassing. As they say in show business - "Never let them see you sweat." But that's difficult if drops of perspiration are pouring down your face. If people back away from you holding their breath, that's also a problem. Even shaking hands with someone whose palm is wringing wet can be enough to turn off a prospective client. And underarm perspiration can produce unsightly wet circles on shirts and blouses and even leave stubborn stains.
Hyperhidrosis can be the result of an endocrine disease, but other causes including menopause or obesity may also be the underlying condition causing excessive sweating. Anxiety and nervous disorders are also known to bring about excessive perspiration. However, often there is no known cause.
TREATMENT
The best way to treat hyperhidrosis is to treat the underlying cause, if it's known. For instance, hormone treatments for menopause may reduce the condition. Injections of minute amounts of botulinum toxin, or Botox, are used to treat some cases of excessive sweating.Antiperspirants may help to control perspiration that's not too severe. As a last resort for those who suffer from severe hyperhidrosis, surgical treatment is also available. Endoscopic Thoracic Sympathectomy is a surgical procedure in which certain parts of the sympathetic nervous system are clamped off to control the sweat glands.
If this sweating occurs only at night, you may be suffering from nocturnal hyperhydrosis or night sweats. Please continue to the next page for more information.
