There are those who sweat a little when it is hot. And then there are the others. Those for whom sweat becomes an undesirable companion, who invites himself in meetings, runs in transport, floods clothes even in the middle of winter. This reality has a name, still too little known: Hyperhidrosis.
What is hyperhidrosis and how to recognize it?
Hyperhidrosis is defined as a Excessive secretion of sweatwithout direct link with room temperature or physical exercise. It can be located (hands, feet, armpits, face) or widespread. In its primary form, it often appears from adolescence, without identified cause. Conversely, secondary hyperhidrosis is generally the symptom of another pathology: hyperthyroidism, diabetes, menopause, or taking certain drugs.
The demonstrations are often spectacular: Important halos under the arms, soaked hands, prematurely damaged shoes… It’s not just aesthetic inconvenience. This can lead to anxiety disorders, social phobias, even professional avoidance (refusal to shake hands, fear of speaking in public, isolation).
A simple test makes it possible to diagnose a localized form: the Iodine and starch test colors the wet areas of the body. It is then enough for a few minutes to view the extent of the sweating. Doctors also assess the intensity on a scale of gravity, of “embarrassing but bearable” to “incapacitating in daily life”.
What creams to use to regulate excessive sweating?
Faced with this permanent discomfort, the first proposed response remains the use of Medical creams and antitranspirants. Their composition is generally based on aluminum saltscapable of mechanically blocking the sweat channels.
The most used products include:
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Etiaxil : in night application, recommended for armpits or hands.
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Insight : often prescribed in pharmacy, it offers an efficiency of several days.
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Sweatshirt : appreciated for its targeted action on sensitive areas.
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Drysol (prescription in some countries): more concentrated, to be used with caution.
These topical treatments require rigorous application, often on dry and unarmed skin, generally before bedtime. The most frequent side effects remain irritations, redness or burning sensationswhich sometimes forces to space applications.
Certain more recent creams also contain soothing active ingredients such as aloe vera, zinc or glycerinto limit skin reactions. But their effectiveness remains below the medical antitranspirants.
When creams are no longer enough: other options
When topical products reach their limits, other more radical solutions exist. The best known remains Botulinum toxin injection (Botox). It blocks the nervous signals responsible for sweating, with a visible effect for 4 to 6 months. Average cost: 300 to 600 euros per session, rarely reimbursed except in case of severe pathology.
Other track: ionophoresisa technique that uses an electric current to neutralize the activity of the sweat glands, especially in terms of hands and feet. Less painful than it seems, it can be done at home after prescription.
In extreme cases, surgery, endoscopic thoracic sympatromy, can be considered. It consists in cutting the sympathetic nerves that stimulate perspiration. Rarely proposed in first intention, it can lead to irreversible side effects, such as compensatory perspiration on other areas of the body.
Recently, oral treatments like Anticholinergics Are also offered, but with side effects (dry mouth, vision disorders) which limit their short -term use.
Often minimized, excessive sweating is not just a problem of comfort. It is a deaf suffering, experienced in silence by those affected. If the solutions exist, they remain unknown, poorly reimbursed or deemed secondary. However, for many, having access to it represents the possibility of Find a normal social life, without fear of being tried, without a wave of sweat.
Photo credit: @Shutterstock
