Treatment of excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis)

What is hyperhidrosis?

Hyperhidrosis is a common condition characterized by excessive sweating that affects up to 4.8% of the world's population. Those who suffer from this condition can sweat 4–5 times more than the average person!
People affected rarely talk about it and seldom seek medical help, so many suffer in silence. There are many myths surrounding hyperhidrosis. In fact, many do not even realize that excessive sweating is a recognized, treatable medical condition. Some don't even know there's a word for it!

Primary hyperhidrosis

Primary hyperhidrosis is a chronic condition with no known cause (idiopathic). Research suggests it may be hereditary and is associated with overactivity of the sympathetic nervous system.
Primary hyperhidrosis usually begins in childhood and can be diagnosed, and almost always appears before young adulthood. It is localized, meaning it affects one or more specific areas of the body. The most commonly affected areas are the hands, feet, and underarms. When more than one area is involved, it is referred to as multifocal hyperhidrosis.
While this condition is not life-threatening, it can have a significant impact on an individual's professional, physical, emotional, and social life. The condition can place a heavy burden on sufferers, causing them to live and plan their lives around it, and in some cases, even avoid social interactions and gatherings altogether.
Fortunately, there are highly effective treatments available. Iontophoresis is an extremely effective, non-invasive, needle- and drug-free treatment option.

Secondary hyperhidrosis

Excessive sweating can be a symptom of an underlying medical condition or a side effect of medication. In such cases, it is called secondary hyperhidrosis, as it is not primary in origin. It is generally widespread, meaning it usually affects the entire body. The best way to treat this type of hyperhidrosis is to consult a physician to identify and address the underlying cause.

Tap water iontophoresis

This is an electrotherapy treatment method based on the movement of electrically charged particles. During treatment, the migration of the electrical charge produces the therapeutic effect.

Some key points about iontophoresis treatment:

• Using tap water ensures even treatment across the targeted areas.
• In most cases, providing an adequate current to the targeted area reduces sweating.
• Treatment success partly depends on the current intensity applied.
• Higher current intensity is more effective and should be used in severe sweating.
• The treatment intensity should be adjusted according to skin sensitivity.
• The hands and feet tolerate higher current intensities than the underarms.
• After the initial treatment phase, results should be maintained by adhering to the treatment schedule.
• The frequency of treatments depends on the severity of hyperhidrosis.