Hyperhidrosis: Sweating Your Life Away

Increased sweating, especially of the palms, is one of the most debilitating conditions seen by dermatologists. For people who have this condition, it can become the focal point of their lives. They are in continual dread of being placed in a position where they will be forced to shake hands with someone while their own hand is hot and dripping with sweat.

Mothers won't hold their child's hand. Singles won't date. People avoid jobs that will require them to have close interaction with others. Those who handle papers, such as teachers and secretaries, find that they quickly stain the documents with sweat. Those who have this problems in their armpits quickly ruin their blouses and shirts. The anxiety and stress that accompany this condition only make the sweating worse. We have had one patient who, when it came time for her second treatment, had only her right hand treated. She was convinced that the security of knowing that her right hand would be dry would reduce tha anxiety enough that her left hand would not be much of a problem. It appears to have worked, since she has not returned to have the left hand treated.
While there is surgery available for hyperhidrosis, it is not a minor procedure and at times it can be accompanied by a compensatory increase in sweating in areas not affected by the surgery, such as the face.
For people with this condition, Botox has made a dramatic difference. Although Botox in the palms can sometimes produce temporary hand muscle weakness. patients have uniformly been more than satisfied. The effect of Botox lasts 6 to 12 months, and sometimes longer. When Reloxin reaches the market, its increased diffusion may allow relatively smaller doses to be used. Hopefully this will make the procedure more affordable and available to more people.

Gerald N. Bock MD
California Skin & Laser Center
Stockton & Lodi, CA