There’s no doubt about it — excessive sweating is embarrassing. Sweat stains, armpits that always seem wet, and unpleasant body odor can put a damper on your self-confidence and make you wonder if it will ever end.
In fact, people with this condition, called hyperhidrosis, report avoiding business meetings, social events, and friendly get-togethers due to the embarrassment excessive sweating causes. At HK Dermatology in San Juan Capistrano, California, our experienced providers understand.
Our dermatologists have helped many people in the San Juan Capistrano, California, area overcome excessive sweating and reclaim their lives. We also know you’re probably wondering if this condition might resolve on its own.
Take a moment to learn more about hyperhidrosis, whether it will go away, and the treatments available to help manage it.
Everyone sweats. When it’s hot outside, you develop a fever, or when your heart rate elevates, your sweat glands make perspiration to help normalize your body temperature and cool the surface of your skin.
But for over 15 million Americans, overactive nerves in certain areas of the body, usually the underarms, feet, and hands, make these sweat glands go into overdrive. This condition, called hyperhidrosis, causes visible sweat on your skin that can show through your clothes.
And if you have hyperhidrosis, you know it doesn’t have to be after you’ve exercised to kick in. People with the condition often sweat at times other people don’t, such as sitting at an office desk or standing in an air-conditioned space.
Symptoms range from mild to severe and can interfere with your quality of life. Even though hyperhidrosis doesn’t cause physical problems or increase your risk of serious health conditions, it negatively affects the mental and emotional well-being of those with the condition.
From causing embarrassment around others to making it difficult to hold a pen or turn a doorknob, hyperhidrosis impacts your life. And since persistent sweat can cause your skin to become moist and soft, some people with the condition develop fungal infections, like athlete’s foot.
Most people have primary hyperhidrosis, which usually begins in adolescence in otherwise healthy individuals. Less commonly, people may develop secondary hyperhidrosis, which results from a medical condition or side effect of a medication.
Unfortunately, there is no cure for primary hyperhidrosis. Some people report their sweating improves with age (over 65). However, research doesn’t support this. In fact, the majority of people with hyperhidrosis say their sweating either stays the same or worsens over time.
For people with secondary hyperhidrosis, the condition may improve once the underlying condition is treated or managed or if the medication triggering the sweating is stopped.
Even though your hyperhidrosis won’t resolve on its own, the good news is there are treatments that can help stop your excessive sweating.
Once your HK Dermatology provider diagnoses you with hyperhidrosis, our team discusses your unique symptoms and goals to create a personalized treatment plan for your excessive sweating.
For mild hyperhidrosis, your provider may recommend clinical-strength antiperspirants or other prescription anticholinergic medications to slow the production of sweat. They may also recommend lifestyle changes, like wearing breathable fabrics.
For moderate-to-severe hyperhidrosis, your provider may recommend more advanced treatment. Many of your hyperhidrosis patients find the most success with FDA-cleared nonsurgical miraDry®.
During your miraDry treatment, our team uses a non-invasive handheld device that targets the specific sweat glands causing your trouble. It delivers precisely controlled electromagnetic energy, which causes the sweat glands to decompose. Most patients experience an 80% reduction in sweat after two treatments.
Your top layers of skin remain protected and cooled during your treatment session, which takes about an hour. The best part? Results are almost immediate! You can resume your normal activities immediately, although you may have some mild bruising, tenderness, or swelling for a few days.
Learn more about hyperhidrosis and the therapies available to help by scheduling an appointment online or over the phone with a provider at HK Dermatology in San Juan Capistrano, California.
