Abnormal sweating | Hyperfunction of sweat glands

Any handshake is embarrassing and should be avoided if possible. Constant sweating in the armpits soaks clothes and is often visible. Even with extreme cleanliness, the person affected fears the possible formation of odors. The result of this stress: insecurity in dealing with other people, which can include significant restrictions on personal development in private life and at work.

Excessive local sweating is only very rarely caused by organic diseases. In most cases, there is a predisposition to overactive sweat glands in the armpits, palms or soles. Antiperspirant deodorants fail here. Special solutions containing aluminum chloride prescribed by a doctor may be helpful if the severity is mild. If you have increased sweating on your hands or feet, tap water iontophoresis, offered in many dermatologists’ offices, is often very effective. In severe cases, underarm sweat glands or certain nerve nodes may be surgically removed. However, these surgical procedures can sometimes be accompanied by significant side effects and functional skin disorders. A new treatment for excessive sweating is to inject botulinum toxin into the skin. Botulinum toxin is a natural bacterial protein whose effect is based on blocking certain nerve impulses to the sweat glands. After a single injection into the skin, a chemical blockage of the sweat glands occurs around the third day. Excessive sweating in the respective region stops for a period of about 6 to 12 months.

A practical example

An 18-year-old woman who has suffered from year-round excessive underarm sweating for several years should be treated. Previous attempts at therapy with various deodorants and substances that have an effect on the central nervous system did not bring any improvement. Before starting therapy, the zone of increased sweating can be visible using a starch-iodine test. Active welding zones turn black. In a control test that must be carried out 2 weeks after therapy, the now white starch powder shows that sweat production has significantly decreased. A desired residual function of the sweat glands is usually maintained. The advantages of botulinum toxin therapy are the long duration of action, safety and tolerability, as well as the low total time required for the patient. The disadvantage is that the therapy has to be repeated because the effect disappears after about 6 to 12 months. However, many patients report that treatment intervals become longer the more frequently they undergo this therapy. Just one day after treatment, your mood usually improves and any previous fears of contact disappear.