Armpit Hyperhidrosis - Symptoms And Treatment, Effective Remedies For Hyperhidrosis

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-07 17:49

Armpit hyperhidrosis

Armpit hyperhidrosis is profuse sweating in the armpits that has no connection with physical factors (high physical activity, overheating, high ambient temperature, etc.). With hyperhidrosis, the process of sweating is so intense that it significantly impairs the quality of human life.

Content:

• Hyperhidrosis - what is this disease?
• Hyperhidrosis symptoms
• Causes of hyperhidrosis
• Diagnostics

• Hyperhidrosis treatment

  • Treatment of hyperhidrosis with botox
  • Laser treatment of hyperhidrosis
  • Curettage
  • Medicines
  • Home treatment of hyperhidrosis

• Effective remedies for hyperhidrosis

  • Antiperspirant Maxim
  • Dry dry
  • Odaban
  • Formidron
  • Pasta Teymurov
• Prevention of hyperhidrosis
• Which doctor should I contact with hyperhidrosis?

Hyperhidrosis - what is this disease?

Hyperhidrosis is excessive sweating of a specific area of the body or trunk in general. Hyperhidrosis can be a congenital feature of the body, or it can develop as a result of another disease, for example, against the background of obesity, tuberculosis or thyroiditis. The word hyperhidrosis comes from two Greek derivatives: hyper and hidros, which mean excessive and sweat.

If a person is absolutely healthy, then his sweating will intensify, provided that the ambient temperature rises more than +20 ° C Celsius. Psychoemotional stress (stress, anxiety, fear), physical work, and the consumption of a significant amount of water also become triggers for increased sweat separation.

Axillary hyperhidrosis is a local increase in sweating. Similar pathological manifestations include increased sweating of the palms, forehead, or feet. The second name for axillary hyperhidrosis is axillary hyperhidrosis. In addition to the fact that the process of separating perspiration itself is intensified, its smell also changes, which becomes fetid.

According to available statistics, about 2% of the world's population suffers from hyperhidrosis. Although doctors claim that this can be significantly higher, since not every person with a similar feature of the body turns to specialists for help. More often, hyperhidrosis is observed in women, which is explained by their increased emotionality and the instability of the hormonal background in certain life periods. A considerable part of people with hyperhidrosis are adolescents, since it is in the transition period that the maximum activity of the sweat and sebaceous glands is observed. After the age of 50, this problem becomes less and less relevant, as the sweat glands begin to work worse.

Despite the seeming frivolity of the problem, it can give a person severe discomfort. Knowing about such a feature of the body, a woman or man will constantly be in the expectation that sweating will intensify at the most inappropriate moment for this, for example, in a crowded place. The constant stay in nervous tension leads to the fact that the problem is aggravated. As a result, a vicious circle is created, and it is almost impossible to find a way out of it on your own. If a person develops local hyperhidrosis, and he does not find objective reasons for this, then one should not delay contacting a doctor. The fact is that this pathology may indicate the development of serious diseases.

Hyperhidrosis symptoms

The symptoms of hyperhidrosis are obvious - excessive sweating of the armpits, which does not have an obvious relationship with internal or external factors. As a result of increased sweating, characteristic stains remain on clothes. Skin, with insufficient care for it, will be constantly irritated. This, in turn, will lead to the development of dermatitis.

Often with hyperhidrosis, a person simply physically does not have time to take care of his clothes and body. Sweat is known to be a breeding ground for bacteria and fungi. Therefore, it is not surprising that an unpleasant odor will emanate from a person.

In addition, scientists have proven that if a person has hyperhidrosis for a long time, then the number of sweat glands increases. Changes in the chemical composition of sweat lead to an increase in its stench. It is the pungent and unpleasant odor emanating from sweat that is the main symptom of armpit hyperhidrosis. To cope with it, often, no deodorants help. An unpleasant smell becomes noticeable not only for the patient himself, but also for his environment. To get rid of it, a person is forced to change clothes several times a day, take a shower, constantly look for a secluded place to take hygienic measures. In some cases, this leads to social isolation and isolation, which is especially important for adolescents.

Causes of hyperhidrosis

To understand the causes of hyperhidrosis, it is necessary to understand the characteristics of sweating in general. This process is a natural defense mechanism of the body against overheating, and it is also aimed at cleansing it from toxic compounds, decay products, excess water and salts. Sweat is released through the sweat glands, which deplete the subcutaneous fat. Most of the sweat glands are concentrated in the armpits. There are also many of them on the palms and feet. Sweat is almost entirely water. About 1-3% of it is represented by salts and complex organic compounds. The concentration of these substances differs from person to person, which causes differences in the odor emanating from sweat.

Hyperhidrosis can be either primary or secondary. The primary form of pathology is most often recorded in puberty. It is diagnosed in no more than 1% of people. Secondary hyperhidrosis is the result of various disorders in the body. It is capable of provoking diseases of the endocrine, nervous and somatic systems. Even the oncological nature of the disease, leading to increased sweating, cannot be ruled out.

So, the causes of generalized hyperhidrosis can be:

• Hormonal disorders in the body during puberty.
• Hormone-dependent diseases: diabetes mellitus, hyperthyroidism, pheochromocytoma, carcinoid syndrome.
• Diseases of a neurogenic nature.
• Stress, nervous strain. In this case, an excessive release of hormones (adrenaline and norepinephrine) occurs in the body. They have a stimulating effect on the central nervous system, as a result of which the sweat glands receive a command to work actively. In this case, we can talk about psychogenic hyperhidrosis.
• Disturbances in the functioning of the nervous system as a result of a malfunction in the functioning of the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for sweating.

This can occur as a result of the following lesions:

• Spinal cord and brain injuries;
• Family dysautonomy;
• Diencephalic syndrome of the newborn;
• Parkinson's disease;
• Epilepsy;
• Vegeto-vascular dystonia.
• Acute infectious diseases, body poisoning.
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding.
• Menopause.
• Unsuitable cosmetics and deodorants.
• Taking certain medications, for example, Acyclovir, Insulin, Aspirin, antidepressants, etc.
• Power supply errors. Sweating can be increased by extractives that are part of meat, mushrooms, fish, spices, alcoholic beverages, tea and coffee.
• High levels of catecholamines in the body. These substances regulate the transmission of impulses along the nerve tables. A jump in catecholamines is observed during intense physical exertion, against the background of intense pain (regardless of its cause), with heart pathologies and with respiratory failure.
• Wearing clothing made from synthetic materials.

There can be many reasons for the occurrence of generalized armpit hyperhidrosis. To establish what exactly influenced the development of this pathology, it is necessary to consult a doctor.

Diagnostics

To diagnose hyperhidrosis, you must contact a therapist or dermatologist. The doctor will interview the patient, examine him. This will allow him to suggest a particular cause of the pathological condition and prescribe treatment. In some cases, consultation of other narrow specialists is required (neurologist, endocrinologist, oncologist).

If hyperhidrosis has a psychogenic basis, then it will be possible to trace its onset, which is often closely related to psychological trauma. Sweating in such patients intensifies in minutes of nervous overstrain, or at night. Periods of remission are observed against a background of emotional calm. In addition to the armpits, the face, feet and palms sweat intensively.

If a person has primary hyperhidrosis, that is, one that develops against the background of congenital disorders of the sympathetic part of the nervous system, then a number of signs will indicate this. In this case, hyperhidrosis manifests itself in childhood or adolescence, a similar situation is observed in other family members. There is no association with emotional overexcitation and increased sweating. In addition to the armpits, primary hyperhidrosis can be observed on the feet and palms.

If hyperhidrosis occurs not only in the armpits, but also throughout the body, then one can suspect the endocrine nature of the pathology. At night and in the evening, sweating increases, and so much so that a person is forced to constantly change clothes. Redness of the skin of the body and face is possible.

Laboratory examinations that are prescribed to a patient with hyperhidrosis:

• General and biochemical blood test.
• Fluorography.
• Blood test for thyroid hormones, glucose levels, syphilis, HIV, hepatitis.
• General urine analysis.

The following studies help to qualitatively and quantitatively assess the sweat discharge:

• Minor's test makes it possible to determine the boundaries of the area that is characterized by increased sweating. The skin is thoroughly dried, and then iodine solution and starch are applied to them. Those places where areas with overactive glands are located will be painted in black and blue. This procedure is performed when surgery is planned.
• To be able to find the optimal treatment and diet, it is necessary to study the chemical composition of sweat. This procedure is called chromatographic analysis.
• A sheet of filtered paper is applied to the armpits to determine the amount of sweat produced per minute. This method is called gravimetric. It allows you to assess the severity of hyperhidrosis.

Having paid enough attention to interviewing the patient and methods for diagnosing hyperhidrosis, the doctor will be able to accurately determine the cause of the pathology and prescribe the appropriate treatment for him.

Hyperhidrosis treatment

Treatment of hyperhidrosis can be conservative and surgical. However, before proceeding with the description of these methods, it is necessary to give people with this pathology several practical recommendations.

Firstly, great attention must be paid to the rules of personal hygiene. Shower should be taken every day. Sometimes this will even need to be done several times a day. To enhance the effect of hygiene procedures and to eliminate unpleasant odors, you can rub the armpits with chamomile or oak bark infusion.

Secondly, the use of deodorants is a prerequisite for combating a fetid odor.

Thirdly, clothes should be sewn only from high-quality natural materials that are breathable and absorb moisture well.

Fourthly, spicy, hot, fatty foods, spices and alcohol should be excluded from the diet. Fresh onions and garlic and various spices enhance the unpleasant smell of sweat.

Conservative treatment of hyperhidrosis is reduced to the following methods:

• Psychotherapeutic effect. The main method of psychotherapeutic influence is hypnosis. It is used to eliminate a wide variety of neurogenic problems. The easier it is for a person to keep his own emotions under control, the faster he will get rid of hyperhidrosis.
• Treatment with medications:
• Belladonna preparations with Atropine are prescribed for hyperactive sympathetic nervous system.
• Herbal sedatives and tranquilizers are recommended for patients with increased excitability of the nervous system.
• Botox injections.
• Use of antiperspirants. Antiperspirants have a local effect, since they contain zinc salt, aluminum salt, salicylic acid, etc. All these substances help to reduce perspiration by blocking the ducts of the sweat glands. However, in case of hyperhidrosis, antiperspirants should be used with extreme caution, since the narrowing of the sweat glands can be accompanied by tissue edema, dermatitis and allergic reactions.
• Physiotherapy treatment of hyperhidrosis. In complex treatment, coniferous baths, contrast showers, electrosleep, and treatment with electric currents can be used.

Nevertheless, it must be taken into account that all conservative methods are aimed only at achieving remission for a period of several hours (with the use of antiperspirants) to 6 months (with the administration of botulinum toxin). The problem can be fundamentally solved only by resorting to the help of a surgeon.

With regard to surgical treatment, modern medicine offers the use of the following methods:

• Armpit liposuction.
• Armpit curettage.
• Excision of the armpit skin.

It should be borne in mind that any surgical methods are associated with certain risks, therefore, they need to be resorted to only when hyperhidrosis really worsens the quality of life, and treatment with more gentle methods does not bring results that are stable over time.

Treatment of hyperhidrosis with botox

Botulinum toxin is injected into the armpits and blocks the transmission of nerve impulses to the sweat gland. As a result, sweating is reduced, but water and heat exchange of the skin is not disturbed. This method of treatment is widely practiced in modern beauty parlors.

Before starting the procedure, all hair is removed from the armpits, after which iodine solution and starch are applied to the skin in the treatment area. This will tint the sweat glands darker. Then the armpits are disinfected and the marking points are placed where the drug will be injected. For injections, a thin needle is used, which is inserted shallowly. Punctures are made at a distance of 1-2 cm from each other. To reduce painful sensations, an anesthetic cream is applied to the skin.

The procedure itself is not long in time and does not take more than 50 minutes. After two days, sweating will significantly decrease, and after a week it will stop altogether (we are talking exclusively about the treatment area). The effect, on average, lasts 6 months, although sometimes it stretches over a year. In the future, you will need to repeat the procedure. Its cost is equal to 40,000 rubles (average price).

Treatment of hyperhidrosis with botox is contraindicated, provided that it is caused by any underlying disease. It is impossible to carry out the procedure when there is an inflammatory process in the armpits, myasthenia gravis and hemophilia. A contraindication is also carrying a baby, taking certain antibacterial drugs and breastfeeding.

As for the restrictions after the procedure, you should refrain from visiting the saunas and baths, from taking hot baths and active sports.

The introduction of Botox is most often not associated with any complications. However, in some cases, slight bruising and muscle weakness of the upper extremities may appear, which passes after a short time.

Laser treatment of hyperhidrosis

Laser treatment of hyperhidrosis is one of the innovative methods in the modern cosmetology industry. The cells of the sweat gland are exposed to a laser beam, which contributes to its complete blockage. As a result, the gland loses its efficiency. Hyperhidrosis goes away forever, no additional procedures are required.

The procedure is performed in an outpatient clinic. Local anesthesia is sufficient to eliminate all unpleasant sensations in the patient. Under the control of a microscope, a cannula with a laser beam is introduced into the skin of the armpits, which affects the gland. The patient does not spend more than half an hour in the beautician's office.

The procedure is not associated with any complications. After that, there are no bruises, the tissues do not heat up during processing. Moreover, laser exposure allows you to additionally disinfect the treatment area. Therefore, in just one procedure, you can permanently get rid of the problem that has been tormenting for a long time.

Curettage

Curettage is a local effect on the sweat glands of the armpits, which destroys the nerve endings and removes the sweat glands. This method is used by plastic surgeons.

Before the procedure, a Minor test is carried out in order to accurately determine the affected area. The area to be treated is then anesthetized using a local anesthetic. Punctures and skin exfoliation are performed using a curette, and then the sweat glands are scraped out from the inside. The effect of the procedure will be long lasting (over several years). After this time, the nerve endings can recover, which will require repeated curettage.

Despite its effectiveness, this method is associated with the risk of bleeding, bruising, and accumulation of subcutaneous exudate. The formation of seals from fibrous tissue is very rarely observed, which require another operation to remove them.

Medicines

Medicines that can be used to treat hyperhidrosis: Propranolol, Atropine, Klonopin, Prozac, etc. It should be noted that their intake is often accompanied by increased dry mouth, increased fatigue and drowsiness. Ophthalmological problems are possible, as well as disturbances from the organs of the digestive system (nausea, constipation, vomiting, etc.).

Home treatment of hyperhidrosis

Home treatment of hyperhidrosis involves the following procedures:

• Compliance with a diet with refusal of spicy foods, from drinks containing caffeine.
• Wearing clothes made from natural fabrics, changing them daily.
• Taking a contrast shower several times a day.
• Refusal from bad habits (from smoking and alcohol).

Traditional medicine advises to make baths with decoctions of herbs with antiseptic properties (sage, chamomile, oak, nettle, eucalyptus). Additionally, you can treat the armpits with tincture of horsetail in alcohol. Inside, you can take herbal decoctions with a calming effect (lemon balm, mint, motherwort).

It is impossible to completely get rid of hyperhidrosis at home. This problem must be addressed in conjunction with a dermatologist.

Effective remedies for hyperhidrosis

Antiperspirant Maxim

Antiperspirant Maxim is not a cosmetic, but a medical product in which the amount of aluminum chloride hexahydrate is increased, compared to other similar products. This allows him to more effectively fight excessive sweating.

The antiperspirant is applied only to clean, dry underarm skin before resting at night. Aluminum chloride will enter the sweat glands during sleep and clog them. This is what will help to avoid excessive sweating.

It is imperative to consult with your doctor about the possibility of using this product for pregnant and lactating women. It cannot be applied directly after underarm epilation, as well as on skin with wounds and abrasions.

The drug can leave visible marks on clothes, so you must wait until it dries completely.

Dry dry

Dry Dry deodorant contains denatured alcohol and aluminum chloride hydrate. It is these components that make it possible to actively combat increased sweating. According to the manufacturers, the product works for five days, leaving the underarm skin completely dry.

Before using the product, you must make sure that the dermis is not damaged. Otherwise, the risk of severe irritation remains. With increased skin sensitivity, you can use the Dry Dry light deodorant, which has a softer composition, but this affects the duration and effectiveness of its action.

You should refuse to use this drug during pregnancy and lactation, in the acute course of infectious diseases, after visiting a solarium. From the moment of depilation to the moment of applying the drug to the skin, at least 2 days should pass.

Experts recommend taking a break after 2 months of continuous use of the deodorant. The fact is that long-term use of this drug increases the risk of developing breast cancer.

Odaban

Odaban for armpits is used in the form of a spray. This antiperspirant has been available since 1970 and has proven itself in the fight against hyperhidrosis. Its main active ingredient is aluminum chloride, of which the spray contains 20%. It clogs up the sweat glands, thereby reducing perspiration. The result lasts up to several days. The spray can be used not only for treating armpits, but also feet, palms, and neck. One bottle lasts an average of 6 months.

It should be noted that Odaban is alcohol-based, therefore it can provoke skin irritation.

Formidron

Formidron is a combined alcohol solution for external use. It contains formaldehyde, which fights against increased sweating. Apply the drug to the skin of the armpits for no more than 20 minutes, then rinse thoroughly with running water and sprinkle with talcum powder. If you have shaved your armpits, you cannot use Formidron earlier than a day later.

Formidron is an effective remedy that allows you to get rid of perspiration and unpleasant odors for an average of 12 days. It should not be applied in the presence of inflammation in the treatment area, as well as under the age of 16.

Pasta Teymurov

Teimurova paste is a complex remedy for combating hyperhidrosis and unpleasant odor. It contains boric and salicylic acid, methenamine, borax, talc, formaldehyde, zinc oxide. Together, all of these substances help prevent increased sweating.

The paste can be applied to clean and dry armpit skin (you must first wash them with soap). The paste is squeezed onto the fingertip and lubricated on the armpits. The effect lasts up to 4 days.

Prevention of hyperhidrosis

Prevention of hyperhidrosis is reduced to the following activities:

• Wearing clothes made from natural materials.
• Wearing clothes according to the season, which will prevent overheating.
• Use of antiperspirants.
• Taking a contrast shower at least 2 times a day.
• Taking vitamin A, E and group B.
• Taking sedatives on a natural basis, which have a beneficial effect on the functioning of the nervous system.
• Timely treatment of diseases that can lead to hyperhidrosis.

Which doctor should I contact with hyperhidrosis?

If hyperhidrosis occurs, you need to consult a dermatologist or a therapist.

The author of the article: Kuzmina Vera Valerievna | Endocrinologist, nutritionist

Education: Diploma of the Russian State Medical University named after NI Pirogov with a degree in General Medicine (2004). Residency at Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry, diploma in Endocrinology (2006).