Hyperhidrosis
treatments and information
Hyperhidrosis information, medication, surgical and non-surgical
treatments
 Hyperhidrosis
can manifest itself in many forms. The most common form is
excessive sweating. The sweating can occur in the hands (palmar
hypherhidrosis), feet (plantar hyperhidrosis), face and armpits
(axillary hyperhidrosis). No one really knows what causes
hyperhidrosis but it is thought to be endocrine system
related. The endocrine system regulates chemicals that the
brain produces such as epinephrine, nor-epinephrine and seritonin.
These chemicals control anxiety levels, mood and appetite.
People either have primary hyperhidrosis, which has no known
cause or secondary hyperhidrosis, which can be caused by diet,
weight, medications, etc. (the cause here can be traced).
While the condition is not harmful physically, the condition
can be socially devastating. Most people who suffer hyperhidrosis
complain of dripping hands, armpits, face, etc. They avoid
shaking hands, public speaking or anything that would draw
attention to their condition.
Hyperhidrosis
can also include facial
blushing. Again,the cause is most likely chemically
related to the endocrine system. People who have elevated
levels of catecholemines or the chemicals mentioned above,
tend to have anxiety, bouts of rapid heart beat, stage fright
and panic attacks. The blushing occurs because the brain releases
chemicals which have receptors in the vessels in the face.
When these vessels receive the chemicals, they dilate and
the result is more blood rushing through them and a resulting
red or flushed face. Facial blushing can be devastating socially.
People often develop vast avoidance behavior to deal with
the blushing episodes. Medications that can be very helpful
for facial blushing include beta blockers such as atenolol.
Beta blockers help the heart rate from racing and can
reduce anxiety associated with public speaking. Alpha blockers,
a class of drugs that help control blood vessel constriction
and dilation can be very helpful when used by themselves or
combined with beta blockers, to control facial blushing. SSRI's
(selective seritonin reuptake inhibitors) such as Paxil, Zoloft
and Prozac can be helpful to reduce anxiety that causes the
flushing. Valium, Xanax, Lorazepam and other benzodiazapine
medications can also be very effective for controlling the
anxiety that results in facial blushing.
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