Hyperhidrosis (Sweaty Palms/Underarms)

Medically, excessive sweating is known as hyperhidrosis. Treating hyperhidrosis normalizes the patient’s quality of life and minimizes many social awkwardness.

What is Excessive Sweating?

Excessive sweating usually occurs in people who are otherwise healthy. The problem commonly starts during childhood or adolescence and is a life-long condition. Heat, nervousness and anxiety can trigger or aggravate sweating and it can also appear without any trigger or reason. Excessive sweating causes embarrassing social situations. When their hands are wet and sweaty, people with hyperhidrosis hesitate or avoid shaking hands with others. There may be difficulty in holding a pen or even gripping a steering wheel. Sweating also stains clothes and ruins dresses.Treating hyperhidrosis normalizes the patient’s quality of life and minimizes many of this social awkwardness.

What are the treatment options available?

Iontophoresis treatment

Iontophoresis uses a device and tap water to conduct a mild electrical current through the skin’s surface. It’s not entirely understood how or why iontophoresis works but it works for a fair number of patients. When it works, one has to continue with the treatment 2-3 times weekly to maintain its effectiveness. The iontophoresis device can be purchased at our clinic.

    Oral treatments

    The most commonly used oral medication is that which blocks nerve signaling. Although the majority of patients will respond to it, there are side effects that may develop, which include dry mouth, blurred vision, urinary retention and constipation. Hence, the patient needs to be aware and notified.

      Botulinum Toxin injection

      Botulinum toxin stops the sweat production by blocking the nerve signal from reaching the sweat glands. A very effective midterm solution to sufferers, Botulinum toxin treatment for excessive sweating is an outpatient treatment that can be completed in less than an hour. This treatment can be done on palms, underarm, forehead, cheeks, nose or any part of the body. Each treatment can provide relief for about 6-10 months and is done painlessly by Dr Wong under numbing cream or local anesthesia. For some patients, the improvement can even last close to a year.

        Can Hyperhidrosis be cured?

        A special type of surgery can be carried out that will provide a long-term solution to the problem of excessive sweating, only in armpits and hands. It involves cutting or clipping a specific nerve near the neck area that controls the sweating. However, a side effect is that other parts of the body may sweat in excess and this is known as compensatory sweating. Assurance Skin clinic does not provide this type of surgery, which is usually done by neurosurgeons.

        Body Odour

        Body odour arises from dried sweat on clothes or comes from diseases, ingestion of foods or drugs.  Excessive sweating or poor hygiene often aggravates it. Medical and skin conditions associated with excessive sweating or overgrowth of bacteria (eg, obesity, diabetes mellitus, fungal infections) may be contributory causes of body odour as well.

        Good hygiene and use of commercial antiperspirants may help. Botulinum toxin injection is able to provide relief from this embarrassing condition because it stops excessive sweating, reduces the moisture, bacteria activity and hence, the bad odour.

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          Assurance Skin, Laser & Aesthetics

          Mount Elizabeth Novena Specialist Centre
          #10-22/23, 38 Irrawaddy Road ,
          Singapore 329563

          Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri: 9.00am-5.00pm;
          Thurs, Sat: 9.00am-12.30pm;
          Sun & Public Holidays: Closed

          Dr. Wong Soon Tee

          Consultant Dermatologist
          doctor_img

          Dr. Wong Soon Tee

          Consultant Dermatologist

          Care and Professionalism Refined by
          Over 30 Years of Dermatology Experience

          • MBBS, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Singapore
          • MRCP. Member of Royal College of Physicians, United Kingdom
          • FAMS, Fellow of Academy of Medicine, Singapore
          • Adjunct Assistant Professor, National University of Singapore
          • Visiting Consultant, University Dermatology Division, National University Hospital
          • Visiting Consultant, Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Centre, National University Hospital

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