Problem Areas

Sweating

Although not a medically serious condition, excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis) can be distressing and embarrassing. For example, if you have bad palm sweating you tend to have a cold, sweaty handshake and sweat may drip from your hands on to work documents, computer keyboards, etc. If you have bad armpit sweating, you may become embarrassed by the frequent wet patch that develops on clothes under your arms.

You may need to change clothes during the day. You may avoid social contact or avoid doing sports because of embarrassment about the condition. In some cases, affected people avoid social contact with others because of embarrassment about the problem. It is estimated that up to 1% of the population has some form of hyperhydrosis and it usually starts during the teens and twenties.

Dr Patrick Treacy was one of the first doctors in the world to use Botox for sweating in 1998 and presented his research in London in 2001. He identified a simpler method of treatment doing away with the need for iodine, starch and clingfilm which were prevalent at the time.

There are two main types of hyperhidrosis:

Focal hyperhidrosis is the more common type involving excessive sweating on the feet, hands and, in about 30-40% of cases, the armpits. The face may also be affected, but less often. Even less common is gustatory hyperhidrosis, when sweating on the face is triggered by hot or spicy food. Neurotoxin injection treatment is recommended for the treatment of focal hyperhidrosis, affecting the armpits ( axillary hyperhidrosis) when other forms of treatment have not worked.

Generalised hyperhidrosis affects the whole body. It is much less common and is usually caused by another illness such as an infection, diabetes or when the thyroid gland is overactive. The excessive sweating usually stops when the illness is treated.

Pricing for hyperhidrosis starts at around €800. For further information please contact The Ailesbury Clinic on 01 2692255.