Some people have no trouble raising a sweat, writes BREE
FULLER, and it can affect their lives.
For most people, sweat is confined to the times spent in the gym, pounding
the pavement or playing sport. For an unlucky few, perspiration poses a bigger
problem.
Excessive sweat, or hyperhidrosis, is a serious medical condition and can
have a debilitating effect on people's everyday lives.
"Some people are genuinely excessive sweaters," founder of
Sydney's Hyperhidrosis Institute Dr Bhagyesh Patel says.
"They are not like you and I, where we get a little bit wet or damp;
the sweat actually soaks their clothes, or they find it difficult to hold a
pen, or they smudge the paper as they're writing on it, or their shoes are
constantly wet."
Perspiration is the body's natural response to an increased core temperature
and is commonly triggered by physical exercise, stress, hot weather, spicy
foods and fevers.
Abnormal or excessive sweat can be caused by anything from obesity and
hormonal changes to an overactive thyroid gland, certain medications or a
genetic predisposition.
Hyperhidrosis is often recognised for the significant impact is has on
sufferers'lives.
"The definition of hyperhidrosis in the area that I work focuses on
what a person feels uncomfortable with, and where it starts affecting people's
lives and daily activities," Dr Patel says.
"The worst affected are usually those who started being affected by it
in early adolescence - early high school - and by (that age) they become so
self-conscious about it they don't talk to people, it affects their
relationships and they don't participate in physical activity because of
it."
Ironically, exercise and weight loss are two ways to reduce excessive
sweating for overweight people.
Other non-invasive treatments include high-aluminium deodorants and
antiperspirant powders, though they often do little to subdue the sweaty
onslaught.
Dr Patel says the correlation between a person's emotional state and sweat
makes it difficult to treat.
"Most people tend to sweat because they have an overactivity of the
sympathetic part of the nervous system (which is responsible) for flight or
fright," he explains.
"Some patients say 'the minute I know I'm going to sweat, I just gush.'
"Even the thought of doing something that will make you sweat will
create a bit of anxiety and produce an immense amount of sweating."
Targeted surgery, liposuction, injections and electrical stimulation are
just some of the treatments available, depending on where people are sweating.
Dr Patel specialises in botulinum toxin (Botox) injections, which control
hyperhidrosis by paralysing the sweat glands in the treated area.
The treatment can be used on almost all areas of the body, provided patients
are aware of the movement-inhibiting side effects.
"The limitations to Botox would be specific areas on the face, because
we know from its (cosmetic applications) it has a muscular reaction as
well," Dr Patel says.
"You can't use it for example on the upper lip, unless the patient is
warned that their lip may (lose some movement).
"Otherwise, you can really do it anywhere - I've injected it into
virtually every place.
"I've done the armpits, forehead, hands, feet, perineum area, under the
breasts; it really doesn't matter where you want to put it, because we know it
works."
Dr Patel says it is important that people seek some form of treatment if
sweat is making them self conscious.
"There are treatments out there that work really well; people don't
have to be embarrassed and let it interfere with their life."
