Nurul Hidayah Binti Mohd Zulkafli Shuhainie Nadia binti Yusof

INTRODUCTION Is sweating a normal body condition? In hot countries for instance Malaysia, sweating is considered as an essential and normal body activity to help the body control its temperature. However, some people especially Asians experience excessive sweating. In this condition, it works at an unusually high level to regulate the temperature. This excessive sweating activity is known as HYPERHIDROSIS

EPIDEMIC Primary hyperhidrosis is estimated at around 3-4% of the population, afflicting men and women equally. It commonly has its onset in adolescence. About 3-40% have another family member afflicted, demonstrating a genetic transmission. In Malaysia,for 1 out of 100 friends that we knows, he/she is probably suffering silently from hyperhidrosis too. For the rest of the people (99), please be grateful for having a healthy and normal body condition

ETIOLOGY It is not known what causes hyperhidrosis. Primary hyperhidrosis is found to start during adolescence or even before and seems to be inherited as an autosomal dominant genetic trait. Depending on how severe their condition is, some affected patients experience a reduction in their quality of life. Sufferers may feel a loss of control, because perspiration takes place independent of temperature and emotional state.

However, anxiety can exacerbate the situation for many sufferers.. A common complaint of patients is that they get nervous because they sweat, then sweat more because they are nervous. Other factors can play a role; certain foods & drinks, nicotine, caffein, and smells can trigger a response.

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS Hyperhidrosis can either be generalized or localized to specific parts of the body. Hands, feet, axillae, and the groin area are among the most active regions of perspiration. This is due to the relatively high concentration of sweat glands. however, any part of the body may be affected.

TYPES Primary hyperhidrosis This is a more common condition compared to secondary hyperhidrosis and appears, generally on the hands, feet, armpits or a combination of those. It usually starts during childhood or adolescence and persists all your life (LIFELONG). types of primary hyperhidrosis: Palmar Hyperhidrosis Plantar Facial Axillary Others (Back, Trunks, Thigh)

Secondary hyperhidrosis. May be part of an underlying medical condition such as: Hyperthyroidism Malignant disease Severe psychiatric disorders Obesity Menopause

How many people suffer from hyperhidrosis? There are no hard statistics on the incidence of hyperhidrosis. Richard Glogau, MD, a clinical professor of dermatology at the University of California, San Francisco who specializes in treating hyperhidrosis said, he would estimate that it is something like 1 per 1000 people suffer from hyperhidrosis.

TREATMENT Antiperspirant

Iontophoresis uses water to conduct a mild electrical current through the skin’s surface. it’s believed that the electric current and mineral particles in the water work together to microscopically thicken the outer layer of the skin, which blocks the flow of sweat to the skin’s surface  sweat production on the palms and soles is, often suddenly and dramatically, "turned off"

Botox injections Botox  natural, purified protein,able to temporarily block the secretion of the chemical in the nervous system that is responsible for "turning on" the body's sweat glands. By blocking, or interrupting, this chemical messenger, botulinum toxin "turns off" sweating at the area where it has been injected.

Oral medications prevent the stimulation of all sweat glands and thus may limit overall sweating, but long-term use is not recommended because of serious side effects: Dry mouth Blurred vision Impaired speech, taste, chewing, and swallowing Urinary retention Constipation Heart Palpitations

Surgical Options Local Surgical Techniques The local procedures (termed local because the surgery is performed at the point of the sweating) excision, curettage, and liposuction may be used to treat extreme underarm sweating. Endoscopic Thoracic Sympathectomy (ETS) interrupt the transmission of nerve signals from the spinal column to the sweat glands and to thus prevent these nerve signals from "turning on" the sweat glands. This procedure is permanent, and currently there is no reversal technique.

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