Excessive Underarm Sweating (Hyperhidrosis) is a condition where the sweat glands under the arms are overactive, causing excessive sweating. This condition can significantly impact quality of life, leading to feelings of insecurity, embarrassment, and potentially affecting one's personality. In this article, we will explain the causes, symptoms, and treatments for this problem that many people often overlook.
What causes excessive underarm sweating?
Excessive underarm sweating is mainly caused by overactive sweat glands in the armpits. There are both internal and external factors, as follows:
- Heredity: This is the most common cause of excessive underarm sweating. Some people may inherit genes that cause excessive sweating from their parents or relatives.
- Hormones: Hormones such as estrogen and testosterone are involved in sweat production. Women tend to sweat more than men during puberty and menopause.
- Weather conditions: Hot and humid weather will stimulate the sweat glands to work harder, causing more sweat in the armpit area.
- Stress: Stress is another factor that will stimulate the sweat glands to work harder, causing more sweating. Some people will sweat a lot in the armpits.
- Exercise: It is well known that exercise stimulates the sweat glands to work harder, causing more sweating.
- Certain medications: Excessive sweating can result from certain medications, such as thyroid medication, diabetes medication, and high blood pressure medication. These groups of drugs may cause excessive sweating.
How do you know if you have excessive underarm sweating?
Symptoms of excessive underarm sweating include:
- Excessive sweating in the armpit area.
- The armpits of your shirt are always wet, causing the shirt to smell musty.
- Itching under the armpits.
- Darkening under the armpits.
Is excessive sweating in the armpits dangerous?
Excessive sweating in the armpits is generally not dangerous, but it can cause problems such as body odor, stains and wrinkles on clothes. In some cases, it can cause anxiety and stress, as well as affect personality or image.
Methods to treat excessive underarm sweating
If you experience excessive underarm sweating, you should consult a doctor to determine the cause and receive appropriate treatment. There are several ways to treat excessive underarm sweating, including:
- Treatment with sweat-reducing injections, also known as Botox injections: Sweat-reducing injections are medications that inhibit the function of the sweat glands, reducing sweating. Sweat-reducing injections or Botox injections are highly effective, with immediate results, and the effects of the treatment last approximately 6-8 months. Read the precautions after Botox injections here.
- Treatment with sweat-reducing creams (Topical antiperspirant): Sweat-reducing creams are medications that inhibit the function of the sweat glands, reducing sweating. However, sweat-reducing creams are less effective than sweat-reducing injections, but they can be used regularly every day.
- Surgical treatment such as Axillary sympathectomy: This surgery involves cutting the nerves that feed the sweat glands under the arms. This surgery can help reduce underarm sweating by approximately 90%. It should be performed by a specialist surgeon only. However, the side effects of this surgery may include bleeding, swelling, pain, scarring, and increased sweating in other areas of the body. Nevertheless, underarm sweat gland surgery is considered an effective treatment for excessive underarm sweating.
- Other treatments such as laser treatment or radiofrequency treatment: These treatments send energy to the sweat glands under the arms, causing the sweat glands to work less. The procedure takes approximately 30 minutes, and patients can return home immediately after treatment. This method is another effective and safe option, but there may be some side effects, such as redness, swelling, and pain. These symptoms will disappear on their own within a few days and may not be suitable for people with sensitive skin.
Why Botox injections can treat excessive underarm sweating
Botox injections can treat excessive underarm sweating because Botox is a substance that helps inhibit the function of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, which is a substance that stimulates the sweat glands.Injecting Botox helps reduce the activity of the sweat glands and reduces sweating. Botox injections to treat excessive underarm sweating are a safe and effective method. The treatment results can last for a long time (depending on the brand, doctor's technique, and post-Botox care).
Important considerations:
If you have excessive underarm sweating, you should see a doctor to determine the cause and receive appropriate treatment according to the doctor's recommendations carefully for safety and the best treatment results.Dr. Som, Dr. Grace, and the medical team at Mudan Pavilion are happy to provide free consultations without charge. Inbox Facebook or Add Line here.
