Hyperhidrosis is excessive sweating. Although everyone sweats, especially when exercising or under hot conditions, patients with hyperhidrosis have extreme sweating that occurs at least once a week, no matter what the level of activity or temperature.
Symptoms of Hyperhidrosis
- Extreme sweating that soaks through clothes and is noticeable
- Excessive sweating on patient’s feet, underarms, and head
- Clamminess on patient’s palms and soles
Treatments for Hyperhidrosis
- Prescription antiperspirant
- Anticholinergic drugs are prescribed to a patient with generalized sweating
- Iontophoresis delivers low levels of electrical currents to a patient while your body is in water
- OnabotulinumtoxinA (Botox) injections block your sweat gland’s nerves
Hyperhidrosis Surgery
Your doctor may recommend surgery, if it is appropriate for you. At MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, our thoracic surgeons use endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS) to sever overactive nerves or to remove the sweat glands in your armpits. The methods we use here at MedStar Georgetown are reversible so if necessary, so if the symptoms are prohibitive the operation can be reversed. They can be done as outpatient. Learn more about ETS.
Request an appointment, or call us at 202-444-5045.
