TREATMENT POINTERS
Treating this condition, both medically and surgically can be challenging, for both the doctor and patient, we are told. “Initially, the line of treatment will be medical using drugs that decrease perspiration, like anti-cholinergic drugs,” explains Dr Sasikanth. “Drugs containing aluminium hydroxide and tannic acid, which when applied dissolves the surrounding keratin and blocks the gland openings. However, medical treatment is temporary
and short lasting.”
As for surgical or invasive treatment, the doctor lists out some options, including the following:
Lasers were found to be safe and effective.
Subcutaneous liposuction is effective as it causes least disruption of the overlying skin and damages the sweat glands in the deep layers of skin.
Localised areas especially in axilla can be treated by excision of the affected area and covering the raw area by primary closure or by skin grafting.
Sympathectomy has been used since early nineties; in this procedure, the sympathetic ganglion responsible for the sweating are destroyed. This can be performed by open approach or endoscopically. The results are permanent although the procedure
is associated with complications such as compensatory hyperhidrosis of other areas like tongue, damage to lungs or pneumothorax, and neuralgias of multiple areas, which is a sharp, shocking pain that follows the path of a nerve.