Rush offers comprehensive care for hyperhidrosis in Chicago and the surrounding area. Excessive sweating can be uncomfortable and disrupt your daily life. If you’re seeking relief from sweaty hands, feet or underarms, Rush specialists provide personalized treatment to improve your quality of life.
What Is Hyperhidrosis?
Hyperhidrosis causes excessive sweating beyond what you need to stay cool. It can be episodic or constant. You may experience dripping sweat and clammy hands. You might sweat through your clothes.
Hyperhidrosis can make work and social situations more difficult, and cause anxiety.
There are two types of hyperhidrosis:
- Primary hyperhidrosis happens when your nerves trigger your sweat glands to become overactive. This condition has no underlying medical cause. Primary hyperhidrosis often runs in families and starts when you are a child or teenager. Primary hyperhidrosis most commonly affects your palms, feet, underarms or face. Most people with excessive sweating have primary hyperhidrosis.
- Secondary hyperhidrosis is excessive sweating caused by an underlying medical condition or by certain medicines. This type of hyperhidrosis can cause full-body sweating and can start at any age.
Signs and Symptoms of Hyperhidrosis
The main symptom of hyperhidrosis is persistent sweating. You may have:
- Excessive sweating from your palms, feet, underarms or face
- Sweat soaking through your clothes
- Sweat dripping from your skin
- Softening and wrinkling of your skin (maceration) from excessive moisture
Hyperhidrosis can cause emotional symptoms, including:
- Stress, embarrassment or anxiety
- Avoiding social, work or physical activities
How Hyperhidrosis Is Diagnosed
Your doctor will start with a physical exam. They will also review your medical history and ask you about your symptoms. In some cases, your provider may use tests to measure how much you are sweating. These tests include:
- Starch iodine test: Your provider will put an iodine solution and starch on sweaty areas of your body. The solution will change colors in areas with excess sweat.
- If necessary, your doctor may order blood lab tests to rule out secondary causes of hyperhidrosis, like diabetes, thyroid problems or infections.
Meet our hyperhidrosis providers
Treatment Options for Hyperhidrosis at Rush
Rush offers a wide range of treatments for excessive sweating. Your options will depend on the type of hyperhidrosis you have and how severe your symptoms are. Rush dermatologists, surgeons and other specialists will work together to create a personalized treatment plan for you.
Nonsurgical treatments
- Antiperspirants: Your doctor may recommend over-the-counter or prescription-strength antiperspirants containing aluminum chloride. These topical products can help control sweating. Your dermatologist will help you decide which strength to use and offer recommendations on how to avoid skin irritation.
- Iontophoresis: This treatment uses low-voltage electric currents. Over time, these currents block the sweat glands in your hands or feet. You will soak your hands or feet, while a special device passes an electrical current through the water. You will need to repeat the treatment several times per week. You can buy an iontophoresis device with a prescription from your doctor.
- Botulinum toxin (Botox) injections: Treatment with botulinum toxin, or Botox, can reduce sweating. This treatment works by blocking the nerves that trigger sweat glands. You will need several injections in each area with excessive sweating. This treatment must be repeated every few months. It is currently FDA-approved to treat excessive sweating on the underarms. Patients can see results a week after treatment, and the maximum effect takes place after two eeks. The procedure is typically repeated again within six months.
- Medications: Your doctor may prescribe oral medications, called anticholinergics, to reduce sweating in certain situations, such as generalized hyperhidrosis. These medications may cause side effects such as dry mouth and eyes. Topical anticholinergics are used for localized treatment on the underarms.
Surgical Treatments
If other treatments aren’t reducing excessive sweat, your doctor may recommend surgery.
- Endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS): This is a minimally-invasive robotic surgery. Your surgeon will cut some of the nerves in your chest that control the sweat glands in your hands or armpits. This procedure is highly effective at stopping hand and underarm sweat.
- Sweat gland removal: If other treatments have not worked, your provider may recommend removing sweat glands to stop sweating in your armpits.
Choosing Rush for Hyperhidrosis Care
- Coordinated care: Rush dermatologists, surgeons and other specialists will collaborate to create a treatment plan personalized to you. Our providers will take time to understand your symptoms and develop a plan to achieve your goals.
- Close to home: Rush dermatology care is available in Chicago, Aurora, Oak Park and Oak Brook. Even if you have a procedure in Chicago, you can schedule follow-up care if another location is closer to you.
- Experienced experts: Rush dermatologists are among the most experienced at treating hyperhidrosis in the Chicago area, diagnosing and treating hundreds of cases each year. Rush thoracic surgeons perform hundreds of surgeries each year.
- Minimally invasive options: If you need surgery, Rush provides minimally invasive options. Most patients can resume their normal activities within a few days or weeks after endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy.
- Among the best in the U.S.: U.S. News & World Report ranks Rush University Medical Center among the best hospitals in the nation for Pulmonology and Lung Surgery.
Hyperhidrosis Services FAQs
The main sign of hyperhidrosis is excessive sweat. The most common site for excessive sweat is the palms of your hands. Hyperhidrosis can affect your armpits, feet, face and other areas. You might also have extreme flushing on your face.
Primary hyperhidrosis is caused by overactive sweat glands. These glands activate to cool down your body when you are hot. If you have hyperhidrosis, your sweat glands activate to produce sweat more often than they should. Hyperhidrosis can run in families.
Secondary hyperhidrosis can be caused by a range of other medical conditions. This condition can also be a side effect of some medications.
There are many options for hyperhidrosis treatment, depending on how severe your symptoms are. Antiperspirants, oral medications and medicated wipes can all help stop sweating. Botulinum toxin injections, microwave therapy and iontophoresis can provide relief for some people.
For most patients, nonsurgical treatments will be effective at reducing excessive sweating. If nonsurgical options aren’t working, your doctor may recommend endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy. This minimally invasive robotic procedure cuts some of the nerves that control sweat glands in your body.
There is no set cure for hyperhidrosis, but many treatments can provide relief. Most patients who have an endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy report a dramatic improvement in symptoms.
If other treatments, like medications, Botox injections and iontophoresis have not improved your excessive sweating, your hyperhidrosis specialist may recommend surgery.
Botulinum toxin, or Botox injections is very effective at treating hyperhidrosis. These injections can block the nerves that trigger sweat glands. You will likely need repeat treatments every few months.
Many insurers cover treatment for hyperhidrosis. Your insurer may require you to try other treatments, like medication, injections and iontophoresis first before covering surgery. Check with your insurance company to make sure the Rush provider you plan to visit is included in your network.
Dermatologists can provide expert care for hyperhidrosis. If you are considering surgery, a thoracic surgeon can help.