What Is Hyperhidrosis And What Can You Do About It?
Hyperhidrosis causes a lot of grief to those who suffer from it. It causes embarrassment to the 3% of Americans it affects. Sweating constantly and excessively will stain your clothes, increase body odor and make all interactions whether social or business difficult. Romance is one other major casualty of this condition. You know you have this condition if you find yourself sweating constantly in the underarms, your palms or soles of your feet.
Other than the embarrassment, there are certain ways that constant sweating can cause problems in a patient’s day to day activities. It makes it can make it difficult for them to hold tools, pens or even steering wheels when driving.
Causes
Considerable research has gone into trying to find out the cause of excessive sweating. There are two types of hyperhidrosis, primary and secondary hyperhidrosis. The cause of the primary hyperhidrosis is believed to be genetic. Many people who suffer from heavy sweating have some members of their families who suffer from the same condition.
Secondary hyperhidrosis has many known causes. Spinal injury, anxiety, diabetes, heart disease, obesity, hyperthyroidism, gout etc. can all leave you sweating constantly.
Treatment
There are many ways that hyperhidrosis can be treated.These include the use of both prescription and over the counter antiperspirants. Killing of underarm sweat glands using laser has also been used as a treatment. In severe cases, when all else has failed surgery can be considered as an option of last resort.
Iontophoresis Treatment
This is a form of treatment that involves using an iontophoresis device which delivers electric currents of mild intensity to the affected body part. The current is delivered while the organ is submerged in water. This therapy session lasts between 10 and 20 minutes. There could be a mild tingling sensation on the affected part during the procedure, however, the electric current used in the procedure is so mild that it can’t shock you. Iontophoresis devices come in different brands and it is important for a patient to ensure they acquire a good one for best results.
This device is not only used to help people who are sweating constantly hyperhidrosis, an iontophoresis device can be used to quickly treat sports injuries. It does this by delivering medication for the injury right under the skin.
Finding a Good Iontophoresis Device
There are quite a number of devices in the market, but not all are of good quality. It is imperative for the patient to have access to an effective device. The following are some of the factors to consider.
- Cost
The prices of these devices vary widely, some of these machines cost less than $100 while others cost up to $1000. With this in mind, you need to determine the amount of money you intend to spend on a device. Some machines have many bells and whistles which do not necessarily translate to superior service. In many instances, those with more features will cost more. Do not just go for the high price without considering functionality, you may not get value for your money.
- Portability
Hyperhidrosis is a problem that is constantly with you. As a patient who travels regularly, you will still be sweating constantly wherever you are. You need a machine you can take with you wherever you go. With this in mind, ensure the machine you buy is compact enough and that it can work with the voltage of the place where you are going. A machine with its own case is of great help as far as portability is concerned.
- Other factors to consider
- Whether it uses AC or DC current.
- Safety features to protect the user from getting shocked, especially for AC machines.
- Whether the battery is rechargeable or disposable.
- Whether voltage is adjustable.
Where to get the machine
Hidrex iontophoresis devices have been touted as being among the most effective in the world. Although it is manufactured in Germany, it is distributed in North America by Hidrex USA. You can get this machine at the distributor’s website. Please note that you need to have a prescription to buy this device from Hidrex USA.
