Excessive sweating or hyperhidrosis is a state in which an individual has increased perspiration than that is required for proper control of body temperature.

Sweating is a natural process required for the control of one's body temperature. The secretion of sweat is controlled by the Sympathetic Nervous System. In some people this system works at a very high activity level above what is needed to keep the body temperature constant. This affliction is called hyperhidrosis or excessive sweating.

Excessive sweating can occur in certain parts of the body like armpit, feet, hands, and the groin. These areas are among the most active in sweating because of high concentration of sweat glands although any part of the body can be affected. Hyperhidrosis is divided into primary condition, in which it is inherited and is noticed early in life or secondary hyperhirosis which is brought about by medical condition occurring later in life. These include obesity, menopause and other psychiatric complications.

The genesis of primary hyperhidrosis is not clear but is likely to be caused by sympathetic nervous system disorder. Anxiety worsens the situation for many sufferers. Other factors like certain foods & drinks, nicotine, caffeine, and smells play a role in initiating excessive sweating.

 Hyperhidrosis is today effectively treated once the patient gets proper medical attention

 Treatment:

 Antiperspirants medications.

Aluminum chloride is used in normal antiperspirants. The problem is that individuals with hyperhidrosis require mixtures with higher concentrations to be able to treat the symptoms of the disease. The side effect is that it causes irritation. The mixture is also not effective for hand and foot excessive sweating. For extreme conditions of hand and foot hyperhidrosis aluminum chloride antiperspirants are more effective.   

 Botox

Botulinum toxin type A injections are used to block the nerves ends signaling the sweat glands to sweat .It is applied two to three times a week. The cure effect can last from 4-9 months depending on the site of injections. After this period, the treatment is repeated because new nerve ends will have grown to replace the original which had been blocked .The side effects include flue like symptoms and pain at points where injections were administered

 Anticholinergic drugs:

There are anticholinergic drugs that reduce hyperhidrosis. Oxybutynin is good but it has some side effects like visual symptoms, drowsiness, and dryness in the mouth including mucus membranes. Glycopyrrolate is another anticholinergic drug used. This drug is as effective as oxybutynin and has comparative side-effects. Other anticholinergic drugs that are used are benzatropine and propantheline bromide..

 Iontophoresis.

In Iontophoresis the affected area is placed in a device that has two pails of water with a conductor in each one. The hand or foot acts like a conductor between the positive and negative charged pails. As the low voltage current passes through the area, the minerals in the water clog the sweat glands, limiting the amount of sweat secreated.The voltage is slowly increased until there is a tingling like feeling. The therapy lasts about 10-20 minutes and requires several sessions. Side effects may include skin cracking and blisters. The method can be painful and the procedure takes a long time. This method is usually used for the hands and feet.

 Surgical procedures

Endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy

In Endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS) the main sympathetic chain that runs alongside the spine, often with the addition of nerve ganglia, are either cut out, burned, or clamped to turn off the signals to sweat glands. ETS interferes with the functioning of the sympathetic nerves that cause excessive sweating without damaging the nerves or the surrounding organs.

ETS is accepted as repeatable, safe, and satisfactory method in which many patients are satisfied with the outcome.. Satisfaction rates of eighty percent have been reported and even higher for children.

The drawback of ETS is compensatory sweating. Recurrence rate can be high, and return of the sweating can be seen within 6 months of the procedure because of growth of new nerve endings.

Another host of side effects include Horner's Syndrome, gustatory sweating and  sometimes very dry hands. A number of individuals have experienced cardiac sympathetic denervation, which results in a lowered heartbeat.

 Lumbar sympathectomy

Lumbar sympathectomy is a new procedure aimed at those patients for whom endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy does not cure foot hyperhidrosis. In this method the sympathetic chain in the lumbar region is clipped or divided in order to stop the excessive foot sweating. The success rate is high but the procedure should be carried out only if patients first have tried other convectional treatments.

 Other techniques.

Two other techniques used are sweat gland suction and percutaneous sympathectomy. Sweat gland suction is a procedure copied from liposuction, in which approximately a third of the sweat glands are removed resulting in equivalent reduction in sweat. Percutaneous sympathectomy is a procedure in which the nerve is inhibited by injecting phenol. This method achieves temporary relief and. many medical doctors encourage the use of this method before the permanent surgical sympathectomy procedure.

Hypnosis

Hypnosis has been used to improve methods of giving injections for the treatment of excessive sweating.

 Conclusion.

Hyperhidrosis of the hands interferes with many common activities. Some hyperhidrosis sufferers keep away from environment where they will have physical contact with others, like greeting a person with hands. Embarrassing sweat marks under the armpits restricts the sufferers' arm movements. Shirts must be changed several times during the day when the condition is extreme. Anxiety caused by self-consciousness to the condition usually increases the sweating. Hyperhirosis of the feet makes it difficult for sufferers to wear open shoes because of sweat.

Hyperhidrosis is problem that affects people of all races.  Hyperhidrosis is difficult to adapt to and those affected continue to suffer throughout their lives unless they are treated. Hyperhidrosis has unpleasant emotional effects to one's life

People with excessive sweating are constantly aware of their affliction and they try to change their lifestyle to live with the problem. This has disabling effect in professional, academic and social life and cause daily embarrassments. Simple chores become impossible challenges psychologically draining the sufferers throughout.