If you or someone close to you suffers from any form of excessive sweating, also known as hyperhidrosis, then you know it’s a very embarrassing condition, that easily dwindles your self-esteem. Hyperhidrosis includes excessively sweating hands, armpits, feet, and the hairline. I mean, can you imagine sweating throughout, whether it’s hot or cold? Outdoors or indoors? Regardless of what you’re wearing? Well, it’s not easy, and I usually thought there isn’t a permanent treatment for excessively sweating hands or armpits until I came across a “simple treatment” by Surgeons at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi.

I have discussed using Botox as a treatment for excessively sweating hands, feet or armpits, but we know this is not permanent, not mention it can be slightly costly for the average person. The other option would be prescription-grade antiperspirants, but not everyone wants to keep on applying them, considering the ingredients. So, what’s left? Surgery, which is the “simple treatment” I mentioned above. I had a chat with Dr. Redha Souilamas, Chair of Thoracic Surgery at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, who shed some light on it.

What is hyperhidrosis?

“Hyperhidrosis is a condition that causes the sweat glands to overreact to stimuli, producing too much sweat. While not life-threatening, anybody with the condition often feels it affects their quality of life,” explains Dr. Redha.

Unfortunately, he adds, hyperhidrosis often goes undiagnosed due to a lack of awareness. “Many people don’t even realize they have a medical condition at all, despite the impact it can have on their life. Some of my patients tell me they are miserable, embarrassed to shake hands when they meet people, or even that they find it hard to hold a mobile phone or steering wheel.”

While hyperhidrosis patients are often recommended a variety of treatments such as Botox injections or creams to prevent sweating, the treatments are temporary at best. However, says the good doctor, a permanent treatment for excessively sweating hands does exist.

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How the treatment for excessively sweating hands works

To prevent sweating from the hands, surgeons perform a minimally invasive procedure called a video-assisted thoracic sympathectomy. The brief operation sees the surgeon interrupt the sympatic nerve that controls the sweat glands in the hands. “This prevents the sweat glands from activating, putting an immediate end to sweaty palms.”

After the surgery, which takes less than 30 minutes, the patient will see an instant improvement in their condition and are discharged from the hospital the following day.

“My patients who’ve undergone the treatment for excessively sweating hands can’t believe the difference the surgery makes in their life. They tell me they feel more confident and have a radically different outlook on life.”

One person’s experience with the treatment

For instance, a patient who prefers to remain anonymous underwent the surgery for his hyperhidrosis a month ago. “I spent years embarrassed by how much I would sweat. I would sweat so much I was showering up to five times a day. Meeting new people was awkward and I would only wear black clothes to try and hide the sweat marks. Since my surgery, I feel like a different person. One of the most exciting things is that I can wear different colored clothes without having to worry about sweat patches,” he says.

My takeaway…

Having excessively sweating hands, feet or armpits might not sound like a big deal, until you know someone who’s going through it. Next time you meet such a person, go easy on them because it’s already killing them inside.

Now, I haven’t tried the treatment for excessively sweating hands, but I’m going with what the good doctor says, as well as my anonymous patient. And the price? Well, only the doctor can tell you after undergoing a consultation to see if you fit the treatment criteria.