It is a small presentation that I've done as assignment at my university and it deals with HYPERHIDROSIS

1. Presentation by: Mr. Gokool Satiam
Course: Bsc/Msc Business Economics and
Investment Analysis
ID No: 1111359
04.11.2011

2. OUTLINE
What is Hyperhidrosis?
Classification
Types of Hyperhidrosis(primary)
Most common types of hyperhidrosis
Impact on everyday life
Testimonials from patients
Treatment
References

3. What is Hyperhidrosis?
Can simply be defined as excessive sweating. Hidrosis meaning
sweating, so hyper-hidrosis is too much sweating.
Hyperhidrosis abnormally increased perspiration, in
excess of that required for regulation of
body temperature.
Normal Hyperhidrosis
sweat sweat
Hyperhidrosis can be classified into two types:
1. Primary hyperhidrosis
2. Secondary hyperhidrosis

4. Classification
There are two types of Hyperhidrosis:
Primary Hyperhidrosis [Inherited]
•excessive sweating that is not caused by another medical
condition, nor is it a side effect of medications.
•Occurs on specific pats of your body.
•Often begins in childhood or adolescence.
Secondary Hyperhidrosis
•caused by another medical condition or is a side effect of a
medication.
•Experiences sweating on a larger or other parts of the
body(generalised areas)

5. Types of Hyperhidrosis
1. Facial hyperhidrosis
Sweat pouring down from the forehead in conditions of stress can
be very distressful, inducing the patient to think that others may
consider him/her nervous and insecure.

6. Types of Hyperhidrosis
2. Palmar hyprhidrosis
•Excessive sweating of the hands
•Since hands are much exposed in social and professional activities, it limits
choice of profession, because they are unable to manipulate materials sensitive to
humidity (paper etc) or reluctant to shake hands; some patients arrive to the
point to avoid social contact.

7. Types of Hyperhidrosis
3. Axillary hyperhidrosis
• Excessive underarm sweating - is not synonymous with underarm
malodour
•Can be embarrassing- causing large wet marks on the cloths.
-constraint to wear dark colored clothes to hide the marks.

8. Types of Hyperhidrosis
4. Plantar hyperhidrosis
• severe sweating of the feet
•Usually occurs in conjunction with palmar hyperdrosis
•Almost impossible to wear sandals with this condition. The sweat makes the feet
slip and slide right out of the shoes!
•Uncomfortable and dangerous when driving
•Exercise, dance etc with bare foot will leave wet spots on the floor-not only
embarrassing but hazardous for others engaging in the activity

9. Most common Hyperhidrosis
The most common is PALMAR and PLANTAR hyperhidrosis.
* Many individuals suffer form a combination of the above types.
* Sweating can appear suddenly or manifest itself more
continuously.
* It can be elicited by high outside temperatures or emotional
stress, or appears without any obvious reason.
* Generally, it worsens during the warm season and gets better
during winter.

10. Implications on lifestyle
Daily activities disturbed e.g.
-Worrying about clothes(wearing dark clothes only)
-School/work papers ruined
Constant fear of embarrassment
-Fear of raising arms
-fear of touching others(shaking hands , hugging ,being intimate)
Social/psychological issues
-Social isolation: feel differentiated
-Social anxiety: Sometimes it can be too much to even leave the house
-Depression

11. Impact on everyday life
Hyperhidrosis takes a heavy toll
Quality of life: Axillary(armpits) hyperhidrosis sufferers
•Less confident 72%
•Unhappy/depressed 49%
•Change type of leisure 45%
•Frustrated with daily activities 30%
•Miss outing events 25%
•Reduce time in leisure activities 19%
Copyright: International Hyperhidrosis society

12. Impact on everyday life
Hyperhidrosis takes a heavy toll
Quality of life: Palmar(palms) hyperhidrosis sufferers
•Interference with daily activities 95%
•Social embarrassment 90%
•Avoid shaking hands 77%
•Psychological difficulties 40%
Copyright: International Hyperhidrosis society

13. Testimonials
It has dramatically changed my day to day life as i avoid any situations where I have to shake
hands or expose my bare feet.
Going through high school was extremely difficult as my friends always wanted to shake hands
any time we came in contact. Which now has caused me to have a phobia of shaking hands.
I'm currently in college and I can't even go a 1h hour class without sweating. It's horrible, I
can't take any notes because ill soak the page, I just sit there with my hands tucked away so no
one sees.
From: Max
I avoided shaking hands, changed my clothes multiple times a day, constantly buying new
clothes and shoes to replace the ruined ones from the sweat, washed my hands a lot. If I were
out at the club/bar, I would always hold my drink in my right hand, this way if I were going to
have to shake someone’s hand; my excuse for a cold wet hand was from the glass. At work I am
constantly meeting new people and handling paper, it’s like a bad dream and cant get away from
everything scary. I consider myself very out-going, friendly, and fun-loving and this at times can
put a stress on my personality. Hyperhidrosis will take over your life and I think about it 75-85%
of my day.
I never have a problem meeting new people or never had an issue with meeting guys, just how
do you tell someone you don’t want to hold their hand when your out because of the sweat. I was
always jealous of the guy and girl that could hold hands; I wanted that but almost never could
do that with my boyfriend or guy I was with. The man I am with now knows about the
hyperhidrosis, I don’t think he understands or realizes how bad it really is. I still find myself
hiding my hands from him for fear it will be gross to him.
From: Amanda, United States

14. Available Treatment
1. Anti perspiration /topical solutions
2. Iontophoresis
3. Botox injections
4. ETS-Endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy
Note: all those treatments listed does not cure excessive sweating
completely, it either decreases the sweating or stops it for a specific
period of time but eventually it comes again. It depends on the type of
treatment.

15. Available Treatment
1. Anti perspiration /topical solutions
•Considered as the first line treatment for excessive sweating
before trying other treatments.
•Several good anti perspiration solution available in
Mauritius like Narta and Nivea

16. Available Treatment
2. Iontophoresis
•A simple device to treat excessive sweating of the hands (palmar
hyperhidrosis) and feet (plantar hyperhidrosis).
•Uses water to conduct a mild electrical current through the skin’s surface.

17. Available Treatment
3. Botox injections
May offer long-term relief from hyperhidrosis

18. Available Treatment
4. ETS
•Purpose is to interrupt the nerve tracks and nodes (ganglia) which
transmit the signals to the sweat glands.
•However, it is not without risk.

19. Summary
Hyperhidrosis
Classified into primary and secondary hyperhidrosis
Types of primary hyperhidrosis
Impact on everyday life
Treatment
Message to others
Sufferers are constantly adjusting behaviour to account for sweating, all day,
every day.
It is not life threatening but it is horrible to have it. People should change their
perception about people who suffer from hyperhidrosis as they are at no fault…
BECAUSE WE WERE BORN THIS WAY…~Lady Gaga

20. References
International Hyperhidrosis Society
Google
Wikipedia
Center for Hyperhidrosis
Sweaty palms .com
Background picture: eliminatesweating.com