HealthNewsDigest.com Q&A with Dr. Marina Peredo
HealthNewsDigest.com: What is hyperhidrosis?
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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – Hyperhidrosis is the medical term for excess sweating beyond what is physiologically required by the body and would be expected for the local environment. An estimated eight million Americans suffer from hyperhidrosis on various parts of the body, including the underarms, scalp, hands and feet. Often in my practice I treat patients with excessive underarm sweating, or primary axillary hyperhidrosis, which I’ll focus on in this column.
HND: What exactly, is excessive sweating?
People with hyperhidrosis may sweat up to four to five times more than normal. Many try to cope with symptoms of excessive sweating by changing their clothing several times a day, and often carry pads, extra clothes, napkins, powders or antiperspirants with them. Hyperhidrosis can disrupt their daily lives, and many sufferers avoid social functions or jobs that require outfits which they can sweat through at a gathering or in the workplace.
HND: What are some tips for staying dry?
Applying an antiperspirant to underarms before bedtime has been shown to be more effective in controlling excessive sweat than applying in the morning alone. Remove excess underarm moisture prior to applying antiperspirant by setting a blow-dryer to cool and drying the underarms. Also, wearing dark, loose clothing can help minimize the appearance of excessive sweating throughout the day.
HND: What if deodorant doesn’t work! Are there treatment options available?
When deodorant and antiperspirant don’t work, consider BOTOX® (Botulinum Toxin Type A) to control excessive underarm sweating. Visit a dermatologist to discuss your symptoms and potential treatment options.
HND: How is BOTOX® administered and how does it work?
BOTOX® is administered in tiny injections into the underarms. It blocks the nerve cell from releasing the chemical (acetylcholine) that stimulates sweat glands to produce sweat. Eighty percent of patients achieve greater than a 50 percent reduction in sweating. The treatment can last up to 6 months or longer, and is often covered by insurance.
Online Resources
Find a dermatologist and view BOTOX® patient stories at www.dontsweat-it.com
International Hyperhidrosis Society: www.sweathelp.org
Full product information for BOTOX® available at www.BOTOXSevereSweating.com
About Dr. Peredo
Marina I. Peredo, M.D., F.A.A.D. has been in private dermatological practice since 1995 and is the founder and medical director of Spatique, a medical spa in Smithtown, NY, where she combines state of the art techniques with the highest level of individualized patient care. Additionally, she is on staff at St. Catherine of Siena Hospital and is an associate professor at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. Dr. Peredo is certified by the American Board of Dermatology and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology. After graduating from Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Dr. Peredo completed her medical internship at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center and her dermatology residency at New York Hospital-Cornell University Medical College.
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