Excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis) medical treatment & surgery in Istanbul Turkey : Cost of Best Clinics

Causes of excessive sweating

Hyperhidrosis is due to hyperactivity of the sweat glands responsible for the production and secretion of sweat. The pathology is defined as primary (or essential) when it is determined by idiopathic phenomena, that is, whose causes are unknown, or secondary when it occurs in correlation with other conditions, for example in the case of :

• Thyroid disorders
• Changes in blood glucose levels and diabetes
• Severe obesity
• Menopause
• Medications such as antidepressants, anti-inflammatories, opioids, neuroleptics, etc.

Sweating is the human body's way of reducing its temperature. Under physiological conditions, the sweating process involves the nervous system, which sends an activation stimulus to the sweat glands when it senses an increase in body temperature. This stimulus can also be sent in situations of nervous stress and anxiety.

In patients with primary hyperhidrosis, this mechanism is altered, with hyperstimulation of the sweat glands even in the absence of a proportional increase in body temperature. A psychological state with a marked reaction to emotional and social stress can be observed in these patients and may contribute to the development of the disease.

Diagnosing Hyperhidrosis

To diagnose hyperhidrosis, it is important to understand whether the condition is primary or secondary to an underlying disease.

The anamnesis and physical examination are essential for a diagnostic evaluation.

Asymmetric hyperhidrosis suggests an underlying neurologic cause. There are possible laboratory tests that may be complementary in the diagnostic phase.

The iodine water test is important to detect areas of multiple hypersecreting glands. In this case, an iodine solution is applied to the affected area and sprinkled with starch; in a few minutes, a change in the color of the iodine from brown to purple is obtained, corresponding to the most affected areas.

Hyperhidrosis Treatment in Istanbul Turkey

Hyperhidrosis treatment in Istanbul Turkey can be medical or surgical.

Medical treatment

The first step in the treatment of excessive sweating involves the use of medical therapies:

• Aluminum chloride hexahydrate topical solution: a solution capable of blocking the sweat ducts by precipitating salts.
• Iontophoresis: a treatment that blocks the ducts of the sweat glands by applying mild electrical shocks to the affected areas.
• Oral anticholinergic medications: can reduce sweating, but may cause other side effects such as dry mouth, irregular heartbeat, urine retention, etc.
• Botulinum toxin type A: is injected into the affected areas by acting on the release of acetylcholine from the nerves of the sweat glands.
• Miradry device with thermal effect: Heats and permanently destroys the sweat glands.

Excessive perspiration surgery

If medical therapies fail, surgery in Istanbul, Turkey is highly recommended. Your dermatologist surgeon may suggest the following options:

• Permanent removal of sweat glands by open excision or liposuction
• Endoscopic transthoracic sympathectomy: an effective surgical procedure for the treatment of axillary, palmar, and facial hyperhidrosis. It consists of the interruption of the sympathetic pathways that belong to a given district but hides possible complications such as phantom sweating, as well as the sensation of sweating without real sweating.