Humans have about three million sweat glands spread all over the body. Of these, only about 5% are active, which illustrates the enormous potential. With a normal tendency to sweat (normal hydrosis) of around 0.5 to 1 ml per minute, sweat production of 1 to 2 liters per day results. Sweating is a vital bodily function and is primarily used to keep the body temperature constant.
In addition to sweat production, the body’s temperature is also regulated by hormones, breathing and the different dilation of the vessels. The amount of sweat glands varies considerably from part of the body to part of the body. The palms and soles of the feet have the highest density with around 600 sweat glands per square centimeter. This is followed by those in the armpits, the forehead and the trunk with 100/cm2. Sweat glands are most sparse on the extremities.
The transition from natural sweating to maintain a constant body temperature to pathological sweating is fluid. Individual, psychological factors are often also decisive as to the point at which sweating is perceived as excessive and therefore annoying. Because of these factors, an exact definition of excessive sweating is difficult to find. About 1 to 2% of the general population suffers from hyperhidrosis.
and by the way: Dr. medical Oliver Ph. Kreyden is one of the leading specialists in Switzerland, author of various publications and speaker at international congresses in this field. All patients undergoing therapy for hyperhidrosis are treated by Dr. Kreyden treated personally and then looked after.
How we treat hyperhidrosis in our practice clinic
The first step is to distinguish between primary and secondary hyperhidrosis. In the vast majority of cases, this is already achieved through a targeted consultation with the doctor. If there is a secondary form, the underlying disease must be corrected after appropriate clarification. In some cases, drug therapy must also be used to relieve the symptoms.
Primary hyperhidrosis
In the so-called focal or emotional, primary hyperhidrosis, the excessive sweating is primarily in the axillae and/or on the palms and soles and more rarely on the forehead. The condition usually begins after puberty and can be inherited. In addition to possible social isolation, complications such as warts, athlete’s foot or other skin diseases (keratoma sulcatum, etc.) can occur. Therefore, the problem should not be trivialized, but viewed and treated as a real illness.
Secondary hyperhidrosis
While emotional factors are usually the reason for focal hyperhidrosis, secondary hyperhidrosis is often due to an internal disease. This can be due to metabolic diseases such as blood sugar disease, overactive thyroid gland and neurological diseases or infections and, in rare cases, cancer.