Alternative or conservative methods in the treatment of Hyperhidrosis.

Among the general population, the incidence of those who suffer from hyperhidrosis is about 0.8% to 1.2%.Within that segment of the population, cases of Hyperhidrosis range from mild to severe. It is imperative to those who suffer from Hyperhidrosis to seek medical advice on how to deal with this ailment.

When seeing a physician for the first time one should stress and explain the difficulties that excessive sweating is causing. These can range from functional to social ones. Be sure hat the treating physician is taking notes with regard to the problem.

There are a few alternatives or conservative methods that the patient should try before embarking on any surgical solution. The first one is Drysol, a lotion made of Aluminum hydrochloride. It has to be applied overnight with gloves, the success rate is minimal and it can cause blisters and pain.

The next item on the list is Drionic, an iontophoresis machine that can be purchased on line. The success rate is also very limited and it demands long periods of time.

One also can try medications and the best known is Robinul. This drug belongs to a group of medications called anti-cholinergic drugs. They have some mild side effects but here again the success rate is very low.

Over the last 2-3 years some insurance companies demand that the patient try Botox injections. Dr. Reisfeld believes that this is a misguided demand due to the fact that Botox ® injections are not FDA approved for this purpose. Additionally, Botox ® is very painfull and has a limited success rate. Dr. Reisfeld has operated on many patients who tried the Botox ® injections with success rates that ranged from a few days to 3 months.

The patient or guardians should keep records of the items that have been purchased and tried, as this is a powerful tool for seeking the surgical cure and when dealing with insurance companies.