Regional Excessive Sweating and Sympathectomy

What are the Causes of Excessive Sweating?

Excessive sweating means the production and release of sweat above the normal amount of sweating and can be caused by many different reasons. Some common causes are:

• Environmental factors: Environmental factors such as hot weather, high humidity, exercise or physical activity can cause excessive sweating.
• Stress and Anxiety: When the body is under stress, the sympathetic nervous system stimulates and as a result, the amount of sweating increases.
• Hormonal Changes: Especially hormonal changes such as puberty, menopause or thyroid problems can cause excessive sweating.
• Nutrition: Consumption of certain foods such as spicy, fatty or caffeine-containing foods, alcoholic beverages can also cause excessive sweating.
• Medications: Some medications, especially antidepressants, antipyretics, diabetes medications, hormonal therapy, can cause excessive sweating.
• Genetic factors: Excessive sweating may be caused by a genetic predisposition and excessive sweating may be seen in the familial history.
• Health problems: Some health problems such as diabetes, heart disease, obesity, cancer can cause excessive sweating.

Excessive sweating is not usually a serious health problem, but it can significantly affect quality of life. For this reason, it is recommended that people who experience excessive sweating should consult a doctor and determine possible causes.

Why Does Excessive Sweating Occur More In Some Areas?

Excessive sweating can be seen more frequently in certain areas and this is called regional excessive sweating. These areas include the armpits, palms, feet, face, groin area, and chest area.

This is because the number and density of sweat glands in these areas is higher. For example, there are many sweat glands in the armpits and palms, so excessive sweating is more common in these areas.

Also, the sweat glands in these areas are controlled by the sympathetic nervous system, and this nervous system can become overactive in some cases. The sympathetic nervous system is a part of the nervous system that prepares the body in situations of stress or danger, and in some people overactivity of this system can result in excessive sweating in certain areas.

However, regional excessive sweating may also occur in some individuals as a result of a genetic predisposition. Although excessive sweating is not usually a serious health problem, it can significantly affect quality of life and may need to be treated.

What are the Precautions Against Excessive Sweating?

To prevent excessive sweating, you can follow the recommendations below:

• Paying attention to body cleanliness: Taking a shower regularly during the day is important to reduce sweating.
• Increasing air circulation: In hot weather, it is important to provide cool air by opening windows and doors or using a fan to increase air circulation.
• Wearing sweat-absorbent clothing: Clothing with sweat-absorbent properties can help reduce sweating. Cotton clothes can also be preferred.
• Avoiding spicy, fatty and caffeinated foods: These types of foods can cause excessive sweating, so it may be helpful to reduce your consumption or avoid it altogether.
• Limiting alcohol and cigarette consumption: Alcohol and cigarette consumption can cause dehydration and excessive sweating.
• Managing stress: Stress can trigger excessive sweating. Relaxation techniques such as yoga, meditation or deep breathing exercises can reduce stress and control sweating.
• Questioning drug use: Some drugs can cause excessive sweating. If you are taking a medication, you can talk to your doctor to discuss alternative treatments or dosage changes.

If excessive sweating is caused by underlying health problems, your doctor may recommend special treatments or medications. Because excessive sweating can negatively affect quality of life, it is important to see a doctor and identify the causes.

What are the Treatment Methods for Excessive Sweating?

Treatment methods for excessive sweating are listed as follows:

• Antiperspirant use: Antiperspirant is a product that prevents sweating by temporarily blocking sweat glands. It can be used to control excessive sweating, especially in the armpits.
• Botox injections: Botox injections can help prevent sweating by temporarily blocking the sweat glands. This treatment is used to control excessive sweating, especially in the armpits.
• Medication: Anxiety, stress or hormonal problems caused by excessive sweating can be controlled with medication.
• Sympathectomy: Sympathectomy is one of the most commonly used surgical treatments for excessive sweating. In this procedure, relevant parts of the sympathetic nervous system are cut or tied. Sympathectomy is especially used for hand sweating.
• Microwave therapy: Microwave therapy can help prevent sweating by destroying sweat glands using microwave energy.
• Iontophoresis: Iontophoresis controls sweating using an electromagnetic device. This treatment is especially used for hand and foot sweating.
• Subcutaneous laser therapy: Subcutaneous laser therapy can reduce sweating by destroying sweat glands.

Excessive sweating is a condition that needs to be treated, as it can negatively affect the quality of life of the person. The treatment option is determined depending on the cause of excessive sweating, its severity, and the person's health status. You can discuss with your doctor which treatment method is right for you.

What is sympathectomy?

Sympathectomy is a surgical procedure performed on the sympathetic nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system is the part of the body's nervous system that triggers the "fight or flight" response in situations of stress and danger. This system prepares the body for stressful situations by increasing heart rate, raising blood pressure, and making physiological changes such as sweating and trembling.

However, in some cases, the sympathetic nervous system can become more active than normal and work involuntarily, causing some problems. For example, conditions such as regional excessive sweating, migraine headache, Raynaud's syndrome, reflex sympathetic dystrophy may occur when the sympathetic nervous system is overactive.

Sympathectomy is the process of cutting or removing the sympathetic nerves to solve these problems. This procedure is usually performed by a thoracic surgeon. Sympathectomy is especially used in the treatment of regional excessive sweating and helps to reduce or stop sweating. However, because sympathectomy is a serious surgical procedure, experts consider this procedure when other treatment options are ineffective or severely affect the patient's quality of life.

Sympathectomy Method in the Treatment of Excessive Sweating

Sympathectomy is a method used as the surgical treatment of excessive sweating. In this method, sweating is controlled by cutting or binding a certain region of the sympathetic nervous system.

Sympathectomy is generally used for sweating of the hands, face, armpits and feet. Excessive sweating in these areas can affect a person's daily activities and social life.

Sympathectomy method is performed under general anesthesia. The surgeon finds and cuts or connects the sympathetic nervous system by making several small incisions. After this procedure, a decrease or complete stop in the sweating area is observed.

How Long Does Sympathectomy Surgery Take?

The duration of the operation may vary depending on the size of the area where the procedure will be performed and the procedure method.

Generally, the sympathectomy procedure takes between 30-60 minutes. Procedures for hand sweating may take less time than those for facial sweating. Procedures for armpit sweating usually take longer.

How Long Is The Recovery Time After Sympathectomy Surgery?

Recovery time may vary depending on the area where the surgery was performed, the procedure method and the general health status of the patient.

Usually, symptoms such as pain, swelling and bruising can be seen in the first few days after surgery. These symptoms decrease over time and the healing process begins after about a week.

In the post-operative period, the hospital stay can usually last a few hours or overnight. Suggestions such as rest at home, wound care and medication use are made after the surgery. Also, your doctor may recommend that you limit your activities, especially for the first few days.

Although the recovery process differs from person to person, normal activities can usually be returned within 1-2 weeks. However, symptoms such as numbness or pain in the treated area may persist. These symptoms decrease and disappear over time.

Sympathectomy surgery can be an effective treatment option for people with excessive sweating. However, it is important that you follow your doctor's recommendations in the post-operative period and be patient during the recovery period. Also, you should contact your doctor if you have any problems.