Do you hands sweat more than you'd like?

We all sweat at some point – and much as it may be an unpleasant part of life, it’s also healthy and normal and a problem if it never happens.

But if you find your palms sweat more than seems normal, or more than other people’s tend to, then you may by suffering from hyperhidrosis of the hands.

What is hyperhidrosis of the hands?

Hyperhidrosis itself is a condition of excessive sweating, and can affect your axillas (under arms), hands, feet, foreheads and more.

Hyperhidrosis of the hands is not uncommon and while not medically concerning, it can be an embarrassing and stressful condition.

Rather than simply being triggered by stressful situations or being a transient response to our emotions, hypderhidrosis sweating can be constant, disproportionate to the emotional trigger or simply just random and annoying.

People who experiencing hyperhidrosis of the hands usually fear having to greet others with handshakes. And holding hands with that special someone can be a fear-raising prospect.

The Treatment Options for Hyperhidrosis of the Hands

If you’re concerned about your sweaty palms, it’s important to see a doctor, who can diagnose whether you do actually have hyperhidrosis.

However, the first line of treatment is almost always to use an anti-perspirant on your hands – yep, just like you’re probably using under your arms.

Anti-perspirants work by preventing sweat glands from sweating, and can be effective in reducing palm sweat significantly.

However, if you try anti-perspirant and find it does not work, your GP can refer you to a dermatologist for specialist treatment.

Specialist Treatment

A dermatologist can review your condition and, if appropriate, recommend Botulinum Toxin Type A injections. This is the same product we inject into facial muscles to stop frowning and wrinkles.

But this doesn’t mean your hand muscles will have no movement or expression. No! We use small amounts of the injectable which reduce the sweat glands’ production of sweat.

Treatment can take up to a week to begin to work, and will hit full effectiveness at two weeks. Just as when we inject facial muscles, hand injections will remain effective for 4-6 months, and then will require another treatment.

Want more info on treating your sweaty palms?

If you want more information about hyperhidrosis of the hands, see your GP. If necessary, the GP will refer you to a dermatologist who can treat you with injectables. You can make an appointment to see our dermatologist by calling our receptionists on (02) 9953 9522.