Excessive sweating

In technical terms, excessive sweating is known as "hyperhidrosis" and particularly affects the sweat glands on the hands, feet and in the armpits. These glands produce abnormally high amounts of sweat, which leads to those affected sweating profusely even at moderate temperatures and with little physical exertion. However, the boundary between normal and excessive sweating is blurred: In our view, treatment always makes sense if the sweating is significantly disturbing. This could be sweat stains under the armpits of a business shirt or on a T-shirt, damp hands or feet, sweat on the forehead, head or wherever.

In Switzerland, around 2-4% of the population are affected by hyperhidrosis. Hyperhidrosis is a complex problem that affects many areas of life: It is not just about the physical symptom of excessive sweating, but also about the social, emotional and psychological challenges associated with it. Excessive sweating, especially in visible areas such as the hands, face and armpits, can lead to shame and embarrassment. Those affected often avoid social interactions for fear of being perceived as unattractive or unhygienic. Hyperhidrosis can therefore significantly affect self-esteem and self-confidence. The fear of sweating can also lead to increased stress and anxiety, which often further exacerbates hyperhidrosis.

There are various ways to treat hyperhidrosis. In our opinion, however, there are only two effective methods that deliver excellent results without any significant side effects: Botulinum toxin or miraDry. Botulinum toxin "paralyzes" the sweat glands for a certain period of time by preventing them from secreting sweat, but the treatment must be repeated regularly. miraDry, on the other hand, is the first FDA-approved method for permanently eliminating sweat glands. We do not perform other procedures such as intrathoracic sympathectomy (in which the vegative sweat fibers in the chest area that are responsible for sweating are burned off as part of a larger surgical procedure) and the complete removal of the skin with the sweat glands under the armpits because we consider the side effect and complication rate to be too high. Ionthophoresis can be carried out on the hands and feet, but the treatment must be carried out daily, which many patients do not want. Suctioning or destroying the sweat glands with a laser is another option, but the results are often moderate.

miraDry has revolutionized the treatment of underarm perspiration and replaced all previous surgical options. A single treatment is usually enough to give you permanent peace of mind – forever. I have also been treated with miraDry and am delighted!