Hyperhidrosis: Excessive Sweating Treatments at
dermalclinic® Edinburgh

As advanced practitioners dermalclinic® are able to offer a life changing treatment for excessive sweating.

Excessive sweating is medically known as hyperhidrosis. Hyperhidrosis can affect any area of the body as it is induced by the sympathetic nervous system. Some level of sweating is perfectly normal, to control body temperature, however approximately 1% of the population find themselves with a revved-up system causing sweating to occur at inappropriate times, and far too great in quantity to just control body temperature. The condition of hyperhidrosis affects sexes and races equally.

Excessive SweatingExcessive sweating can have a profound effect on confidence and self-esteem. Everyday simple activities can embarrassing and stressful. Shaking someone’s hand at the start of a business meeting, performing a presentation either in front of friends or work colleagues, father of the bride speech, activities such as shaking hands or removing a jacket can become a major ordeal, and for students, whose hands drip over their exam papers, it's just one more unwelcome distraction.

There is currently only one treatment available for an excessive sweating condition. The most common areas we treat at Dermal Clinic are forehead, underarms, palms of the hands, and soles of the feet. We would assess and treat the affected areas as appropriate.

The way the treatment works is by blocking the signals from the brain to the sweat glands. This then reduces the amount of sweat produced to the treated area.

The benefit of having this treatment is that it reduces sweat in the affected area(s), which means there should be no need for antiperspirants or deodorants. The results from this treatment could last for up to 12 months.

Prior to having the treatment, it is extremely important that we carry out a full medical history as well as a clinical examination. This is to rule out any other medical conditions, which could be causing the excessive sweating.

Once we have your medical history and have carried out an examination, we will then clean the affected area, and apply iodine, followed by starch. This process helps us to identify exactly where the sweat is coming from. A grid shape is then drawn onto the affected area, using a brow pencil.

If the underarms are being treated, we ask that the area is shaven before visiting the clinic. This helps the treatment to run a little smoother.

The treatment is then applied to the skin, across the area of the grid. We would normally advise patients to wear old or dark clothing to the clinic, on the day of their treatment, to avoid spoiling an outfit with the iodine.

From personal experience, and feedback from others, we can assure you that the procedure is far more comfortable than what you are probably expecting, and we will do everything we can to ensure you are comfortable.

Please note that results from the treatment are not immediate. You should see effects within about two weeks post-treatment; where most patients will then be able to enjoy life with their new dryness and increased confidence.

Patients often report that they feel more confident wearing their Christmas or wedding outfit knowing that sweat marks are one less thing to worry about! Now silk and dark colours can be an option!