Sweat. Let’s face it, it happens to everyone on a hot day or while exercising. But for some individuals, sweating is not just a typical response to warmth that easily goes away; they may find themselves sweating more than the people around them and trying to find ways of preventing excessive sweating. There is a rare condition called primary focal hyperhidrosis that may be the cause of this. If you believe you are affected by this condition and would like to learn more about preventing excessive sweating, this information is for you.

Primary focal hyperhidrosis, or simply hyperhidrosis, is the most common cause of excessive sweating and affects about 1% to 3% of the general population. It affects about 8 million Americans, and it has been found that these individuals sweat four to five times as much as the average person. Hyperhidrosis has been shown to equally affect men and women, and it most commonly is diagnosed among people between the ages of 25 and 64 years. Though not proven with absolute certainty as of yet, there may be a genetic predisposition for hyperhidrosis; about 30% to 50% of those with the condition have another family member who is also afflicted by it. Unfortunately, being affected by this physical condition may also lead to emotional difficulties. A very large majority (90%) of patients with hyperhidrosis have reported that having the condition affects their emotional state. One survey showed that most patients reported feeling less confident as a direct result having the condition.

Fortunately, there is a solution for preventing excessive sweating. There is a treatment called iontophoresis. It was introduced more than 50 years ago as a treatment for excessive sweating. The iontophoresis machine has been called a “no sweat machine” and it requires about six to 10 treatments to shut down a person’s sweat glands. Each treatment lasts about 10 to 20 minutes, which is a manageable length of time. Individuals suffering from severe hyperhidrosis may need two to three iontophoresis treatments per week when they first begin the treatment. If you are looking for a means of preventing excessive sweating, this is the one for you!

If you find yourself struggling with excessive sweating, we encourage you to schedule an appointment with your doctor to discuss if your excessive sweating could be primary focal hyperhidrosis. If it is, they may have information on how and where to begin iontopheresis treatment. It could be the solution you are looking for!