Did you know that your nerves could be to blame for the excessive sweating, or hyperhidrosis, that drenches your clothes and shoes when triggered? Primary hyperhidrosis is a condition that is usually idiopathic, which means it has an unknown cause. What we do know is that patients with overactive sweat glands in underarms, hands, groin, and feet may experience downpours of sweat every once in a while (episodic) or all the time (continuous). Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Reuel Aspacio can assist patients with hyperhidrosis with injections of BOTOX (a neurotoxin) in the affected areas with the goal of blocking the nerve impulses that stimulate sweat production.

While most people sweat in warm weather, during a stressful meeting, or working out, our patients at Summerlin Dermatology with primary hyperhidrosis may gush sweat (even with antiperspirant on) and have to change their clothes. Tasks like giving a simple hug or presenting at work in front of colleagues may be too embarrassing. Dr. Aspacio can provide you with an initial consultation in Las Vegas, NV to see if you qualify for BOTOX treatments to block the nerve activity that triggers the sweat response.

Most of the time, hyperhidrosis has an unknown cause. You can go to your doctor or dermatologist to determine the cause. Regardless, excessive sweating could be caused by a larger problem, such as obesity, heart disease, hyperthyroidism, menopause, a psychological disorder, hypoglycemia, a reaction to a medication, or a combination of medical scenarios. By studying your health history, reviewing your medications, and performing a physical examination, Dr. Aspacio can rule out certain underlying medical causes to your condition and make a recommendation for a referral.

In our experience, every patient presents hyperhidrosis in one or a combination of the five major areas where sweat glands are present: face, underarms, hands, groin, and feet.

Facial sweating
When you have hyperhidrosis with facial sweating, you can sit in a room with sweat rolling down your face, soaking your hair, and drenching the collar of your shirt. You may normally experience this type of sweating at the gym when your temperature rises while you are burning calories. It is not, however, normal to sit in an air-conditioned room with beads of sweat for no apparent reason.

Underarm sweating
Soaking shirt after shirt on a warm afternoon can be very problematic for patients with overactive sweat glands under the arms. Even with clinical-strength antiperspirants, these excessive sweaters can't stop the overflow dripping from their underarms. 

Hand sweating
With no warning, a patient with hyperhidrosis may have a puddle of sweat in the palms of his or her clammy hands when sweat production is active. Sweaty hands can make shaking hands or holding hands with someone really uncomfortable for all involved.

Groin sweating
There are sweat glands within the creases of your inner thigh at the groin. Patients with hyperhidrosis in this area leave their mark everywhere they sit. This can be very embarrassing at the gym or while playing a sport.

Feet sweating
Exposure to lots of sweat can not only make your shoes smell foul, it can also ruin a pair of shoes before you have the chance to wear them out. Keep in mind that the odor from sweaty shoes and smelly feet could also be a sign of a different dermatological condition. Dark, damp shoes and socks are a breeding ground for bacteria and fungal infections.

If you’re looking to minimize the symptoms of sweating and restore your self-confidence, Dr. Aspacio may employ topical and oral medications to help decrease your symptoms. He may also suggest injecting a neurotoxin, such as BOTOX, Dysport, or Xeomin, for temporary relief for 4 – 6 months until the next injection with the use of an antiperspirant. The appointment will be quick (less than 45 minutes) and there is no recovery time. If Dr. Aspacio suspects that you have a secondary hyperhidrosis issue, he will refer you to make an appointment with your primary care physician for treatment of a larger issue.

If you are like countless others with hyperhidrosis, you have most likely tried everything to reduce the amount of sweating you experience. Our award-winning dermatologist, Dr. Aspacio, is a certified expert injector by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. Call our office today to schedule an appointment so that Summerlin Dermatology can find the solution that works best for you. We are always accepting new patients.