Treatment of sweating in men

Conservative methods of treating sweating in men include psychotherapy, medication, the use of external agents (antiperspirants), Botox injections, and physiotherapy.

People with psychogenic forms of hyperhidrosis are recommended to attend sessions with a psychotherapist, where, under the guidance of a specialist, the patient learns to cope with anxiety and masters stress relief techniques. Sometimes hypnosis is used. The need to spend a long time on a course of treatment, sometimes to change your worldview are considered disadvantages of this method. Its advantage is the absence of side effects. Provided that a full course of psychotherapy is completed, treatment is successful in 70% of cases.

Medicines

Drug treatment involves the use of drugs with a calming effect, anticholinergics or β-adrenergic blockers that bind adrenoreceptors. Systemic treatment of psychogenic sweating is carried out in order to reduce the patient's excitability and increase his or her stress resistance.

Treatment begins with the prescription of natural herbal preparations (tincture of valerian, peony or motherwort) or potassium and sodium bromides. Combined drops of Valocordin and Barboval are also used. These drugs depress the central nervous system, reduce agitation, facilitate falling asleep, relieve symptoms of neurocirculatory disorders and, accordingly, reduce sweating due to these actions. Such drugs are prescribed in a course lasting 2-2.5 months. They have a less pronounced sedative effect than modern tranquilizers or neuroleptics, but are also much better tolerated, and most importantly, do not cause such impressive side effects, especially addiction.

The action of herbal preparations is ensured by the esters, organic acids, low-toxic alkaloids, and flavonoids included in their composition. Bromine preparations mainly enhance the inhibition processes, but are slowly excreted from the body and tend to accumulate and cause a specific side effect - bromism.

If there is no effect, more powerful drugs are prescribed - antidepressants. From this group of drugs, many of which have such a side effect as hyperhidrosis and instead of the expected help increase sweat secretion, the doctor must select the most suitable one depending on the degree of sweating and the prevailing symptoms of instability of the nervous system.

Emotionally unstable patients complaining of fears, insomnia, for whom the slightest excitement throws them out of their state of mental balance, may be prescribed the tetracyclic antidepressant Lerivon, which has a pronounced anti-anxiety and hypnotic effect. At least this drug does not list sweating among its side effects, as, for example, Fluoxetine, which is also sometimes prescribed for psychogenic hyperhidrosis.

Gelarium Hypericum is one of the drugs with optimal anxiolytic action and the absence of a number of side effects, including addiction and suicide attempts. The antidepressant, the active substance of which is a dry extract of St. John's wort, is distinguished by its ability to normalize the neuropsychic status and the process of falling asleep, without having a direct hypnotic effect, without weakening the ability to concentrate and without reducing the reaction speed. The only side effect that has been established to date is the development of photosensitivity in people with fair skin. The possibility of developing allergic and dyspeptic reactions is also not excluded. Take one tablet three times a day with water.

Belladonna, datura, and henbane preparations containing Atropine, a poisonous alkaloid of plant origin, reduce excitation of the sympathetic nervous system and reduce sweating. An M-anticholinergic that suppresses the secretory activity of any glands, including sweat glands, by influencing the central nervous system and its sympathetic divisions. It is available as an injection solution. It is used intramuscularly, subcutaneously, and intravenously.

Tablets for sweating of the body in men Bekarbon, Bellacehol, containing belladonna alkaloids, have a similar effect. Strictly speaking, their main purpose is not sweating, but stopping the excess production of hydrochloric acid by the gastric glands. But the effect of the drug concerns the secretion of other physiological fluids - saliva, sweat. Therefore, such tablets are contraindicated for people with insufficient secretion of gastric juice. They cannot be used in case of thyrotoxicosis and prostate adenoma. Like all other drugs, they can cause sensitization reactions. And the side effects of their action are dryness of the mucous membranes of the oral cavity, visual impairment, increased heart rate (therefore, people with heart disease are also undesirable to be treated with them. And they can be taken for no more than a month, and after discontinuation, sweating will quickly recover.

Another anticholinergic, Scopolamine (a plant alkaloid found in nightshade plants), has an effect similar to Atropine. It has a calming and hypnotic effect. The most common side effect of taking it is amnesia. Individual sensitivity to this alkaloid varies greatly among patients. While it has a calming effect on some, it excites others, even causing hallucinations. It is taken orally in a 0.05% solution of 0.5 to 1 ml or given as subcutaneous injections.

Compared to previous medications, Apilak tablets for men against sweating will be a real panacea. However, people who are allergic to bee products are not recommended to take the drug. Also, it should not be taken by patients with Addison's disease. There are no other restrictions on the use of this drug, including age-related ones. This is a broad-spectrum and general-spectrum drug that increases the body's defenses. It has many good reviews from patients who suffered from excessive sweating. Considering its quite affordable cost and the ability to buy it at any pharmacy, these reviews are quite sincere. And the properties of the drug and its composition indicate that it can really help solve the problem.

The drug is made on the basis of royal jelly and is a complex of biologically active components:

• B vitamins, almost all of them, without which the normal functioning of the nervous system is impossible, as well as choline and ascorbic acid;
• the main essential mineral elements are calcium, phosphorus, iron, potassium, magnesium, sodium;
• essential amino acids – methionine, tryptophan and many other components.

Hyperhidrosis is often caused by increased excitability of the nervous system, fluctuations in blood pressure lead to the appearance of sweat stains. A course of taking Apilak allows you to saturate the body with many essential elements, stabilize the nervous system, including the sympathetic one, normalize blood pressure, and strengthen the immune system. The drug can also be used by people suffering from endocrine diseases and androgen deficiency, after infections, viruses, and poisoning. Adults are recommended to take one tablet two or three times a day for two weeks. The tablets are taken sublingually until completely dissolved, there is no point in swallowing them. Hydrochloric acid in the stomach immediately neutralizes their properties. Some patients experience such a side effect as insomnia, so it is recommended to take them in the first half of the day.

In case of diaper rash, rashes, skin maceration, you can use Apilak ointment, which is applied to the damaged area once or twice a day. Depending on the degree of damage, the effect can be seen in a week, but sometimes longer treatment is required.

Hydronex is positioned as an effective remedy for sweating in people of any gender and age. It is produced in two forms - for internal use (concentrated solution) and external - in the form of a spray. The multi-component composition of the drug from plant materials of the European zone and exotic plants for us does not clog sweat glands, but affects the intensity of sweating, normalizing their functions.

The concentrate is taken orally for 20 days (the scheme is attached with the instructions), and the spray is used externally, spraying it in places of increased sweat secretion.

External agents are also used - antiperspirants, cosmetic and medical. The effect of these agents is that after application to the skin in the areas of sweating, the sweat glands are blocked, and sweat in the treated areas stops being secreted, in addition, the substances have an antibacterial effect, preventing the occurrence of odor. Such agents contain aluminum or zinc salts, formaldehyde, salicylic acid, triclosan, ethyl alcohol. These are quite effective agents that eliminate sweat secretion. However, they can only be used for local sweating, since sweating should and does occur through other parts of the body. The cause of hyperhidrosis is not eliminated. Side effects may occur - hidradenitis and skin inflammation, itching, swelling and rashes at the site of application. Antiperspirants are applied at night to cleanly washed and dried skin, free of hair, in the morning the areas of application are washed with soap. The ducts of the sweat glands remain clogged, preventing sweat secretion. Use as directed.

Botox injections or other preparations containing botulinum toxin are considered much more effective than antiperspirants. These injections disrupt the transmission of nerve impulses to the sweat glands for about six months. The area of increased sweat secretion is injected in a circle.

Tablets and vitamins for sweating must be agreed upon with a doctor, since the causes of increased sweating are very different, and therefore real help can only be provided after examination and identification of the causes of this condition. Otherwise, you can increase sweating and seriously harm your health.

Physiotherapy treatment

Excessive sweating of the psychogenic type is treated with physical methods that provide sedation of the body. Such treatment can be quite effective, in most cases (70-80%) the result is achieved. The main disadvantage of such an impact on physiological processes is the lack of a permanent effect. Sweating can return in 30-40 days.

To treat neurological sweating, electrosleep, iontophoresis in areas of increased sweating, pine baths with the addition of sea salt, contrast showers, and a galvanic collar are prescribed.

Iontophoresis is also prescribed to men suffering from essential hyperhidrosis not associated with specific external factors. By means of low-voltage direct electric current, zinc and aluminum ions penetrate into the superficial layers of the skin, narrowing the excretory channels of the sweat glands and causing dehydration of the sweating area. However, this effect is temporary.

Medicinal electrophoresis with anticholinergics is also used.

The course of procedures lasts from one to two weeks. As a result, the balance between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters in the synaptic cleft of the brain is restored, and accordingly, the flow of nerve impulses that give “commands to sweat” to the nerve endings of the sympathetic trunk and, accordingly, to the sweat glands is reduced. Repeated courses of physiotherapy procedures can be taken at intervals of three to four months.

Folk remedies

The basis of any method of treating excessive sweating is frequent hygiene procedures. The best of them is a contrast shower - the pores, expanding and narrowing, under the influence of hot and cold water, do a kind of "gymnastics", the nervous system is stabilized during contrast dousing, and the immune system is strengthened. In addition, particles of keratinized skin and night sweat are washed off the body, and it is ready for further treatment.

If you are unable to take a shower, you should definitely wash the areas of excessive sweating with cool water and soap.

The armpits must be freed from hair by any means – from shaving to hardware epilation. This alone will reduce sweating in this area, since the apocrine sweat glands secrete sweat not into the skin, but into the hair follicle.

Cleanly washed and "bald" armpits can be treated with a homemade lotion: mix equal parts of table vinegar, 4% boric water, ethyl alcohol or cologne (exclusively for the smell). Then sprinkle with baby powder with zinc.

Baths or washing problem areas with water of contrasting temperature are practiced on all areas of the body. After that, Teymurov paste can be applied to the feet; there are many good reviews about its effectiveness in combating sweaty feet, although official medicine does not always approve of this.

You can wipe your face with lemon water with a few drops of lavender oil, or even regular tea (for dark-skinned people).

It is good to wipe your palms with lemon juice and do ten-minute hand baths with ammonia (add a teaspoon of ammonia to a liter of water).

Herbal treatment of sweating, external and internal, is the basis of traditional medicine.

For example, oak bark. It is used in infusions for preparing baths and wiping areas of excessive sweating. For plantar sweating, powdered bark is poured into socks and put on clean washed feet before going to bed. In the morning, remove and wash your feet with cool water.

In this procedure, oak bark powder can be replaced with boric acid or starch.

Chamomile is also used for excessive sweating. It is brewed in the proportions - three tablespoons of crushed flowers per liter of water, infused for about an hour. Strain and add a tablespoon of soda to the infusion. This solution is used to wash the areas of sweating.

Walnut leaves, finely chopped raw or crushed dry, are infused in vodka (1:10) or in ethyl alcohol diluted with water (1:5:5). The infusion is kept for seven days in a dark pantry or in a closed cabinet in the kitchen. Strain and wipe the armpits.

A teaspoon of crushed white willow bark is infused overnight (eight hours) in two glasses of cold water. In the morning, the infusion is filtered and used for compresses on areas of sweating.

The following is taken internally for hyperhidrosis:

• infusions of lemon balm and mint - one tablespoon of crushed leaves of both plants is poured into 200 ml of boiling water, after a third of an hour it is filtered and drunk in the morning and evening every day for at least two weeks, but not more than a month;
• pea pods (eight or nine pieces) or beans (five or six) without contents are brewed with 200 ml of boiling water, when it cools down, strain and drink in three doses, 30 minutes after eating, for three weeks;
• Nasturtium infusion: flowers (8-10 pieces), leaves (10-12 pieces) or seeds (tablespoon) are suitable - any portion of plant material is poured with 200 ml of boiling water and cooled, the cooled infusion is filtered and drunk in equal portions until the end of the day for a three-week course.

Classic infusions of valerian root, motherwort, passionflower, and calming teas help reduce agitation and the sweating associated with it.

And baths - coniferous, with sea salt, medicinal herbs - chamomile, calendula, horsetail, oak bark also help to reduce sweating, including generalized.

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Homeopathy

Homeopathic medicines, which do not have many side effects, have a mild effect and almost never cause allergic reactions, can be a worthy alternative to traumatic and not always harmless allopathic methods of treatment. By contacting a homeopathic treatment specialist and following his recommendations, the patient has a chance to get rid of excessive sweating forever, without resorting to medications, injections, destruction of the sympathetic nerve trunks and removal of sweat glands, and in addition to this, to achieve at least remission of the underlying disease that caused hyperhidrosis, if any.

For example, in case of excessive sweating of the soles of the feet, use Arsenicum album and Rhus toxicodendron - in cases where sweaty feet cause moral discomfort to their owner, Arundo - for young men with sexual dysfunction and infected sweaty feet; Barium acetate (Barita acetica), silicic acid (Silicea) - in cases of sweating and fungal infections, foul sweat; Charcoal (Carbo vegetabilis), Iodine (Iodum), Lycopodium - cold sweaty extremities, tendency to cramps.

For night sweats, Ferrum phosphoricum is prescribed, and the best remedy for sweaty armpits is Petroleum, for sweating during the day and in the morning hours upon awakening, Sambucus is prescribed, and the contents of the black cuttlefish bursa (Sepia) will help with severe sweating, especially when the lesions are localized in the groin, armpits, under the knees and on the back, and in the case of climacteric hot flashes.

These are just examples, as different cases of excessive sweating require different medications depending on the patient's constitutional type and complaints. Almost any homeopathic medication can be prescribed for the treatment of hyperhidrosis, so the treatment should be supervised by a specialist.

Perhaps the same applies to complex homeopathic preparations produced by the pharmaceutical industry. Almost any preparation can help relieve the symptoms of a specific disease that causes sweating. Valeriana-Heel and Nervo-Heel can be prescribed as sedatives for increased excitability and anxiety; Kralonin is prescribed for ischemic heart disease, neurocirculatory disorders and arterial hypertension; Sabal Gommacord, Populus Compositum and Renel - for pathologies of the genitourinary organs: hydronephrosis, urolithiasis, inflammation or hypertrophy of the prostate gland; Testis Composutum - dysfunction of the sex glands in men; Schwef-Heel - diaper rash, mycosis. Many other drugs and their combinations can be prescribed in complex treatment.

Before using radical treatment methods or taking anticholinergics and tranquilizers, it is worth resorting to homeopathic treatment, perhaps nothing else will be needed. Homeopathy often copes with problems that official medicine cannot solve. But the treatment process must be monitored by a homeopathic doctor.

Surgical treatment of sweating in men

Any local and central surgical intervention methods are associated with a certain risk for the patient. Given this, it makes sense to resort to surgical treatment only after all the described therapeutic methods have been tried and they have not brought relief from the problem.

Local surgical intervention is performed directly at the site of excessive sweat secretion.

Such a surgical procedure can be liposuction of the axillary (armpit) area of increased sweating. This mini-operation is indicated for patients with excess fat deposits. A small puncture is made in the armpit, into which a tube is inserted, through which surgical manipulations are performed, by means of which fatty tissue is removed (partially or completely), which has a destructive effect on the nerve receptors of the sympathetic trunk, giving the command to the glands to secrete physiological fluid. During the intervention, local hemorrhages, hematomas, and a slight decrease in skin sensitivity may occur. In the case of fluid accumulation under the skin, it is eliminated by puncturing.

Closed curettage of the axillary region is the removal of excess sweat glands through a small puncture (or two punctures) by scraping with a surgical spoon (curette) and entailing the destruction of nerve receptors. Complications are similar to the previous manipulation. After several years of absence of hyperhidrosis, nerve receptors can recover, and, accordingly, sweating will increase. But this does not happen often.

Excision of the skin of the axillary cavity involves the complete removal of a section of the skin surface together with the sweat glands. The most effective of the three local methods, since hyperhidrosis cannot be restored. A small scar (about 3 cm) remains in the area of the operation.

Before and after any surgical intervention, the Minor test is performed for control.

The use of local surgical interventions is considered the least dangerous in terms of complications, is characterized by a stable positive result, and much less often leads to serious consequences and cosmetic defects.

If local surgical methods are ineffective, it is necessary to resort to the so-called central surgical intervention for hyperhidrosis - sympathectomy. The technique for performing this method is well-developed, since manipulations that destroy the sympathetic trunk in order to block nerve impulses to the sweat glands have been practiced for more than 70 years. Modern surgeons no longer use the open method, but perform surgery under the control of endoscopic equipment. Sympathectomy is indicated only in cases of severe forms of hyperhidrosis that cannot be corrected by other methods, although the surgical operation is considered a low-traumatic intervention, and its positive outcome is maintained for life.

Early consequences of the intervention may include increased dryness of the skin of the face and palms (as a rule, over time, the skin's moisturizing functions normalize). The most serious and unpredictable complication of the operation is the risk of postoperative compensatory hyperhidrosis, which is practically impossible to correct.

Sympathectomy, that is, disruption of the function of the sympathetic nerve trunk through its partial or complete destruction, is performed in several ways.

Classic open surgical intervention through an incision is thoracic or cervical sympathectomy. Nowadays it is not performed due to its high trauma.

Modern and more gentle operations include destruction by high-frequency current or chemical substances by inserting a needle through the skin into the spinal column (performed blindly).

Using endoscopic equipment, operations are performed to clip or cut the sympathetic trunk.

Local operations are performed under local anesthesia, and central interventions under general anesthesia.

Complications may include hemorrhagic manifestations, increased sweat production by the facial glands after eating spicy (hot) food, Horner's syndrome (drooping eyelid, constriction of the pupil).

The most serious and practically non-correctable consequence is compensatory hyperhidrosis, which occurs approximately in every tenth operation. This condition is the body's response to the immediate cessation of excessive sweating in the usual places and the migration of hyperhidrosis foci to other places that were not previously subject to it.

The possibility of eliminating this consequence is presented only in cases of clipping by performing a second operation to remove the clip and restore the intercostal nerve. Electrical and mechanical destruction does not provide the possibility of its restoration.

Of course, as with any operation, unpredictable fatal outcomes are possible, but their probability is extremely low.

However, the effectiveness of surgical interventions is approximately 95-98%, that is, these are cases of successful operations that took place without any complications. And even the manifestations of compensatory sweating in other places can decrease over time.

The future of hyperhidrosis treatment is seen in the use of laser technologies. The impact of a laser beam on the tissue of the sweat gland leads to its evaporation and complete cessation of work. The procedure can be performed on an outpatient basis and takes no more than half an hour, complications in the form of hematomas, infection, scars and bleeding cannot occur. However, the method is not yet widespread due to its high cost and the lack of qualified specialists.

Mainly, axillary and palmar hyperhidrosis are subject to surgical treatment. Operations to eliminate sweating of the feet have not become widespread due to complications in the form of sexual dysfunction.