Excessive Sweating

Making statements about the excessive sweating problem, Thoracic Surgery and Lung Transplant Surgeon Assoc. Dr. Erkan Yıldırım explained the methods used in the treatment of this problem for you.

Sweating; It is a physiological process that develops as a result of our body’s response to internal and external stimuli. However, excessive sweating can be the cause of some health problems. Making statements about the excessive sweating problem, Thoracic Surgery and Lung Transplant Surgeon Assoc. Dr. Erkan Yıldırım explained the methods used in the treatment of this problem for you.

Is excessive sweating a disease?

There is an excessive chemical discharge from the brain, the mechanism of which is unknown, which stimulates the sweat glands, causing excessive sweating. Mostly, excessive sweating occurs out of the blue, sweating from hands, feet, head, neck, face, dripping and/or flowing. Facial flushing may also sometimes accompany; blushing can occur without sweating.

What are the Causes of Excessive Sweating?

It may occur as a result of some diseases (cancer, diabetes, thyroid diseases, some psychiatric diseases, etc.). Often there is no obvious cause. Sometimes extreme stress and anxiety also trigger sweating. Eating excessively hot, spicy, onions and garlic can also cause excessive sweating.

How is the diagnosis made?

The diagnosis is made by examining the patient and listening to his complaints. Patients with excessive sweating should firstly complete their endocrinology, psychiatry and dermatology examinations and investigate whether they have any other disease. In cases where these treatment options do not provide adequate control, the surgical treatment option should be explained to the patient in detail. The patient should not be rushed to make a decision, he should be given the opportunity and time to think in detail.

What are the treatment options?

Although Botox, some herbal treatment options, acupuncture, meditation and hypnotherapy have been defined and applied, the success of non-surgical treatment options is low or of a certain short duration. While the success rate of many products sold and offered on the market as a solution to excessive sweating is low, temporary or absent, their side effects are also very high. Never buy and apply a product without consulting a doctor.

There is a “surgical solution” for excessive sweating. The success rate is quite high (*90% of the patients who had a clip-on ETS sympathectomy) and this effect is permanent; In one study, it was reported that more than 60% of patients did not sweat even after 12 years.

What is clip-on ETS Sympathectomy surgery?

It is a closed surgery, both sides are treated in the same session. By entering through 2 small holes in the armpit, a clip is placed on the sympathetic nerve that branches into the sweating area, and that way is closed. In this way, chemical discharge from the brain cannot reach the sweat glands and sweating is prevented.

*As a side effect, sweating occurs in another region (mild/moderate in 80% of patients and severe in 3-5% of patients). This is called “reactive sweating”; This provides serious relief in 75% of patients, either with a medical drug – it should be used continuously – or again with closed “nerve splicing surgery”.