Palmar Hyperhidrosis

One method of treating Palmar hyperhidrosis, Excessive sweating of hands, is called Iontophoresis. Iontophoresis involves placing the Sweaty hands in two shallow pans filled with water. A mild electrical current is run through the pans with sweaty hands submerged for twenty to forty minutes at a time. Iontophoresis is repeated every other day for around a week and a half, or until Palmar hyperhidrosis reaches a tolerable level. Iontophoresis has been shown to be 80 percent effective on Palmar Hyperhidrosis.

Doctors are still unclear why some people suffer from excessive sweating, especially palmar hyperhidrosis and others don’t. Likewise, they are also unclear why Iontophoresis is effective on Palmar hyperhidrosis. It is thought that the electrical current and mineral deposits in the water work together to thicken the skin on the hands. The sweat glands in the Sweaty hands then close up so Excessive sweating cannot be released. The main problem with iontophoresis is that it is temporary. The process needs to be repeated on sweaty hands at least once a month, or as often as once per week, after the initial treatment.

Iontophoresis can be inconvenient and expensive so it is not the most efficient way to treat palmar hyperhidrosis. Excessive Sweating of hands will only be cut off for a limited time. The patient must undergo the iontophoresis once again if the Palmar hyperhidrosis returns. The process can also be fairly irritating, with the risk of infections for wounds on the Sweaty hands. Iontophoresis is also not recommended for patients who are pregnant, suffer from epilepsy, or have a pacemaker along with sweaty hands. Additionally, it is not recommended for people who suffer from Excessive sweating in the underarms in addition to palmar hyperhidrosis because the under arms can become irritated. Home machines are available but they can be fairly expensive.

Because of all these reasons, iontophoresis is not usually prescribed for people with chronic palmar hyperhidrosis. As Iontophoresis is much more difficult to administer a topical solution on the sweaty hands without it being wiped away, anti-perspirants are only partly effective for Palmar hyperhidrosis as well. Surgery is often performed on people suffering from palmar hyperhidrosis—especially if it is combined with other types of excessive sweating in the face, neck, or underarms.