At the Greenbrae Dermatology, our board-certified dermatologists provide the skilled and experienced professional care needed to diagnose the underlying cause of a patient’s excessive sweating along with the most effective options in care to address the discomfort and embarrassment and physical problems associated with this condition.

What is excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis)?

Hyperhidrosis, which is more commonly known as excessive sweating, affects close to 8 million people nationwide. Although sweating is required to maintain normal body temperature in hot conditions as well as during periods of heightened activity or stress, excessive sweating is a distressing problem that can negatively impact an individual’s overall quality of life with psychological, social, professional, and physical consequences.

The skin contains millions of sweat glands that are designed to regulate body temperature through the evaporation of fluids. Distributed all over the body, sweat glands are activated by nerve signals from the brain that are influenced by thermal and emotional stress as well as physical activity or exercise. Excessive sweating or hyperhidrosis, occurs when the sweat glands repeatedly overreact to stimuli and produce more sweat than necessary. While excessive sweating can affect any area of the body, focal hyperhidrosis is typically localized to either the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, underarms or face.

How is excessive sweating treated?

At Greenbrae Dermatology, we offer several treatment options to address this stressful condition. Depending on the type of excessive sweating, what location in the body is affected, a patient’s overall health and other considerations, treatment is tailored to the unique needs of every case.

With advances in medications and technology, excessive sweating can often be effectively treated with conservative approaches to care such as topical creams, oral medications and Botox®.