The Surgeon
Volume 8, Issue 5 , Pages 287-292, October 2010

Hyperhidrosis: Evolving concepts and a comprehensive review

  • Tobias Vorkamp

      Affiliations

    • Department of Thoracic, Cardiac and Vascular Surgery, University of Goettingen, Germany
    • ,
  • Fung Joon Foo

      Affiliations

    • Department of Vascular Surgery, Royal Lancaster Infirmary, University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust, Ashton Road, Lancaster LA1 4RP, United Kingdom
    • ,
  • Sidra Khan

      Affiliations

    • Department of Vascular Surgery, Royal Lancaster Infirmary, University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust, Ashton Road, Lancaster LA1 4RP, United Kingdom
    • ,
  • Jan D. Schmitto

      Affiliations

    • Department of Thoracic, Cardiac and Vascular Surgery, University of Goettingen, Germany
    • ,
  • Paul Wilson

      Affiliations

    • Department of Vascular Surgery, Royal Lancaster Infirmary, University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust, Ashton Road, Lancaster LA1 4RP, United Kingdom
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: +44 1524 583299; fax: +44 1524 583194.

Received 6 January 2010; received in revised form 28 May 2010; accepted 1 June 2010.

Abstract 

Hyperhidrosis (primary or secondary) describes a disorder of excessive sweating. It has a significant negative impact on quality of life and affects nearly 1% of the population living in the United Kingdom (UK). Axillary involvement is the most common affecting 80% of cases.

A common link to these disorders is an extreme non-thermoregulatory sympathetic stimulus of exocrine sweat glands, mostly due to emotional stimuli. Non-surgical treatment involves topical medication, iontophoresis and systemic anti-cholinergics. More recently the use of intradermal botulinum toxin has gained popularity.

Surgical treatment reserved for severe cases, not responding to conservative management involves local excision, curettage and thoracoscopic sympathectomy. Evolving concepts for treatment, risks and benefits are discussed in the paper herein.

Keywords: Hyperhidrosis, Retrodermal curettage, Subcutaneous botox, Thoracoscopic sympathectomy

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PII: S1479-666X(10)00158-7

doi:10.1016/j.surge.2010.06.002

The Surgeon
Volume 8, Issue 5 , Pages 287-292, October 2010

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