Sweaty Palms: Treatment, Procedure, Cost and Side Effects

The excessive sweating of feet, hands, palms and armpit is called Hyperhydrosis. Sweaty palms medically known as Palmar Hyperhidrosis is a physical condition where the person experiences uncontrollable and excessive sweating in the palms and hands. This condition is developed during adolescence and around 2% of the population suffers from this condition.

The first line of defense against sweaty palms is an antiperspirant that is easily available. Some antiperspirant is only given by prescription. Anticholinergic drugs are also used to inhibit the transmission of parasympathetic nerve impulses. The next in line treatment is Iontophoresis where a painless current is passed to treat the condition. Botox treatment is another alternative for sweaty palms. Surgery is the last resort in treating sweaty palms. Endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS) is done in most extreme cases.

The treatment of sweaty palms is done according to the condition diagnosed. In most cases where the condition is minorn antiperspirants are used effectively with positive results. Some Antiperspirants contain aluminum chloride that plugs the sweat glands to overcome the condition. Anticholinergic drugs are very effective in inhibiting the transmission of parasympathetic nerve impulses and can treat sweaty palms in as low as two o three weeks. Iontophoresis is the process in which the patient’s hands are submerged in water and a painless electric current is passed repeatedly for up to 30 minutes. Botox injections or Botolinum toxin is injected in the palm which blocks the nerves that triggers sweat glands. Endoscopic surgery or ETS is done in most extreme cases. In this process the nerves receptors are permanently cut disabling them to carry any messages to the sweat glands.

Sweating is normal in humid conditions and under situations that makes you nervous. But if you find your palms sweating every time without any physical and mental trigger then you need to consult a doctor. In most cases it is treated by antiperspirant and anticholinergics drugs.

If you have sweaty palms in certain conditions such as extreme humidity or moisture during winter cold then you are not eligible for the treatment. The condition is only when you perspire throughout the year and that too excessively.

the side effects of antiperspirant and drugs are minimal and almost negligible. Iontophoresis also has very minimal temporary side effects such as itching and dryness that can be treated using moisturizers. However if your condition is treated by botox implant or endoscopic surgery (ETS) then the risk of side effects increases. If the botox goes slightly deeper than the targeted sweat glands, there is a high chance of hand weakness forever. In case of ETS, the most prominent side effects is compensatory sweating that is the excessive sweating of back, thighs, abdomen and lower legs. Other risks associated with ETS are fatigue, hair loss, weight gain, hypotension, arrhythmia and heat intolerance.

There is a lot of things that can trigger the condition of sweaty palms which have to be taken care of even after the treatment. Some of the basic and most common post treatment guidelines are avoiding synthetic clothing, using armpit shields and pads, wearing leather shoes and thick socks made of natural fiber. Keeping away from excessive heat if you have a botox implant. In case of ETS, the first couple of weeks you will have compensatory sweating and you need to take care of that by keeping yourself hydrated all the time. In case of major surgeries you would be prescribed for complete bed rest for 2 to 3 weeks.

Sweaty palms develop mostly in adolescence and are generally part of the growing cycle. Minor conditions that are treated by antiperspirant and drugs generally take around a couple of months to cure. In some severe cases, it can take as long as 6 months and even more. However, redeveloping the condition is treated as completely new. Botox implant and ETS are known for instantly treating this condition or maximum time period of 2 to 3 weeks.

the price of the treatment depend on your condition and the mode of treatment. For minor hyperhydrosis, antiperspirants and drugs are available starting at INR 200. However, if you want to consult a doctor first before opting for treatment then the consultation cost also starts at INR 200 and can go up to INR 2000 depending on the doctor and the city. For botox implant and iontophoresis the price range may vary between INR 5000 to INR 50000. The most expensive is the ETS that can cost you a whooping INR 2 lakhs at least and can also go up.

the results of all the treatments of sweaty palm are mostly permanent with more than 90% success rate. However, in some cases it is seen that the patient redevelops those conditions after a certain period of time. That is not the ineffectiveness of the treatment but the severe case of hyperhydrosis that needs regular treatment after a time gap in order to keep in check the condition.

there are a lot of home remedies that can be used to cure sweaty palms. Some of the most effective remedies are baking soda, apple cider vinegar, cornstarch, lemon juice and activated charcoal. You can also opt for Ayurvedic remedies that cures sweaty palms, some of which are eating water soaked raisin on empty stomach and coriander, having amla powder with ghee etc. there are also homeopathic treatment as well which includes high intake of sulphur, calcaera carbonica, silica and lycopodium.