Iontophoresis – Treatment Of Hyperhidrosis
Hyperhidrosis is the condition of excessive sweating beyond the normal for the regulation of body temperature. It is a disorder that is associated with the εκκρινείς sweat glands, which are located throughout the surface of the body.
The αποκρινείς glands are located in parts of the body with a high concentration of hair follicles, such as the armpit and genital area.
The classification of hyperhidrosis has been done in several ways, the most common approach, however, sets it apart in idiopathic and pathological hyperhidrosis.
The idiopathic defined as excessive sweating, which is symmetric and localized on the palms, soles, or armpits, and this happens regardless of the setting of the temperature of the body.
TREATMENT
Treatment Options Focus on Botulinum Toxin And Iontophoresis
The use of botulinum toxin is recommended for the treatment of axillary hyperhidrosis as well as palmar and solear hyperhidrosis. A single injection session is enough to reduce sweat secretion by over 80% and the duration of action of the drug is usually 6-9 months.
The injections are well tolerated, without any anesthesia at the level of the armpit. In the palms we first numbing cream or ice or κρυοαπωθητικό spray. The soles of the feet, the injection is more painful, and sometimes required stem anesthesia.
Iontophoresis is used to treat hyperhidrosis of the palms, soles, and armpits. During iontophoresis, the person with hyperhidrosis immerses their palms (or soles) in two basins containing tap water without any medicinal substances (for the armpits, special electrodes are made that come into contact with the skin through wet gauze).
The two poles of the electrical source are placed in these basins and set to generate a current of 10-25 mA. The current is allowed to pass for 15-30 minutes. After a few procedures, hyperhidrosis is significantly reduced and after 10-12 procedures it stops completely. The procedure disrupts the function of the sweat glands without destroying them and causes temporary alteration of some proteins necessary for their function. No permanent damage is caused and after a while the function returns to normal. The treatment needs to be repeated about once a week until hyperhidrosis is completely eliminated. The number of sessions required ranges from 4 to 8.