eMedicine Specialties > Dermatology > Diseases of the Adnexa

Hyperhidrosis: Follow-up

Author: Robert A Schwartz, MD, MPH, Professor and Head, Dermatology, Professor of Pathology, Pediatrics, Medicine, and Preventive Medicine and Community Health, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School
Coauthor(s): Rachel Altman, MD, Staff Physician, Department of Dermatology, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School; George Kihiczak, MD, Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Dermatology, New Jersey Medical School and University Hospital
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: May 29, 2009

Follow-up

Further Inpatient Care

  • Sympathectomy requires an inpatient stay.

Further Outpatient Care

  • Many of the treatment options require repeat visits to the dermatologist for continuing care (eg, repeated botulinum injections, refill prescriptions) and for evaluating therapeutic progress.

Complications

  • Severe cases of hyperhidrosis may adversely affect the patient's quality of life by causing great emotional distress, social embarrassment, and work-related disability (due to palmoplantar hyperhidrosis).
  • Palmoplantar sweating may result in irritation of the affected skin, ultimately leading to chafing.
  • Axillary hyperhidrosis may be malodorous, causing social embarrassment. 

Prognosis

  • Hyperhidrosis is difficult to treat effectively.
  • With the newer treatment modalities now available, the patient has numerous options and is offered a better prognosis.

Patient Education

  • Patients should be educated regarding all of the treatment options, including their corresponding complications and costs.
  • For excellent patient education resources, visit eMedicine's Procedures Center. Also, see eMedicine's patient education article BOTOX® Injections.

Miscellaneous

Medicolegal Pitfalls

  • The failure to search for systemic causes for hyperhidrosis with an onset later in life is a pitfall.
  • The failure to search for systemic causes of generalized hyperhidrosis is a pitfall.
  • The failure to recognize underlying conditions is a pitfall that may result in unnecessary patient discomfort and ineffective treatment. Correction of underlying conditions may resolve hyperhidrosis.
 


More on Hyperhidrosis

Overview: Hyperhidrosis
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Hyperhidrosis
Treatment & Medication: Hyperhidrosis
Follow-up: Hyperhidrosis
References
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Further Reading

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Keywords

hyperhidrosis, excessive sweating, palmoplantar hyperhidrosis, emotionally induced hyperhidrosis, generalized hyperhidrosis, localized hyperhidrosis, palmoplantar sweating, axillary hyperhidrosis, nocturnal hyperhidrosis

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Robert A Schwartz, MD, MPH, Professor and Head, Dermatology, Professor of Pathology, Pediatrics, Medicine, and Preventive Medicine and Community Health, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School
Robert A Schwartz, MD, MPH is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American College of Physicians, and Sigma Xi
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Rachel Altman, MD, Staff Physician, Department of Dermatology, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School
Rachel Altman, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha and Sigma Xi
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

George Kihiczak, MD, Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Dermatology, New Jersey Medical School and University Hospital
George Kihiczak, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, and Medical Society of New Jersey
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Catharine Lisa Kauffman, MD, FACP, Georgetown Dermatology and Georgetown Dermpath
Catharine Lisa Kauffman, MD, FACP is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, Royal Society of Medicine, Society for Investigative Dermatology, and Women's Dermatologic Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Michael J Wells, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Dermatology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
Michael J Wells, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, and Texas Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

Lester F Libow, MD, Dermatopathologist, South Texas Dermatopathology Laboratory
Lester F Libow, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Society of Dermatopathology, and Texas Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Catherine Quirk, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, Brown University
Catherine Quirk, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha and American Academy of Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Dirk M Elston, MD, Director, Department of Dermatology, Geisinger Medical Center
Dirk M Elston, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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