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Remedy for Sweaty Palms

Hyperhidrosis, or the condition that causes excessively sweaty palms, feet and armpits, can cause daily embarrassment and difficulty for sufferers. In the instance of excessively sweaty palms (which is known as palmoplantar hyperhidrosis), hyperhidrosis can result in difficulty holding objects and shaking hands.

  1. What Causes Sweaty Palms?

    • Sweaty palms can be due to a number of factors, including symptoms associated with a neurologic or metabolic condition (such as diabetes), emotional triggers, or genetic makeup (such as a more concentrated number of sweat glands). Eating and drinking certain substances, such as those containing caffeine and nicotine, also may trigger sweating.

      Patients experiencing hyperhidrosis of the hands will typically not only have sweating and dripping of the hands, but they also may have enlarged, sensitive or chapped hands during the winter. Because the condition often affects a person's psychological well being, it is important to seek treatment.

    Conservative Treatment Options

    • Upon being diagnosed with hyperhidrosis and depending on the degree to which the patient suffers, a physician may first recommend conservative treatment options, including:

      • A prescription-strength aluminum chloride solution that when applied works similar to an antiperspirant. The topical solution is applied to the hands and prevents excessive sweating.

      • Iontophoresis, which is a treatment method where a person places his hands in water that is charged with an electrical current. The current removes sodium and chloride molecules (which are produced when a person sweats) from the hands.

      • Aticholinergic medications, which are designed to block the nervous system's signals for sweat production. These medications have been shown to lower or even stop sweating.

      • Botulinum toxin injections to reduce sweating, although this has not been FDA approved for the treatment of sweaty palms.

    Surgical Options

    • When conservative methods fail, some physicians may recommend a surgery known as endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy. During this operation, a surgeon uses instruments inserted through the chest to pinpoint and destroy a portion of the nerves that supply the skin's sweat glands.

      Although the treatment has proven very effective, there are numerous dangers associated with this surgery. The lung must be deflated in order to get the best view of the nerves, and the procedure could result in excessive sweating being redirected to other parts of the body as well as nerve-damage-related problems. The surgery is permanent and is often only performed as a last resort.

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