Treatment of Hyperhidrosis: An Update

Patient satisfaction after miraDry® treatment for axillary hyperhidrosis. Results of an online patient survey after miraDry® treatment to reduce excessive axillary sweating

Hyperhidrosis, with a prevalence of 1 to 2% of the population, primarily affects young people under 40 years of age. The individually perceived burden of odor and amount of sweat leads to a reduced quality of life. In recent years, conservative and surgical measures have been used to treat hyperhidrosis. The miraDry® method based on microwave technology is a non-invasive treatment that enables comparable results in terms of effectiveness while at the same time reducing the burden. In the Park-Klinik Birkenwerder, 282 hyperhidrosis patients were treated with the miraDry® method between 2017 and 2024. An online survey was conducted in May and June 2024. 220 patients were contacted, the results of 80 patients are available (response rate: 36.4%). Changes in the restrictions caused by increased sweating in various areas of life were asked before and after the treatment. In addition, the assessment of general quality of life before and after the treatment was compared. There is a significant reduction in restrictions and a corresponding increase in quality of life after treatment with miraDry®. Satisfaction with the method is high, which is reflected in a high recommendation rate of over 80%.

Epidemiological insights into thoracic and lumbar sympathectomies in Brazil: a comparative analysis of open versus video-assisted procedures

PURPOSE

To investigate the profile of hospital admissions for sympathectomies performed in the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS), comparing open and video-assisted techniques.

METHODS

Data on sympathectomies were collected from the SUS Department of Informatics (DATASUS), recorded between 2014 and 2023. The data were tabulated, and descriptive statistics and correlation analyses were performed.

RESULTS

There was reduction in the number of admissions for all sympathectomies during the analyzed period. The use of video-assisted surgeries was higher than that of open surgeries for thoracic procedures, but lower for lumbar procedures. The costs of hospital admission for the procedures were similar, although the length of stay and mortality associated with open surgeries were higher, both in thoracic and lumbar sympathectomies.

CONCLUSIONS

The collected data were not individualized, preventing follow-up. Additionally, the study did not account for procedures performed in the private healthcare system. Despite its limitations, this study provides an overview of sympathectomies in Brazil, indicating that, although open sympathectomies are potentially more disadvantageous, they are still widely performed, especially for lumbar procedures.

Botulinum toxin as an effective treatment for persistent twitching in first toe: a detailed case study

Continuous fasciculation that occurs without weakness is referred to as benign fasciculation. Although generally considered non-threatening, cases that persist can significantly impact an individual's quality of life. This study presents a case of a male patient in his 30s experiencing unyielding twitching localized to the sole of his left foot for 2 years. His medical history was devoid of any notable neuromuscular diseases. Results from electromyography testing were also normal for all parameters. Attempts with pharmacological intervention did not yield any improvement of his condition. Although a nerve block targeting the left tibial nerve managed to reduce the severity of the twitching, it failed to decrease its frequency or provide a lasting solution. In search of a more effective treatment, botulinum toxin was administered via ultrasound guidance into the flexor hallucis and digitorum longus muscles. This approach resulted in a marked reduction in both the frequency and severity of the twitching, enabling the patient to resume his daily activities and achieve restful sleep without experiencing any adverse effects. Through this case, the efficacy of botulinum toxin injections as a treatment for intractable twitching is underscored, offering valuable insights into potential therapeutic strategies for similar clinical presentations.

Cluster Analysis Identifies Clinical Phenotypes of Primary Hyperhidrosis

INTRODUCTION

Identifying subgroups of patients with primary hyperhidrosis (PHH) can improve the understanding of the disease pathophysiology. The study objective was to determine the naturally occurring subgroups of patients with PHH based on clinical characteristics.

METHODS

In this retrospective cohort study, data were collected from participants included in a clinical trial. The data were collected between January 2020 and June 2021 from outpatients with PHH attending a dermatologic department in Denmark. Overall, 84 patients with PHH were screened for inclusion in the clinical trial. Of these, 41 met the eligibility criteria. Four participants were excluded because of missing data. The main outcome was the identification of subgroups of patients with PHH using an unsupervised hierarchical cluster analysis.

RESULTS

Overall, 37 patients were included {28 (76.7%) females; median age at inclusion 28.0 (interquartile range [IQR] 24.0-38.3); median body mass index 24.9 (IQR 20.9-27.4); median age of onset 13.0 (IQR 9.5-18.5); and 26 (70.3%) had a familial disposition toward PHH}. Two clusters of 18 and 17 patients were identified. The first cluster had, when compared to the second, a younger age of onset (median age 11.0 [IQR 0-13.0] vs. 17.0 [IQR 15.0-21.0], p = 0.003) and higher sweat rates on gravimetry (median 175.0 [IQR 121.2-252.5] vs. 40.0 [IQR 20.0-60.0] milligrams of sweat/5 min, p < 0.001) and transepidermal water loss (median 93.7 [IQR 91.2-97.8] vs. 59.0 [IQR 44.4-73.2] g/m2/h, p < 0.001). No differences were observed for the other variables.

CONCLUSIONS

This study identifies 2 subgroups of patients with PHH. The patients with an onset of PHH during childhood had a substantially higher sweat and evaporation rate in adulthood than those with an onset during adolescence. These findings may imply a changed understanding of the pathophysiology of PHH, by indicating that an early disease onset can lead to a worse disease course.

Impostor phenomenon is a common feature among individuals with primary hyperhidrosis

Background

Primary hyperhidrosis consists of excessive focal sweating. Affected individuals camouflage the sweating on their body, avoiding stigmatisation. Hence, misrepresentation in social interactions is a common feature in patients with hyperhidrosis. The aim of this study was to investigate impostor phenomenon, perfectionism, self-compassion, stress and anxiety among individuals with primary hyperhidrosis.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted at our clinic among 100 participants with axillary and palmar primary hyperhidrosis. The questionnaire contained a hyperhidrosis part and Perceived Stress Scale-4, Generalised Anxiety Disorder Scale-2, Clinical Perfectionism Questionnaire-6, Self-Compassion Scale Short form and Clance Impostor Phenomenon Scale. Descriptive statistics was used for analyses of categorical variables. As data were normally distributed independent t-test and one-way analysis of variance with post hoc Tukey test were used to compare the mean values for the questionnaires with other variables. Pearson's correlation was used, and a forward multiple linear regression model was performed to predict presence of impostor phenomenon with gender, age and other scales in this study.

Results

Impostor phenomenon occurred in almost half of our patients (48%) with hyperhidrosis. While feelings of impostor phenomenon were more common in women, there was no difference between gender regarding its intensity levels (p = 0.07). In addition, we found a significant (p < 0.001) negative correlation between impostor phenomenon and self-compassion, while feelings of impostoer phenomenon increased with stress, anxiety and perfectionism (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Feelings of impostor phenomenon was found in 48% of individuals with hyperhidrosis which indicates that it is a common feature in this patient group. Future research is warranted regarding the prevalence of impostor phenomenon in hyperhidrosis and other medical conditions, among men and women, seeking medical healthcare. Psychological interventions in hyperhidrosis may be beneficial both for the individual and in public health, by facilitating management of patients' daily lives and saving considerable resources in healthcare regarding pharmacological interventions and medical consultations.