An overwhelming majority of our 3 to 4 million sweat glands are in our palms and soles of the feet, so it is no wonder we get sweaty palms. Sweating is our body’s natural sympathetic nervous response to stress or anxiety and to regulate body temperature. With palmar hyperhidrosis, patients can experience excessive sweating hands even when they are not stressed.
What causes sweaty palms in a portion of the population may be related to a genetic predisposition. In contrast, others may have an underlying medical condition or metabolic disease such as diabetes. Palmar hyperhidrosis is a chronic condition that can hinder your ability to perform the simplest everyday tasks, such as typing and writing.
Sweating can start suddenly, and the palms of the hands become cold and wet and may appear pale to blush in colour, with visible droplets of sweat. In some cases, there is swelling around individual fingers. Symptoms usually co-occur in both hands and are not associated with other conditions or stressful events.
It is a misnomer that sweaty palms afflict both men and women disproportionately; women seek medical treatment more often than men. The condition usually starts around age 25 or earlier if someone has palmar and axillary hyperhidrosis, as symptoms may appear during childhood or adolescence.
A qualified healthcare professional can diagnose palmar hyperhidrosis by the patient’s symptoms and a physical examination.
Sweaty palms can be treated minimally-invasive and on an outpatient basis. The several methods for surgical treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis include cutting or clipping the affected nerve or resecting the nerve.
At Neumark Lung & Chest Surgical Centre, our surgeons perform video-assisted surgery and thoracoscopic sympathectomy for palmar hyperhidrosis treatment in Singapore. A video scope is placed between the ribs, and the affected nerve is cauterised. Video-assisted operations for sweaty palms have an extremely high success rate.
The physiological process that causes sweaty palms and feet is a sympathetic nervous system response mechanism triggered by temperature changes, emotions, or, in the case of palmoplantar hyperhidrosis, even when there are no external stressors.
Palmar hyperhidrosis is subjective to each patient. Much like any other medical condition, the severity of your condition will be discussed, and a recommendation for treatment will be suggested following a consultation with our surgeons. Your case may be moderate or severe enough for you to seek information about the condition. If conservative measures do not show improvement, a surgical approach may be the next step in your journey toward a better quality of life without sweaty palms.
Video-assisted thoracoscopic sympathectomy is a minimally-invasive procedure that involves removing parts of the sympathetic nerve chain. Video-assisted surgery interrupts signals from the nerves, which generally cause sweaty hands and feet.
Some patients may experience a temporary increase in hand sweating after plantar hyperhidrosis surgery as the procedure interrupts nerve signals that require time to adjust to new pathways.
DISCLAIMER: The information provided on this website is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The use of this website does not create a doctor-patient relationship and no medical advice should be inferred or assumed. It is the user’s sole responsibility to seek the advice of their healthcare professionals for any medical concerns they may have and the user should not disregard, or delay, prompt medical advice for any such condition.
Neumark Lung and Chest Surgery Centre benefits from the expertise of a multidisciplinary team led by Dr Harish Mithiran, senior consulting thoracic surgeon at Gleneagles Hospital.
Neumark is a lung specialist centre with access to leading treatment modalities to achieve the best possible outcomes for lung disease and preventative patient screening. Our foremost priority is to treat your condition as effectively as possible. Schedule a private consultation today; complete the form below, call, +65 6908 2145; WhatsApp, +65 9726 2485; or email, info@neumarksurgery.com.
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Neumark Lung & Chest Surgery Centre
6 Napier Rd
#02-09 Gleneagles Medical Centre
Singapore 258499
Neumark Lung & Chest Surgery Centre benefits from the expertise of a multidisciplinary surgical team led by Dr Harish Mithiran, a senior consulting thoracic surgeon at Gleneagles Hospital.
With access to leading minimally-invasive treatment modalities for lung disease and chest conditions, our specialists in Singapore work to achieve the best possible outcomes for lung disease. Our foremost priority is to treat your condition as effectively as possible with world-class care.
6 Napier Road
#02-09 Gleneagles Medical Centre
Singapore 258499
Neumark Lung & Chest Surgery Centre Pte. Ltd. | UEN 202136971R
6 Napier Road
#02-09 Gleneagles Medical Centre
Singapore 258499
