Armpit sweatingor as it’s known as axillary sweating is another form of localized excessive sweating. It can be associated with palmar hyperhidrosis (hand sweating) in about 40% of the cases or it can be presented on its own as isolated focal axillary hyperhidrosis.

The armpit area has two types of sweat glands, eccrine and apocrine glands. The eccrine glands will be affected by sympathectomy and not so for the apocrine glands. For those patients who have the armpit sweating together with the hand sweating sympathectomy will help in about 80 to 90% of the cases. Never the less Dr. Reisfeld does not recommend sympathectomy for patients who suffer from isolated axillary hyperhidrosis.

Surgical Treatment of Armpit Sweating

If a person suffers from combined excessive sweating of the hands and feet then the most effective surgical approach is the endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS) procedure. For this unique type of excessive sweating the ETS procedure has a high success rate. ETS is not recommended for cases where the person only suffers from excessive armpit sweating.

Currently the preferred method to treat isolated cases of excessive armpit sweating (known as axillary hyperhidrosis) is a surgical procedure called axillary suction currettage. In this procedure the inner layer of the armpit area is curated. This is a minimally invasive outpatient procedure with a minimal amount of discomfort and pain following the procedure. This pain and discomfort is temporary in nature.

Causes of Armpit Sweating:

Excessive armpit sweating is due to the overstimulation of the sweat glands in the armpit region. The overstimulation originates in the sympathetic chain but other factors can play a role such as food, weight, psychological or simple anxiety.

How Armpit Sweating is Diagnosed

Excessive sweating in the armpit area is a subjective matter that can be seen by the patients or by people surrounding them. Excessive sweating or hyperhidrosis to any given part of the body is defined as sweating beyond the physiological needs of the patient. Patients should consult with their physician to see what can be done. Also see the conservative treatments in the left column.

Side effects after the surgery such as pain, discomfort, swelling, fluid accumulation are temporary and can be dealt with easily.