Nonsurgical Management of Hyperhidrosis

Affecting up to 3% of the United States population, hyperhidrosis (HH) is a condition defined by excessive sweat secretion. HH is a physical disease that can have a severe negative impact on a patient's quality of life with respect to occupational, personal, and social relationships. It is imperative to diagnose patients who have HH immediately and to treat them effectively. Given the potential complications of surgery, nonsurgical modalities are considered first. This article reviews in detail the conservative and nonsurgical options for HH management, which include topical agents, oral medications, iontophoresis, and botulinum toxin injections. It also reviews the current suggested use of these therapies according to disease severity and distribution.