Excessive sweating or hyperhidrosis is caused by a dysfunction in the sympathetic nerve chain. A patient suffering from hyperhidrosis will find himself sweating beyond the physiological need of the body to maintain a regulated temperature. The Body parts most commonly affected are the hands (Palmer Hyperhidrosis), feet (Planter Hyperhidrosis), face (erthrophobia), and armpits (axillary sweating). Experts have found that there is in fact a genetic component in this condition. In about 40% of the cases there is a family history of hyperhidrosis although not everyone knows of a family member who suffers from this ailment. In cases here there is no family history, the patient may be the first to carry these genes. Regrettably, hyperhidrosis is a life long condition and does not go away without treatment.

Surgical Options

There have been significant advancements in the treatments available to overcome hyperhidrosis. Earlier, surgery to treat this condition was complicated and considered risky. Today, a procedure called Endoscopic Thoracic Sympathectomy (ETS) is available to patients, which claims to offer a life-long solution. This is a minimally invasive procedure done, as the name suggests, endoscopically, on the spinal sympathetic nerves. It is performed on an outpatient basis, which means that the patient returns home the same day. It is extremely precise and the complication rate is very low. There are two methods