Summer Hits South Africa; Hyperhidrosis Sufferers Feel the Heat

 
For several weeks we've been under a blanket of snow here at IHHS headquarters. Surrounded by all this white stuff, it's been easy to forget that people in the Southern Hemisphere are currently bathing in the heat of summer. Still, we know that the summer months are often the most challenging for people with hyperhidrosis. When temperatures soar, it becomes even more difficult to manage excessive sweating; not only because of the increased heat, but also because concealing the evidence of sweat under layers of clothing becomes conspicuous and unreasonable.

Regardless of the season or the location of your home address, if you suffer with hyperhidrosis you need solutions for every day of the year. But since hyperhidrosis sufferers in the Southern Hemisphere are currently experiencing the trials of summer, we want to highlight the current state of hyperhidrosis care in countries below the equator.

This recent note from a sufferer in Johannesburg, South Africa expresses some of the common feelings of helplessness that set in when excessive sweating starts to disrupt even the simplest of everyday tasks:

"I was recently on Google trying to find a doctor or any products that can assist me with sweating and I came across you're [sic] website. I hope that I will get the help that I need. This excessive sweating is messing up my life: I cannot wear light-colored garments because whenever I sweat, it shows through. I cannot wear the same shoes twice and, like others, when I have to meet new people, I cannot shake hands. My hands are always dripping with sweat, not to mention my armpits. It is a disaster and I am so frustrated about this situation. I desperately need help; please advise me were [sic] to go."

Fortunately, the IHHS is made up of an international network of dermatological professionals who are dedicated to staying up-to-date on the latest in hyperhidrosis care. This network continues to grow and spread into all corners of the world. (For instance, the IHHS founders and board member will give a presentation at the 22nd World Congress of Dermatology in Seoul, Korea on May 26, 2011. This will provide a very important opportunity for IHHS make more connections in Asia.)

We contacted Johannesburg, South Africa dermatologist and hyperhidrosis expert Izolda Heydenrych, MD, a dedicated doctor who is a very active participant in improving hyperhidrosis treatments, to get the current status of hyperhidrosis care in South Africa.

"The state of hyperhidrosis care is improving steadily here," says Dr. Heydenrych. "This is due not only to the work of the IHHS, which is increasingly Googled by patients, but also, interestingly, to the increasing attention that treatments, like Botox, are receiving from journalists."

A good way to gauge a medical professional's hyperhidrosis knowledge and expertise is by examining the status of ETS surgery in a local medical community. ETS is a major surgery that cuts or blocks the transmission of nerve signals that result in excessive sweating. ETS has fallen out of favor as a treatment option over the past decade and most experienced dermatologists recommend it only as a last resort because its major side effect--compensatory sweating--is often worse than the original sweating problem. Sadly, once ETS is performed, the results -- and side effects -- are usually irreversible.

We asked Dr. Heydenrych to gauge the current status of ETS as a treatment option within his medical community in South Africa. "Surgeons are increasingly positive towards the non-surgical treatments for hyperhidrosis, and I have several surgeons who regularly refer patients to me for non-surgical treatment options. I think within the medical community, a lot of information is learned through simple word-of-mouth."

Over the years, the IHHS has been able to establish wonderful relationships with doctors and other healthcare providers around the world who are dedicated to learning (and sharing) all the latest information and techniques to treat hyperhidrosis patients. We want nothing more than for patients in the IHHS community to avail themselves of these human resources.

If you are a new member of the IHHS, you can begin by looking for an expert in hyperhidrosis care in your part of the world. Pay a visit to the IHHS's Physician Finder Directory; it's full of healthcare providers from around the world who treat hyperhidrosis. For a physician who has completed one of the IHHS's highly regarded hyperhidrosis treatment seminars (as Dr. Heydenrych has), look for the little gold star next to his or her name.

Healthcare providers who want to improve their hyperhidrosis treatment skills this year, should look at the IHHS's 2011 academic calendar for a schedule of continuing medical education seminars. These highly regarded sessions impart all there is to know about treating excessive sweating (including live-patient demonstrations). Classes typically sell out quickly, so stay tuned for registration information in the coming months.