Preparing for Your Appointment

People with hyperhidrosis sometimes find it difficult to talk about the condition and its effects on daily life. Even when they do talk about it, people suffering from excessive sweating may feel like no one is listening. By doing a little preparation, however, you can help ensure that your doctor or other healthcare providers will listen to you, will understand how the condition affects you, and will help you find the hyperhidrosis treatment option (or options)  best for you.
 

One way to prepare for your medical visit is to do as much research about hyperhidrosis and currently available treatments as you can. You can start by reading this entire site. It’s full of in-depth, reliable, and balanced information. We even have a library with published medical and clinical studies about hyperhidrosis and hyperhidrosis treatments. We encourage you to dive into these articles when doing your research so you can feel empowered to manage your health. You may also want to consider speaking with a dermatology specialist (a healthcare provider who is specially trained to diagnose and treat skin conditions). Dermatologists and other dermatology healthcare providers (like PAs and NPs) are often more educated about hyperhidrosis. Their knowledge of excessive sweating is due, in part, to the American Academy of Dermatology educational programs on the subject, and the International Hyperhidrosis Society symposia, which many dermatology providers participate in. To help you find a medical professional who is familiar with hyperhidrosis, we've created a unique, hyperhidrosis-focused Clinician Finder (but it's not just MDs, you'll find DOs, DPMs, PAs, and NPs listed, too.) This healthcare provider database is your source for information on clinicians who treat hyperhidrosis.

Plan Ahead

To help make your medical appointment more productive, we've compiled a list of things to think about and do before you go.

  • When evaluating your excessive sweating problem, your healthcare provider will probably have questions about when you developed the condition. Think back: how old were you when you first noticed your excessive sweating?

  • Your healthcare provider will also want to know how much you sweat and how it affects your daily activities. It’s important for your clinician to know if you believe that your excessive sweating requires treatment beyond the antiperspirants you can buy at the drugstore. 

  • Visit our Diagnosing Hyperhidrosis page. Print the worksheet provided and write down your answers to its questions. Bring the worksheet to your appointment and use it to help explain how hyperhidrosis impacts your life.

  • Next, gather information on all the treatments you use or have used. These treatments may include antiperspirants, deodorants, and powders, as well as herbal or “natural” remedies. Think about how these products have worked, or not worked, for you. Make a list of these treatments along with information about their level of effectiveness.

  • Print this Hyperhidrosis History Questionnaire prior to your scheduled appointment and write down your answers to help your healthcare team better understand your sweating situation and any treatments you may have already tried.  Share the completed questionnaire with your healthcare provider to make your appointment more efficient.
  • To help your medical professional determine your health risks, your genetic tendency toward hyperhidrosis, or whether you have any medical conditions that can cause secondary hyperhidrosis, note whether you or anyone in your family suffers from diabetes, anxiety disorders, or excessive sweating. Also, note the areas of your body affected by excessive sweating, such as hands, feet, underarms, head, or face. If you experience excessive sweating in any of these areas, you may have focal hyperhidrosis. The treatments described on this site are for focal hyperhidrosis. If you sweat excessively over much or all of your body, you may have generalized hyperhidrosis, which requires different types of treatment. Your healthcare provider will determine which type of excessive sweating you have and how to proceed.

  • Plan ahead and maximize your chances of receiving reimbursement or insurance coverage for hyperhidrosis treatments by reading our Insurance Tools section. Be sure to print out and bring along our Sample Letter of Medical Necessity. Your healthcare provider or his/her office staff can use this document to inform your insurance company of your need for hyperhidrosis treatment, of the treatments that you've already tried, and of the treatment that he or she is recommending.

  • Ask a friend or loved one to come with you to your appointment. They can help you remember to ask all of your questions, take notes, and request clearer explanations if things get confusing. And, of course, they can offer support and understanding in a situation that can sometimes feel overwhelming.

And remember, we are here to help, too. Just send us an email at Info@SweatHelp.org or visit our FacebookTwitter and Instagram pages.


Print   Email