"We believe this work will empower hyperhidrosis sufferers by providing them with a readily accessible tool for assessing their condition," says Paul Kamudoni, a Cardiff University PhD candidate and friend of IHHS. "In addition, the findings from this study will help to improve the diagnosis and clinical management of the condition, and therefore, ultimately, contribute to the improvement in the quality of life of hyperhidrosis patients."

Ideally, 200 people with hyperhidrosis will participate in the survey – but we know that our readers can do better than that. Come on hyperhidrosis community, show these scientists how committed you are to a better quality of life! Join the Hyperhidrosis Quality of Life Study today. The data collected will support the development of a novel health-related quality of life questionnaire specific to hyperhidrosis that can be used in clinical practice to aide diagnosis and management of the condition. Researchers believe this new questionnaire has the potential to bridge patient-physician communication gaps for other conditions as well, particularly ones that might be considered embarrassing.

After all phases of this project are complete, the researchers hope to publish their results in a peer-reviewed dermatology journal. By publishing the data in the medical literature, more doctors will be made aware of quality of life issues related to hyperhidrosis such that diagnosis and appropriate treatment may be improved through deeper understanding of the severity and impact of the condition. This would have a huge impact on awareness in the medical community and possibly even insurance coverage.

Why focus on hyperhidrosis? Because, says Kamudoni "For a condition which is neither painful nor causes massive skin symptoms, except the sweat, the social impacts experienced by patients seem disproportionately severe. Added to the challenge is accessing effective treatments; this means it [hyperhidrosis] is a high medical need, high social impact disease. On the other hand, there isn't a well-designed and refined survey questionnaire to assess the disease impacts while also supporting diagnosis and management of the condition." Soooo, the time is right and the conditions are ripe for improvement -- and you can help. Please participate in the survey today – tell researchers about your quality of life now and it just may help to improve that quality of life later.