Hyperhidrosis

This update summarizes current concepts, relevance, and therapeutics in psychodermatology, including aspects pertinent to depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive, impulse-control, and delusional disorders as described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)

An overview and update of diagnostics and devices introduced in 2011: HPV RNA detection kit APTIMA® HPV Assay, HPV DNA detection kit cobas® HPV Test cobas® 4800 System, Microwave-based device (miraDry®) for hyperhydrosis and many more drugs and devices are covered.

Primary focal hyperhidrosis afflicts a significant number of patients in the United States and greatly impacts their quality of life. Treatment decisions should take into consideration disease location, severity and patient preference.

For most patients, antiperspirants containing aluminium salts are the first-line treatments. Other therapeutic options, especially for those with hyperhidrosis, include botulinum toxin injection, systemic anticholinergics, iontophoresis and surgery.

Hyperhidrosis is characterized by sweating in excess of the physiological needs to maintain thermal homeostasis. No formal definition exists but for practical purposes any degree of sweating that interferes with activities of daily living, can be viewed as hyperhidrosis. This disease is much more common than once thought and greatly impacts upon quality of life (QOL).