BACKGROUND: Primary hyperhidrosis is the disease of production of exessive sweat which is mainly localized in palm, sole, and axilla, treatment of the disease is usually accomplished with topical 20% aluminum chloride solution, an iontophoretic device, and surgery(sympathectomy) being reserved for recalcitrant cases. OBJECTIVE: We have compared the therapeutic effects with each treatments for hyperhidrosis using a skin surface hydrometer. METHODS: Thirty six patients(11 ; male, 25 ; femlale) with primary hyperhidrosis were evaluated in this study. Nineteen patients used topical 20% aluminum chloride solution, 10 patients used iontophoretic device, and 7 patients in recalcitrant cases. had sympathectomy. We have measured the conductance on the stratum corneum of the palm and sole suing skin surface hydrometer before and after treatment every weeks for a month. the control group were composed of healthy 10 males and 2 females. RESULTS: 1) In the patients of primary hyperhidroisis the conductances of palm, sloe and axilla were higher than that of control group(P<0.01). 2. There was a marked reduction of conductance after the treatment for one week by topical 20% aluminum chloride solution, an lontophoretic device, and sympathectomy(P<0.01). 3. After 2-4 week of treatment by the change obsetved after treatment for one week. 4. By iontophoretic device, there was a slight increasement of conductance of the palm after 2-3weeks of treatment. 5. We obseved a sustained decrease in the conductance by sympathectomy into 4 week. CONCLUSION: Topical 20% aluminum chloride solution, iontophoretic device, and sympathectomy were effective for treatment of hyperhirosis. Among hem sympathectomy showed the best effect. We observed that the skin surface hydrometer is useful to evaluate of the efficacy of the treatment.
Aluminum ; Axilla ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperhidrosis* ; Male ; Skin* ; Sweat ; Sympathectomy