Hyperhidrosis is a medical condition which causes excessive sweating in various parts of the body, often to the despair of the sufferer. Hyperhidrosis can be divided up into two subcategories, primary or secondary. Secondary Hyperhidrosis is not evident at birth and seems to appear out of nowhere, usually later in life. It is almost always due to medication reactions or an underlying disease state, and it is often treatable. Primary Hyperhidrosis is the truest form of the condition and evident in early childhood. It is not caused by medication reactions, weight, health status, temperature, or anxiety. Although each of these factors can worsen symptoms, they do not cause the symptoms. Primary Hyperhidrosis is idiopathic (no known cause), and there is no cure. The most common areas for Primary Hyperhidrosis to occur in are the hands, feet, armpits, face, buttocks, or groin. In severe cases sweating can be generalized over the entire body.

Although the condition has no adverse health effects, the impact of chronic excessive sweating can result in significant decreased quality of life. Physicians often grossly underestimate the effect Hyperhidrosis has on a patient's life. Large sweat stains under the armpits or the buttocks can be a source of extreme embarrassment, causing sufferers to be very self-conscious and wear only certain clothes to mask the stains. Sweaty hands and face often give the impression of extreme anxiety or nervousness, causing those with the condition to avoid social interactions. Sweaty hands can also cause an occupational handicap, making it difficult to grasp objects, use electronics, or fill out paperwork. Most sufferers report some degree of impairment in their social, romantic, professional, or academic lives.

Hyperhidrosis affects roughly 2-3% of the U.S. population. For such a common condition there is a significant gap in knowledge or research on the topic. A large portion of sufferers are completely unaware that they have a diagnosable condition, it is often written off as anxiety or hormones. Many patients that do seek out medical help receive inadequate treatment due to the physician's honest lack of knowledge or from the physician's disbelief that the condition is serious. For those remaining that manage to dig out information on the condition, few effective solutions exist. The strongest topical antiperspirants aren't strong enough and oral medications have horrible side effects. Other treatments include painful botox injections and electrical current therapy which is time consuming and difficult to do. In the most severe cases patients may even choose to have a controversial surgery in which nerves are cut in the chest to prevent sweat glands from being activated. This surgery carries a lot of risk and can even increase the amounts of sweat in other areas. All of the current solutions are temporary and or have many side effects, there is no cure.

Being that Hyperhidrosis is a fairly common condition, it is disappointing that there exists such a lack of knowledge or effective treatment. In the age of modern medicine, there is no reason for people to suffer from this debilitating condition. With the right focus and direction more solutions and even a cure are attainable. Please take the time to read through the information provided here: the links, the video, even do your own research. Then sign this petition and help not only to spread awareness but to encourage future research as well. Even if you are not a sufferer, attempt to put yourself in someone else's place and imagine what they go through on a daily basis. It is not through selfishness that we progress as people, but by relating to and helping others. Thank you for your time and participation.

Links:

https://www.sweathelp.org/home/understanding-hyperhidrosis.html

http://www.hyperhidrosisuk.org/

http://www.sweatfree.com.au/know-sweat

https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/dry-sweaty-skin/hyperhidrosis