Surgery Improves Quality of Life in Hyperhidrosis Sufferers

A new study has found suction-curettage is an effective, minimally invasive surgery option capable of significantly improving quality of life in patients suffering from focal axillary hyperhidrosis.

Researchers at Ruhr-University Bochum (Germany) assessed quality of life before and up to nine months after suction-curettage in 51 patients with excessive axillary sweating. Before treatment, the median score was 12, with a range of nine to 18 on the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). Nine months following suction-curettage, a significant decrease of the DLQI score was observed, with a median score of 4 and a range of 2-8. This represents a relative reduction and improvement of the DLQI score of 63.4%. Thirty-five patients (68.6%) reported a sweat reduction of 75% or more and 13 reported a 50% to 75% sweat reduction. The study was published in the August 2007 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

"Patient satisfaction with the surgical procedure was high, with 78.4% of the patients being very or completely satisfied with suction-curettage,” said lead author Dr. Falk G. Bechara, from the department of dermatology and allergology. "Suction-curettage is a good therapeutic option that may improve quality of life for these patients.”

Focal axillary hyperhidrosis is a medical condition characterized by abnormally increased perspiration in the axillas (armpits). Sufferers feel at a loss of control because perspiration takes place independent of temperature and emotional state.


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Ruhr-University Bochum