Treatment for excessive sweating found

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 (UPI) -- A Washington meeting of skin doctors has focused on treatments for excessive sweating, a chronic ailment affecting approximately eight million U.S. citizens.

The weekend meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology considered research from St. Louis University scientists who said results of a Phase III clinical study using botulinum toxin type A to treat excessive underarm sweating, or "hyperhidrosis," were promising.

Dee Anna Glaser of St. Louis University, said, "The results of this 52-week study using botulinum toxin type A treatment are very exciting because they mean that we are that much closer to having the first truly effective, non-surgical treatment available to meet the needs of patients who suffer from primary axillary hyperhidrosis."

Participants in the conference also heard evidence of the seriousness of hyperhidrosis. One study found that the effect of hyperhidrosis is similar to or greater than more commonly known conditions, such as acne and psoriasis.

The study compared scores from the Dermatology Life Quality Index across a range of dermatological diseases.