[KoK! Health] How to Treat 'Dahanjeung', More Feared in Summer?

Sympathetic Nervous System Imbalance Causes Excessive Sweating
Concerns Over Others' Discomfort Lead to Depression and Social Phobia
Non-Surgical Treatment Using Botox
Surgical Treatment Using Endoscopy Also Possible

Hyperhidrosis reference photo.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] As the summer season approaches in full swing, the fears of patients suffering from 'hyperhidrosis' are also growing. Hyperhidrosis refers to a condition characterized by abnormally excessive sweating.

Hyperhidrosis occurs due to a dysfunction in the sympathetic nervous system distributed in the sweat glands of our body. Excessive sweating causes significant discomfort to the individual and can also cause discomfort to others. Moreover, the sweat and body odor can lead to psychological anxiety, which may result in depression or social phobia.

Treatment for hyperhidrosis is divided into non-surgical and surgical methods. Among non-surgical treatments, the most popular method is Botox therapy. Botox is injected very superficially just below the skin surface to block the sweat glands in the targeted area, thereby stopping sweating.

Botox is effective in treating sweating in relatively small body areas such as the armpits, hands, and feet. When injected into the armpits, it has been shown to reduce sweating by 82-87%. Generally, the effects appear within two weeks of injection, but the duration of effectiveness lasts only about 3 to 6 months, requiring repeated injections afterward, which can be inconvenient.

For patients with severe hyperhidrosis, those whose symptoms persist or recur despite non-surgical treatments, or those who develop complications such as dermatitis, surgical treatment such as single-port sympathectomy may be considered.

Single-port sympathectomy uses thoracoscopic surgery to resect part of the sympathetic nerve that transmits heat loss signals to the hypothalamus, effectively reducing sweat secretion. The location of the sympathetic nerve resection varies depending on the area where symptoms appear. Unlike Botox treatment, the effect of this procedure is permanent.

Single-port sympathectomy is performed using only one 8mm endoscope instead of multiple endoscopes. The incision is less than 1 cm in size, and the surgery is completed within about 10 minutes per site under anesthesia. The procedure offers advantages such as rapid recovery, minimal scarring, and the possibility of retreatment if symptoms recur after other treatments.

Yoon Kang-jun, Chief Director of Gangnam Bedro Hospital (Neurosurgery Specialist), explained, "Single-port sympathectomy blocks the 4th thoracic sympathetic nerve (T4), minimizing compensatory hyperhidrosis and side effects. Non-surgical treatments such as topical ointments and Botox may provide temporary symptom relief but cannot offer a fundamental cure. It is necessary to consult with an experienced neurosurgeon and consider surgical treatments like single-port sympathectomy to fundamentally resolve the condition."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.