Facial sweating and facial blushing

Facial SweatingHyperhidrosis is a medical term for excessive sweating which is more than what is needed for normal thermoregulation. Hyperhidrosis may affect any part of the body but excessive facial sweating is one of the most common ones.

This condition can cause a great deal of embarrassment and affect social life of an affected person. Excessive sweating in the facial area may occur at any time and in unexpected moments. It is usually not triggered by stress and anxiety although such feelings may exacerbate it.

Facial hyperhidrosis develops as a result of a hyperactive sympathetic nervous system which regulates the production of the sweat. This condition may sometimes appear in a combination with facial blushing or erythrophobia.

Facial Blushing

Facial blushing is a condition marked by sudden reddening of the face that may appear spontaneously or as a response to stressful or embarrassing situations. The blushing may also affect the ears and the neck. Sensation of heat in the face is present too.

It is a very common condition that also occurs due to an overactive sympathetic nervous system. In the presence of the stimulus, excess blood starts to flow in the blood vessels located beneath the skin surface. This occurs within seconds whilst it takes much longer to restrict the blood flow and resolve the blushing.

Facial blushing is generally triggered by stress, embarrassment, social interactions and stage fright. There is also a condition known as idiopathic cranio-facial erythema which is a form of severe facial blushing that may appear in any situation.

Treatment for Facial Sweating and Facial BlushingFacial sweating can be treated with various treatments. Nonsurgical treatments like prescription medications and Botox injections can effectively cure facial hyperhidrosis. Antiperspirants with strong base can also help to treat the condition.

Facial flushing can be treated with psychological treatment options such as cognitive behavior therapy or breathing techniques. Medications can also be used to cure facial flushing and they include: anxiety medications, beta blockers and Clonidine.

However, surgical treatment is usually needed if facial sweating and facial blushing are severe. Surgical procedure for treatment of facial hyperhidrosis and facial blushing is called sympathectomy.

Sympathectomy involves cauterizing a part of the sympathetic nerve, which prevents transmission of the neural signals that cause excessive facial sweating or facial blushing. This operation is done by making the incision through the armpit and inserting instruments into the chest cavity. It is performed under a general anesthesia and on an out-patient basis. This surgical procedure is not completely safe and should be considered only when other treatment options fail to cure facial hyperhidrosis and facial blushing.