CBD for Hyperhidrosis

Hyperhidrosis can significantly curtail patient's quality of life, from debilitating physical symptoms to social stigmatization and reduced life opportunities. Current treatments often prove unsatisfactory, especially in sufferers of generalised hyperhidrosis. In this open trial, we present the case of refractory generalised hyperhidrosis treated with cannabinoids. We found a remarkable reduction in the volume of sweat and an improvement in the patient's quality of life using this novel low-cost and low-impact approach.

What is Hyperhidrosis

Hyperhidrosis is a medical condition where a person sweats excessively. Excessive sweating can be generalised, meaning it occurs all over the body, or localised, meaning it involves particular body parts. Localised hyperhidrosis can happen anywhere, but is most common on the soles of the feet, palms of the hands, armpits, face, chest, or groin.

Hyperhidrosis can have repercussions on social or work life. For example, if you do manual work or work that requires precision, like a surgeon, or even just due to embarrassment – offering a sweaty hand to another person during a handshake or sweating through your clothes.

Over time, situations of this type can become a source of stress and can harm the quality of life, even causing depression and anxiety.

Causes of Hyperhidrosis

Hyperhidrosis may be caused by a disease, depending on its causes, and can be classified as:

• Secondary: Due to underlying diseases such as obesity, neoplasms, diabetes, and hyperthyroidism.
• Primary: Without an obvious cause. Primary hyperhidrosis affects about 5% of the population, can occur at any age, and affects men and women equally.

What Treatments Are Currently Available?

Hyperhidrosis can be difficult to treat. Excluding the causes of secondary hyperhidrosis, the current treatments for primary hyperhidrosis are medical or surgical. Medical treatments such as antiperspirants containing aluminum salts, localised injections of botulinum toxin A (botox), iontophoresis and prescription of anti-anxiety medication or tranquillisers, are only temporary, with the risk of causing severe adverse reactions (irritation, burning, allergic responses).

The surgical approach is reserved for the most serious cases. There are two main surgical options – either the removal of the sweat glands or an Endoscopic Thoracic Sympathectomy (interruption of the nerve fibers that stimulate the sweat glands). However, they may not be conclusive and/or may cause serious side effects such as compensatory hyperhidrosis or reflex hyperhidrosis (increased sweating in other areas of the body, especially the back).

CBD and Hyperhidrosis

According to recent studies, CBD, one of the non-psychoactive Phyto-cannabinoids in cannabis, may represent a new therapeutic strategy for the treatment of hyperhidrosis. Researchers have found that daily intake of CBD, especially a full spectrum CBD, can lead to the complete elimination of excessive sweating in patients (with its reappearance within a few days of discontinuing treatment) and a consequent significant improvement in quality of life.

It's known that CBD, in addition to having anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving (in the case of muscle pain, for example), and anti-epileptic properties, also has anti-anxiety effects in both humans and pets.

Furthermore, CBD facilitates serotonin transmission, commonly known as the "feel-good hormone". In this way, CBD could exert positive effects on anxiety levels and emotional states which subsequently affect the appearance of local hyperhidrosis.

Benefits of Using CBD for Dealing with Hyperhidrosis

• Regulation of the Body's Natural System: Cannabis compounds interact with the body's system that controls various processes, including sweating. Modulating this system might help in regulating sweat production.
• Reducing Swelling: Some studies suggest that cannabis has properties that reduce swelling. Hyperhidrosis can sometimes be linked to swelling, so reducing it through cannabis use might alleviate symptoms.
• Calming Effects: Cannabis can have calming effects and reduce anxiety. Stress and anxiety can worsen hyperhidrosis, so managing these symptoms might indirectly help control sweating.
• Pain Relief: For individuals with secondary hyperhidrosis, which is caused by an underlying condition like nerve damage, cannabis's pain-relieving properties might provide relief from associated pain, which could indirectly improve quality of life.

While more research is needed, CBD shows promise as a potential treatment for hyperhidrosis. It offers a natural approach with fewer side effects than traditional treatments. However, anyone considering CBD for this condition should talk to a doctor first, especially if they're taking other medications or have underlying health issues.