Sweaty palms could be inherited
Jamie Wilson Leeds
The unfortunate affliction of a slimy handshake may be genetic and not--as previously thought--a sign of nervousness. American scientists from the University of California at Los Angeles found that people with sweaty plams have a 28% chance of passing their condition on to their children.1 Similarly, nearly two thirds of affected individuals identified a positive family history, while none of the "sweat free" controls could recall problems with their relatives.
Sweat gland
Palmar hyperhydosis causes embarrassment both socially and at work: first impressions gleaned through a handshake are crucial in forming personal relationships. Symptoms often worsen in stressful situations or when anxious, and the condition has traditionally been regarded as "psychosomatic" by many medical professionals.
Dr Samuel Ahn said the study helps support the theory that hyperhydrosis is a real clinical disorder with a physiological basis--not one of behavioural origin.
Around 1% of the population were previously thought to be affected. Dr Ahn believes that this may be a gross underestimate because people are so unwilling to seek treatment. His data show that up to 5% of the population may carry an allele that leads to excessive sweating for a quarter of the time.
Other studies have shown that Asian and Chinese populations show a higher incidence of the disorder, but no sex related difference.
Antiperspirants, botulinum toxin, and psychotherapy have all been used as treatments in the past with limited success. Keyhole surgical resection of the sympathetic nerves in the upper thoracic region is now the therapy of choice and has success rates nearing 100%. Dr Ahn hopes that the long lasting effects of surgery along with the findings of the study will help to remove some of the stigma associated with hyperhydrosis.
studentBMJ 2002;10:89-130 April ISSN 0966-6494
- Ro KM, Cantor RM, Lange KL, Ahn SS. Palmar hyperhydrosis: evidence of genetic transmission. J Vasc Surg 2002;35:382-6.
