Stepwise treatment of primary focal hyperhidrosis with aluminum chloride hexahydrate lotion (20%) and oral glycopyrrolate: a retrospective study from a tertiary care center.

Primary focal hyperhidrosis is a common reason for dermatology outpatient visit and has significant impact on patient's social and professional activities. The study describes the clinical profile of those patients and response with aluminum chloride hexahydrate lotion (ACH 20%) and oral glycopyrrolate (OGP). A retrospective study was carried out at a tertiary care center between the year 2016 and 2018. Details of history, baseline assessment, treatment response recorded in specially designed proformas were analyzed. Initially, the patients received topical ACH daily at night. Non-responders were advised OGP 1 mg BD and increased to 2 mg BD if they did not respond. Response was measured according to patient global assessment and objective evaluation of sweating. Among total 69 patients 57 had onset <10 years of age. There was male preponderance and most common trigger was situations causing anxiety (n = 15). Around 15.3% patients got adequate response with ACH lotion. The cumulative response increased to 45.8% by addition of OGP 1 mg BD and to 55.9% by increasing the dose to 2 mg BD. Addition of OGP to topical ACH increases the treatment efficacy in patients with primary focal hyperhidrosis. Increasing the glycopyrrolate dose augments the response further. However, the current medical treatment options are able to give moderate response.