What is Gustatory Sweating?
This is sweating on the face, forehead, neck and scalp that occur soon after eating. Now a certain amount of gustatory sweating is considered normal after eating – especially after eating spicy, hot foods. But, gustatory sweating is believed to be the result of damage to the nerve that goes to the parotid gland which is the salivary gland in the cheek that is very large. This sweating is normally on only one side of the head and is referred to as Frey syndrome. Gustatory sweating may also be a problem that is very rare of diabetes mellitus. In this case the sweating might develop on both sides of the head with mild or considerable severity.
Gustatory Sweating Symptoms
The symptoms and signs of gustatory sweating might bother some individuals or not, but it can be very irritating and annoying especially when the sweat is so abundant that is quite literally soaks the face. This excessive sweating might develop on the forehead of the patient, as well as the area around the lips or the chest. For individuals who have had the parotid glands surgically removed and have sustained injury to the auriculotermproal nerve flushing in the face might also occur.
Gustatory Sweating Causes
Frey Syndrome
When this is the cause of the excessive sweating it develops on just one side of the face and head of the patient. Frey syndrome develops following an injury to the nerve associated with the parotid gland or when the gland has been removed thru surgery. The parotid gland is the structure that is large and in the mouth produces saliva. Saliva is important in the process of digestion since it allows easier swallowing and chewing of food. Those individuals who have had a parotidectomy are usually more at risk for the development of gustatory sweating. The parotidectomy is often done to remove the existence of a cancerous tumor.
The nerves surround the parotid gland monitor and manage the amount and the rate of the production of saliva. During the parotidectomy, the nerves surrounding the parotid glands are severed. The problem develops during the process of healing where the severed nerves begin to reconnect and often they reconnect to the nerves of the sweat glands that are found thru out various parts of the face. By the time the individual goes back to consuming foods that are delicious the inducement that normally triggers the nerves to start generating saliva is targeted instead to the sweat glands and are triggered to generate sweat. This is the explanation why individuals start to sweat a lot by just thinking or looking at definite foods.
Diabetes Mellitus
Sweating that is extreme might also be caused by a rare complication of diabetes mellitus. Unlike Frey syndrome, this type of sweating caused by diabetes develops on both sides of the face.
Gustatory Sweating Treatment
For those patients with symptoms that are severe and very bothersome, there are some options that can be used for treatment. Medical treatment includes:
- Topical anticholinergic ointments such as scopolamine or glycopyrolate
- Topical anti-perspirants or deodorants
- Topical agonist such as clonidine
- Injections of Botox
Botox seems to be the safest and easiest method. It offers the longest time period of symptom relief with the fewest complications. But, none of these treatments allow for a permanent cure; relief is just temporary.
For treatment that is permanent, reconstructive surgery is the sole option. Surgeons who are very experienced in performing this type of surgery have the additional benefit of reducing any facial scars from previous incisions as well as correct any facial deformities from any prior surgery. But, most surgeons are not able to perform a true reconstruction with every tiny nerves reconnected correctly
