There are several options to treat excessive sweating. The medical term for overactive sweat glands is Hyperhidrosis. Treatment is determined based on the severity of this embarrassing condition.

Antiperspirants and Ointments

Antiperspirants are used as an initial treatment for hyperhidrosis. There is sometimes misconception between antiperspirants and deodorants. Deodorants are supposed to work on the smell while antiperspirants deal with sweat control. Next time you purchase a deodorant, make sure it is also an antiperspirant. Read the label first.

Some doctors recommend Drysol. It is applied on the problematic area only after the skin is completely dry. To reduce the chance of skin irritation, wear it only at bedtime and wash it off completely when you wake up in the morning using plain water. The treatment is repeated every night until improvement is observed. Then use it only once or twice a week for maintenance. On other days, you can use your regular deodorant. This medication is not very effective on the thick skin of the palms and soles.

Anticholinergic Medication

Some medications prevent the release of Acetylcholine. This is a neurotransmitter that causes eccrine sweat gland to go into overdrive. Robinul is frequently prescribed in this case. It is taken orally once a day which makes it treatment convenient. However, it is not without side effects. You may experience dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation, urinary retention and palpitations.

Iontophoresis

a device is used for this procedure. Electrical stimulation on the affected area is supposed to reduce abnormally profuse sweating. A particular site is saturated or submerged in water while the device emits electricity on the problematic area. There can be a little discomfort at the start but as the procedure goes on, the patient gets used to it. Only then the electricity is adjusted to a higher intensity. Several sessions are required before there could be any improvement.

Botox Injection

The Botox craze is not only confined to wrinkles. After it has been approved by FDA, Botox is now being use as a treatment for Hyperhidrosis that can’t be treated with topical medication. Botox (Botulinum toxin type A) is a purified protein produced by Clostridium botulinum bacterium. Patients suffering from sweaty palms or underarms may get short-term improvement and relief after Botox injection. Botox is used in the treatment of other problems like eye muscle disorders, wrinkles and other similar conditions. It minimizes perspiration by blocking the release of acetylcholine, which is responsible for the stimulation of sweat glands. This treatment is only a temporary relief and must be done repeatedly 2-3 times in one year. It works well for sweaty underarms and has been used by many celebrities. Injections of Botox are not effective in severe cases of facial or palmar hyperhidrosis. It is a painful and expensive treatment.

Surgery

Endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS) is one of the more famous surgery used to resolve excessive perspiration. Other procedures include Lumbar sympathectomy, Sweat gland suction and Percutaneous sympathectomy, which is a minimal invasive procedure where the nerve is blocked by phenol injection.

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