What is the best treatment for hyperhidrosis? It depends on which treatment fits you best. Hyperhidrosis is a very real and embarrassing problem, but there are some effective ways to treat it. Here are 7 Treatment Options for Hyperhidrosis.
First choice for treating Heavy Sweating is Antiperspirants
As you sweat, the antiperspirant is pulled into your sweat glands. This plugs the sweat glands. When your body senses that its sweat glands are plugged, this should signal your body to stop producing so much sweat.
You can buy an antiperspirant over the counter at your local supermarket or drug store, or your doctor can prescribe one for you. Over-the-counter antiperspirants may be less irritating than prescription antiperspirants. Start with an over-the-counter brand, and if that doesn’t work, ask your doctor about a prescription.
Many antiperspirants are sold combined with a deodorant, which won’t stop you from sweating but will help control the sweat odor.
Next Step: Medical Treatments for hyperhidrosis
If antiperspirants don’t stop your hands and feet from sweating too much, your doctor may recommend one of these medical treatments:
Iontophoresis
If excessive sweating affects your hands, feet, or both areas, this may be an option. You can use this treatment at home. It requires you to immerse your hands or feet in a shallow tray of tap water for about 20 to 30 minutes daily at the beginning. And most people need about 6 to 10 treatments sessions to shut down the sweat glands.
As you do this, a medical device sends a low-voltage current through the water. No one knows exactly how this treatment works, but experts believe it blocks sweat from getting to your skin’s surface.
Although iontophoresis is safe, because it uses an electrical current, it’s not recommended for women who are pregnant and people who have pacemakers or metal implants, cardiac conditions, or epilepsy.
Oral Medication
When you’ve tried antiperspirants and treatments like iontophoresis and they haven’t worked, your doctor might recommend a prescription medicine such as anticholinergic drugs.
These medicines prevent the sweat glands from working. Athletes, people who work in a hot place, and anyone who lives in a warm climate should use extreme caution when using this treatment. The body may not be able to cool itself.
Furthermore, The medicines that prevent the sweat glands from working may cause side effect such as, Dry mouth, Dry eyes,Blurry vision, Heart palpations etc.
Botulinum toxin injections
Another treatment option for hyperhidrosis is injections of botulinum toxin A (Botox), the same medicine used for wrinkles. Botox is FDA-approved for treating excessive sweating of the armpits, but some doctors may also use it on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.
The benefit of this treatment is that it can reduce, and in most cases stop, the sweat produced in your armpits, hands or feet for up to 6 months, and sometimes longer. When the excessive sweating returns, you need retreated. Most people find that they can stop using deodorants completely whilst having this treatment.
Potential side effect of botulinum toxin injections:
There is a risk that other areas of your body may sweat more after the injections to make up for the reduction in sweating at your armpits which is called compensatory sweating.
Laser therapy
Laser therapy applies laser energy to destroy the sweat glands which are primarily found in a specific layer of tissue under the skin of the underarms. Although the laser treatment procedure requires numbing of the area, the known side effects are temporary pain and mild to moderate swelling which resolves with time.
Studies so far regarding laser treatment for hyperhidrosis have been, for the most part, uncontrolled case reports involving relatively few patients. This means that the effectiveness of lasers treatment is not as thoroughly proven and documented as that of other treatments.
Electromagnetic therapy
miraDry is a treatment using electromagnetic energy that targets heat on sweat glands, destroying them. While the sweat glands are being eliminated through electromagnetic technology, the top layers of the skin are simultaneously cooled and protected. Sweat glands are not believed to grow back after treatment so the effect can be seen almost immediately and results are lasting.
The cost of miraDry ranges from $2,000 to $3,000 per treatment. Since it’s difficult to target exactly where the sweat glands are, many people have to undergo at least two treatments to see lasting results.
Surgery
If above treatments fail to bring relief, surgery may be considered. Surgery is permanent and carries risks. During surgery, the doctor may cut, scrape, or suction out the sweat glands.
Another surgical option is endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS), in which the surgeon makes very small incisions and cuts the nerves in your armpit that normally activate the sweat glands. This procedure is very effective, but it’s used only as a last resort on people who have tried every other treatment.
All surgeries carry some risk. One side effect almost everyone who gets ETS has to deal with is compensatory sweating. Permanent side effects also can occur. Loss of feeling in the underarm and scarring are possible.
Everyone’s experience with hyperhidrosis is different. By seeing a dermatologist, you will find treatment that effectively controls the excessive sweating. Don’t give up. Life can be good again!
