Hyperhidrosis is the name for the condition known as excessive sweating. So how do you stop excessive sweating? Some methods would include Botox, prescription deodorants, oral medications, iontophoresis, surgery, and also natural home remedies.
A prescription deodorant, Dry Sol, is often prescribed by medical professionals to control underarm sweating. The prescription version contains more aluminum chloride than regular deodorants. Patients using this product should apply it at bedtime for a period of 7 to 10 days.
Iontophoresis is a water treatment that sends electrical currents to the skin to combat sweat production. Your doctor prescribes special devices that are covered by insurance companies. Treatments are given two or three times a week and usually last between 10 and 20 minutes. If this treatment works for the patient, maintenance sessions should be done every 1 to 3 weeks.
Robinul is an anticholinergic medication used to prevent hyperhidrosis. It is known to prevent all sweating and is not recommended for people who work outdoors or are professional athletes.
We all know that Botox is used to reduce wrinkles. Recently, Botox was approved by the FDA for use in the treatment of excessive underarm sweating. Fifty units are injected into the armpits and last for six months. It is covered by insurance companies for underarm treatment. Hyperhidrosis in the feet and hands has not been approved by the FDA because there have been cases where temporary muscle weakness occurred that caused patients discomfort and prevented them from performing certain tasks.
An outpatient procedure called a sympathectomy is an effective treatment for this condition. At one time it was risky surgery, but advanced technology has allowed doctors to insert a tiny camera and tiny cutting instrument into the body to cut off some of the nerve supply to the sweat glands.
Understanding the treatments available to stop excessive sweating is the first step in finding a treatment that will help you. People with this condition need to analyze their situation and determine which option works best for them.
