Remedies for Sweaty Hands

Finding effective remedies for sweaty hands can be as simple as purchasing an over-the-counter antiperspirant, or as complicated as undergoing a surgical procedure. Sweating is a natural function the body performs to cool itself. However, in some individuals, the body keeps sweating uncontrollably. This is a condition known as hyperhidrosis. When the hands are the affected body part, the condition is called palmer hyperhidrosis. When sweaty hands affect daily living, including the inability to shake hands or grasp an object securely, then it is time to seek the advice of a dermatologist who specializes in skin disorders.

Oral and Topical Medications

Oral and topical medications are a good first step in treating sweaty palms. They are also the least expensive treatment available. Patients should begin by purchasing antiperspirants containing the ingredient aluminum chloride hexahydrate, which serves as a drying mechanism. This can be purchased in a pharmacy or supermarket. If that treatment fails, a physician may prescribe anticholinergic medication, drugs that block the chemical reaction that tells the body to sweat. While generally effective for milder cases of sweaty palms, anticholinergic drugs may cause side effects such as constipation, wooziness or blurred vision.

Botox

Botulinum toxin, better known as Botox, is a treatment synonymous with the removal of frown lines and wrinkles, but the drug is also useful in treating sweaty palms. In a March 2004 article published in "American Family Physician," Isabelle Thomas, M.D., wrote that botox was a "safe and effective" treatment of hyperhidrosis. Dr. Thomas is a faculty member at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, located in Newark, New Jersey. The toxin weakens the nerve impulses in the body that stimulate the sweat glands. According to DocShop, in 2010, the cost of Botox treatment for hyperhidrosis can be over $2,000. Depending on the patient, the process has to be done two or three times each year to remain effective.

Endoscopic Thoracoscopic Sympathectomy

When other remedies fail to solve the problem of sweaty hands, endoscopic thoracoscopic sympathectomy (ETS) may be the only solution. During ETS, a surgeon cuts the part of the sympathetic nerve bundle, a group of nerves in the body located in the chest. This process permanently stops the electrical signal telling the body to sweat excessively. According to the Cardiothoracic Surgery Network, the surgery has a 95 percent success rate. Possible side effects include pain and sweating from other body parts.