The condition known clinically as " localized hyperhidrosis" causes excessive sweating in the armpits, feet or palms. Although it is not life-threatening, it can be hard to deal with, especially in a social atmosphere. There is no known cause for sweaty palms, but there are several ways to cure them.
Antiperspirants
Antiperspirants are normally used for the underarms, but they can also be used for the palms. You can get these over the counter or your doctor can prescribe a more powerful version. Use an antiperspirant that has a substance called "aluminum chloride" in it. Examples of prescription formulas are Xerac and Drysol.
Injections
Botulinum toxin A, known by the common name "Botox," is generally used to treat wrinkles on the face, but it can also be used for sweaty palms. Botox is injected into the palms and nerve impulses that activate sweating are interrupted, causing sweating to decrease. According to the Mayo Clinic, "Botox isn't a cure-all, however. It may take several injections to achieve the desired results, the treatment can be painful, and the results last only about four months."
Electrical Current
Iontophoresis is a treatment option that uses an electrical current. The hands get placed under water and a low-voltage electrical current gets sent into the water by way of a battery powered device. The end result is the sweat glands get stunned and do not produce as much perspiration. According to the Mayo Clinic, "treatments last about 15 to 30 minutes and are often performed once a day for a couple of weeks, followed by less frequent maintenance therapy."
Removal
If all else fails, your doctor may recommend surgery. Thoracic sympathectomy is a procedure where a ganglion is removed. Ganglions are bundles of cells that are clumped together and they are where sympathetic nerves derive from. The ones responsible for sending nerve impulses to sweat are located under the armpits. After making small incisions in this region, the surgeon removes the ganglions which will turn off the signal that tells the palms to sweat.
Drugs
There are prescription drugs that your doctor may also recommend to treat your sweaty palms. These are called "anticholinergic drugs" and they are taken once a day. Examples of these include Robinul Forte and Robinul. These drugs block the release of a chemical called "acetylcholine" which causes the sweat glands to get stimulated.
