Hyperhidrosis can make you feel nervous and self-conscious in public and even affect your work, romantic and social life. If you have hyperhidrosis, you sweat excessively, whether you are sitting at your work desk or jogging at the local park. Hyperhidrosis in the feet, hands, armpits affects 2 to 3 percent of the population, according to Medline Plus. If hyperhidrosis does not improve with home treatment, visit your doctor to determine if an underlying medical condition could be causing excessive perspiration.
Step 1
Apply antiperspirant at bedtime and in the morning. Applying antiperspirant at night when you are less active allows more of the product to stay on your skin and temporarily plug your sweat glands.
Step 2
Use deodorant on the areas of your body most likely to sweat. Apply solid antiperspirant around your hairline if you tend to sweat on your head and face and spray aerosol antiperspirant on your feet.
Step 3
Buy products that help absorb extra sweat. Place underarm liners in your shirts to absorb sweat and to prevent embarrassing wet marks on your clothing. Putting odor-eating insoles in your shoes helps keep your shoes drier and reduces foot odor.
Step 4
Try a stronger over-the-counter antiperspirant if your current antiperspirant doesn't prevent sweating. Antiperspirants labeled "clinical strength" may be more effective in combating excessive sweating. You may need to try more than one product until you find one that is effective for you.
Step 5
Ask your doctor for a prescription antiperspirant if clinical strength products don't reduce sweating. Prescription products contain a higher concentration of aluminum chloride, the effective ingredient in antiperspirants.
Step 6
Talk to your doctor about medical treatments for excessive sweating. Botulinum toxin injections can stop underarm sweating for months, while iontophoresis treatments are effective in treating sweaty hands or feet. During iontophoresis treatment, a painless electrical current travels through water to the hands or feet and temporarily stops sweat gland activity.
Tips and Warnings
- If you apply a prescription antiperspirant at night, wear old pajamas because these products can stain clothing. Sweating is more likely to occur if you are nervous or anxious. Practicing yoga or meditation or learning relaxation techniques may help reduce anxiety and nervousness that contributes to hyperhidrosis. Change your clothes or socks and clean your skin during the day if body or foot odor is a problem due to hyperhidrosis, washing the skin with a mild cleanser and water removes bacteria that causes odor.
- While surgery to remove sweat glands or interrupt nervous system signals to the sweat glands may seem like the ideal solution to hyperhidrosis, these treatments are not without risks. These procedures can cause compensatory sweating in other parts of the body that may be even more debilitating than the hyperhidrosis.
Things You'll Need
- Antiperspirant
- Underarm liners
- Odor-eating Insoles
- Mild cleanser
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