Topical Treatments (Anti-perspirants and Medicated Wipes)
READ UP TO FIND THE BEST ANTI-PERSPIRANT FOR YOU. NO MATTER WHAT OTHER TREATMENTS YOU USE, YOU STILL NEED ONE OF THESE!
When treating Hyperhidrosis, doctors refer to antiperspirants as the “first line” of treatment. This means that these topical treatments should be the first thing you use to try and control your excessive sweating. Antiperspirants are easy to use, are non-invasive, and do not introduce pharmaceuticals into your bloodstream. They do not require shots or surgery, and they are the least expensive option in the Hyperhidrosis treatment arsenal.
For some fortunate people, these products really do work. However, and you will hear this a lot from me, everyone is different. The Sympathetic Nervous System, which you have to thank for your problem, is… fickle. When it overreacts, it causes you to sweat. It overreacts to heat, stress, exertion, breathing. It does what it wants, when it wants, and it does not respond reliably or consistently to any one treatment. Not even to surgery, which is of course considered to be the treatment of last resort (download my free report on ETS surgery, in which I cover every angle of the ETS debate). So, this first line of treatment is worth trying, but do not get too discouraged if you find that antiperspirants do not provide complete relief.
I have found that there are three different levels of antiperspirants formulated to treat Hyperhidrosis out on the market. From mildest to strongest, they are:
- “Clinical-strength” antiperspirant & deodorants, containing a 20% solution of the active ingredient aluminum zirconium trichlorohydrex;
- “Prescription-strength” antiperspirants, containing a 12%-16% water-based solution of aluminum chloride hexahydrate; and
- Prescription antiperspirant, commonly known as Drysol, containing a 20% alcohol-based solution of aluminum chloride hexahydrate
Each of these levels of antiperspirants is described and reviewed in detail under the tabs in this topic. Please do yourself a favor and read EACH ONE! You have plenty of options here; you owe it to yourself to understand what the pros and cons are for each product type.
Make sure you have an ongoing dialogue with your Dermatologist regarding which topical treatment you are trying. I have heard of the prescription drug Robinul (glycopyrrolate) being applied in ointment form for Craniofacial Hyperhidrosis. This could help that issue as well as other areas– ask your Derm what he/she thinks– but be aware that there are still possible side effects even if used topically (I saw a report of one patient having blurred vision from the ointment coming into indirect contact with her eye).
Who knew the topic of antiperspirants was so complex?? I certainly did not realize the amount of information that would have to be analyzed, organized, and condensed in order to give my readers a complete picture of the options in this category that are available for Hyperhidrosis sufferers. I hope this will help you to understand what your choices are– as I said above, topical treatments are absolutely worth trying because they are inexpensive and non-invasive. We sure have come a long way from the time as a child I tried putting Ban Roll-0n on my sweaty palms!
There are two more topical treatments I would like you to know about: Med e Tate by Dermadoctor, and Kiehl’s Superbly Efficient Anti-Perspirant & Deodorant Cream. And yes, first indications are that the Kiehl’s product actually lives up to its big name. You will find them under the last tabs in this category, or just click on the links.
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