The most common way to treat excessive sweating is through the use of antiperspirants, which normally prevent sweating and reduce body odors. Aluminum chloride hexahydrate is the active ingredient in antiperspirants. For less severe sweating, this can normally be effective in treating the problem.
For more severe cases however, other treatments exist:
- Glycopyrrolate- this is a prescription medication that works through preventing stimulation of sweat glands. It's proven to be effective, but has some side effects including dizziness and dry mouth.
- Iontophoresis- this is a method that uses electricity to momentarily turn off the sweat glands; this technique works best for hands and feet.
Hands and feet are placed in water, where a gentle electric current is passed through, and can last for about 20 minutes. The side effects of this treatment can include skin cracking and blisters. - Botox- Severe underarm sweating can be remedied with a rigorous treatment through Botox. A large dose of purified botulinum toxin is injected into the underarm area. This blocks the nerves that stimulate sweating.
Botox injections can also be used in other parts of the body where sweating is a problem. The downside to this treatment is that it's very painful, and can cause short term weakness
