If you're finding it difficult to talk to your doctor about your excessive underarm
sweating that is inadequately managed with topical agents, you may find
it helpful to prepare ahead of time. Here are some tips to help.
- First, find a doctor who treats
hyperhidrosis. Several different types of doctors treat this condition,
most often
dermatologists. You may want to use the Find a Doctor
resource on this site to locate a doctor near you who can treat this condition.
- Learn all you can about excessive underarm sweating (primary axillary hyperhidrosis) and
answer the Self-Assessment
questionnaire to understand the impact it may be having on your daily activities. Remember,
your doctor is there to help you, and the clearer you can be about your concerns,
the better he or she will be able to help address them.
- Prepare your questions ahead of time. Bring a list with you, and consider writing
down the answers when you're with your dermatologist so you can review them later
when you get home. Here are a few questions you may want to consider asking:
- What causes excessive underarm sweating?
- How many patients do you see with this problem?
- How will you determine what's wrong?
- What treatments may be able
to help?
- How effective are they?
- What are the side effects?