A number of different treatments and products are available to help people with
excessive underarm sweating. Here's an overview of some you may have heard about or
considered trying. If you have any questions about which treatment option may be
right for you, speak with your
dermatologist.
Antiperspirants/Deodorants
Often considered the "first line" of treatment for excessive underarm sweating, over-the-counter
and prescription antiperspirants work by blocking sweat ducts, thereby reducing
the amount of perspiration that reaches the skin. The most widely used ingredients
in antiperspirants are metallic salts, including aluminum chloride hexahydrate.
Antiperspirants can cause skin irritation, and higher concentrations of aluminum
chloride can be destructive to fabrics.
Deodorants help control body odor, which is caused by a reaction between bacteria
and sweat. The deodorants work by making the skin more acidic, and hence less attractive
to bacteria. They are often used in combination with antiperspirants to help control
sweating in addition to odor.
BOTOX® Treatment
BOTOX® is FDA-approved for excessive underarm sweating that is inadequately
managed with topical agents. BOTOX® helps control this condition
by temporarily blocking the chemical signals from the nerves that stimulate the
sweat glands. When the sweat glands don't receive chemical signals, the excessive sweating
stops. To learn more, see Can BOTOX®
Treatment Help?
Iontophoresis
This procedure involves sending a small electrical current to the surface of the
affected area while it is submerged in water. In general, treatments must be repeated
3-4 times per week. The procedure can be done at home using a home device. Although
this procedure can be used for treating excessive underarm sweating, it is usually
more useful for controlling sweating in other areas of the body, such as the hands
and feet.
Surgery
A variety of surgical approaches have been used to treat excessive sweating, but they
are usually reserved for the most extreme cases that do not respond to other treatments.
One of the most common types of surgery used today for this condition is called
endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS). With ETS, the patient is put to sleep with
general anesthesia and then the surgeon attempts to interrupt the transmission of
nerve signals between the spinal column and sweat glands in the affected area. This
procedure requires special training, and may result in unwanted increased sweating
from other areas of the body—called "compensatory sweating." Other types of
surgery sometimes used for excessive underarm sweating include liposuction and removal
of the sweat glands under the armpits.
Alternative therapy
Herbal remedies such as sage tea or sage tablets, chamomile, valerian root, and
St. John's wort, as well as biofeedback, acupuncture, hypnosis, and relaxation techniques,
are sometimes suggested as treatments for excessive sweating. However, there is
little research at this time to indicate the effectiveness of such treatments.