How to Stop Excessive Sweating

Do you suffer from excessive sweating? The scientific name for this relatively common condition is called hyperhidrosis and it can be a source of great discomfort and social embarrassment for those who experience it. It's estimated that up to three percent of the population suffers with some form of hyperhidrosis.

Although excessive sweating can be caused by a variety of medical conditions including an overactive thyroid, in most cases no obvious medical cause can be found. Is there a cure for hyperhidrosis? Although there is no cure for excessive sweating, there are effective treatments for this socially embarrassing condition. What are the available treatment options for this condition?

Over the counter antiperspirants

This should always be your first line of treatment of excessive sweating. Select an antiperspirant that contains the ingredient aluminum chloride which is the most effective ingredient available in over the counter antiperspirants for treatment of excessive sweating. Apply the antiperspirant at night as this is the time you sweat the least which allows the antiperspirant to form a better bond with your skin. For some people this treatment for excessive sweating can be quite effective.

Botox injections

If over the counter antiperspirants prove ineffective, you may want to consider botox injections. It may not feel good to get the twenty or so injections needed to treat hyperhydrosis but it can help stop your excessive sweating for a period of six to eight months. Side effects include bruising around the injection sites.

Iontophoresis

This procedure is used to treat excessive sweating of the hands and feet. It involves placing your hands in a shallow tray of water through which an electrical current is passed. The electrical current appears to thicken the skin surface, blocking the flow of perspiration. This procedure needs to be performed several times sequentially in order to be effective initially. Once the initial series of treatments is completed, you can be put on a maintenance schedule with repetition of the treatment every few weeks as the excessive sweating returns.