Stop The Sweat

Axillary hyperhidrosis is excessive sweating of the armpits. It is one of the most common forms and also produces the most detectable bad odor.

Typically, this problem will emerge during adolescence. Thankfully, there are many different ways that this can be treated.

Treatments

The first line of defence is to wear appropriate clothing that assists in evaporation of the sweat before bacteria can colonise and cause an offensive smell. Cottons and linens are highly recommended. Synethics such as polyester will only contribute to sweating.

Also, cut down on the stimulants that are in your diet. You may not even think of them but caffeine and chocolate will contribute to excessive sweating.

The next line of defence is to try a prescription antiperspirant. No doubt you have already tried the over the counter versions. The most recommended one is Drysol which is much stronger.

Iontophoresis, although more commonly used for the hands and feet, can also be used for the armpits. This method involves putting water soaked sponges against the armpits and applying a small electric current. It sounds medieval but it is a well established method that has a high success rate for stopping sweating for weeks at a time, even though no one has a full explanation for why or how it works.

If most of the sweating is triggered by anxiety then beta blockers of traditional antidepressants may be prescribed.

Botox (botulinum toxin) is often used to treat this type of hyperhidrosis when all the above methods have failed. About 12 injections are made into each armpit and typically the sweat will disappear for up to 6 months before a repeat treatment is needed.

Skin resection surgery has been used successfully for some people, however it can give unsightly scars and is not guaranteed to work – sometimes the sweat will come back and a repeat procedure is necessary.

ETS or other sympathectomy surgery is generally advised against if you only suffer from excess armpit sweat. If you have a combination of excess face, hand and armpit sweat then it could possibly help. However, be warned that this method is highly controversial and there are as many people who are against this procedure as there are for it.