Hyperhidrosis: what treatment options are there?
Hyperhidrosis is not a life sentence and nothing to be ashamed of. There are several levels of help, and treatment is usually chosen step by step: from the simplest and gentlest methods to more complex ones.
Short answer
Treatment usually starts with a well-chosen antiperspirant applied at night to dry skin. If that is not enough, a doctor may suggest iontophoresis, botulinum toxin injections, medicines, device-based procedures, or, in rare severe cases, surgery. The choice of method is always the doctor’s.
The first step is an antiperspirant
Dermatology organisations describe antiperspirants as the first and most accessible way to control sweating. There are regular, stronger, and prescription products containing aluminium salts.
The effect depends largely on how the product is used: the antiperspirant is applied before bed to completely dry skin and left to dry. This way the active ingredient works better and the risk of irritation is lower.
Iontophoresis
This method is most often used for the palms and soles. The hands or feet are placed for a set time in water through which a weak electrical current passes.
The procedure is repeated as a course over several weeks, followed by maintenance sessions. The schedule is set by a doctor.
Botulinum toxin injections
The medicine is injected into the skin of the affected area, where it temporarily blocks the signals that activate the sweat glands. It is most often used for underarm sweating.
The effect is temporary, so the procedure is repeated over time. The decision is made by a doctor after an examination.
Tablets and prescription topical products
There are medicines that reduce sweating across the whole body, as well as creams and wipes with a similar action for specific areas. They are prescribed only by a doctor.
These products can have side effects, such as a dry mouth, so they are chosen individually, taking into account your health and other medicines.
Device-based procedures and surgery
For the underarms, microwave-energy devices and sweat gland removal are used. These procedures are carried out by a specialist when indicated.
Sympathectomy is surgery on the nerves that control sweating. It is considered only in severe cases when other methods have not helped. An important risk is compensatory sweating: after the operation, other areas of the body may start to sweat more.
Where OKEY fits in
OKEY is a cosmetic antiperspirant for local sweat control in the underarm area. It contains a measured amount of aluminium chloride and is used the way dermatologists recommend: in the evening, in a thin layer, on clean, completely dry, undamaged skin, and washed off in the morning.
It is an at-home first step, not a treatment for a disease. If sweating persists, starts suddenly, or affects the whole body, see a doctor. We explain how to tell when it is time in the article “What is hyperhidrosis, and when should you see a doctor?”.
