Excessive underarm sweating can significantly disrupt daily life, leading to issues like stained clothing and discomfort in social or professional situations. If you have axillary hyperhidrosis, you know this too well: no matter how often you try to dry off or change clothes, the dampness persists, making sweat management difficult. You’ve likely tried various antiperspirants, noticing that while they can help reduce sweating, they often come with some side effects.
In this article, we delve into antiperspirants for hyperhidrosis, how they differ from deodorants, and explore alternative options to help manage axillary hyperhidrosis.
Which antiperspirant is effective for hyperhidrosis?
Antiperspirants are the first choice for most people trying to combat axillary hyperhidrosis. They work by temporarily blocking the sweat glands, thus reducing the amount of sweat released. Their main ingredient is aluminium chloride, which reacts with the water on the skin’s surface to form a plug that blocks the sweat gland ducts.
Underarm antiperspirants create a physical barrier that reduces the amount of sweat reaching the skin’s surface. While this might seem like a quick fix, blocking pores can interfere with the body’s natural temperature regulation process. Our bodies release sweat to cool down, evaporating from the skin to lower body temperature.
Aluminium chloride can also irritate the skin, causing itching, redness, or a burning sensation, especially in people with sensitive skin. Additionally, these products often leave residues on clothing, particularly dark fabrics.
What’s the best antiperspirant for excessive sweating?
The “best” antiperspirant for excessive sweating depends on your condition’s severity and skin type. These topical solutions are often used for mild to moderate symptoms of primary focal hyperhidrosis. It’s essential to consult a healthcare professional to determine the proper treatment for your specific type of hyperhidrosis.
Primary hyperhidrosis has no known cause, while secondary hyperhidrosis stems from an underlying medical condition, such as an endocrine disorder, a medication side effect, or a neurological disease. Treating the underlying condition can help alleviate or eliminate hyperhidrosis symptoms, making antiperspirants unnecessary.
Remember, an antiperspirant is different from a deodorant. Deodorants combat body odour caused by bacteria breaking down sweat. They contain ingredients that eliminate or mask odours, like fragrances, but unlike antiperspirants, they do not reduce sweat production. Some products combine both functions, offering protection against sweat and odour.
What works for reducing excessive sweating?
Other alternatives may help reduce excessive sweating.
Iontophoresis is a well-known treatment for hyperhidrosis that applies a mild electric current to the skin to block sweat glands. It’s safe and effective for many people with axillary hyperhidrosis, although multiple sessions may be needed for lasting results. This treatment is not recommended if you are pregnant, have epilepsy, a heart condition, or have a pacemaker or metal implant. Side effects may include redness, blistering, erythema, and burning or tingling sensations. The treated area may also dry out or crack.
Another popular treatment for axillary hyperhidrosis is Botox. It works by blocking the nerves that activate the sweat glands. Although it’s not a permanent solution, the effects can last several months. However, it’s costly, invasive, requires regular applications, and injections may be painful.
In severe cases, some patients turn to surgical procedures like sympathectomy, which cuts or blocks the nerves responsible for sweating. This option is invasive and typically reserved as a last resort, as it carries significant risks. The most common side effect is compensatory sweating, where the body begins to sweat excessively in other areas, like the back or abdomen, to compensate for the lack of underarm sweat.
Ecrisens®: The alternative to antiperspirants
Despite the various solutions to reduce excessive sweating, many are ineffective, and some are highly invasive.
Aware of the need for alternatives, Prospera Biotech has developed Ecrisens®, a neurodermatological cream that helps control excessive sweating without interfering with the body’s thermoregulation needs.
In addition to caring for the skin, its ingredients regulate sweat gland activity to help control sweating without blocking pores. It preserves the thermoregulatory function of sweating, maintaining the necessary sweat level to protect the skin.
Ecrisens® combines the ideal characteristics of current treatments to help control excessive sweating:
- Non-invasive, applied directly to the underarms.
- It doesn’t block pores, unlike conventional antiperspirants; instead, it regulates eccrine glands’ activity through neuromodulatory agents.
- Free from side effects.
- It is ideal for sensitive skin, thanks to its blend of dimethicones, which lend a soft texture and quick absorption.
- It does not stain clothing.
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References
- Eisenach JH, Atkinson JL, Fealey RD. Hyperhidrosis: evolving therapies for a well-established phenomenon. Mayo Clin Proc. 2005 May;80(5):657-66. doi: 10.4065/80.5.657.
- Nawrocki S, Cha J. The etiology, diagnosis, and management of hyperhidrosis: A comprehensive review: Therapeutic options. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2019 Sep;81(3):669-680. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2018.11.066.
- McConaghy JR, Fosselman D. Hyperhidrosis: Management Options. Am Fam Physician. 2018 Jun 1;97(11):729-734. PMID: 30215934.
