Sweating is an important bodily function that is performed to keep your body cool and prevent you from overheating. However, some people experience a condition called hyperhidrosis which is marked by an overactive sweat mechanism. This excessive sweating can occur at any time, even when your body doesn’t need to cool off.
Excessive sweating is a source of embarrassment for many people. Hyperhidrosis doesn’t just result in wet or stained clothing, it disrupts both personal and professional interactions and can create an intense level of anxiety. If you’ve found typical antiperspirants of little to no help, what’s the next step?
Not everyone welcomes summer with open arms (more like arms clamped firmly to their sides). If you suffer from hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), you A) know who you are, and B) are tired of agonizing over what you can wear, do, and where or if you can go during everyone else’s favorite season.
Neurotoxins effectively begin halting sweat gland activity within a week of your appointment.
Neurotoxin injections will reduce hyperhidrosis for about 4-6 months, sometimes a little longer, but you will need re-treatment to maintain the effect. As you receive successive injections, you may find that the results begin to last longer and that more time can pass between appointments.
Hyperhidrosis can be reduced with a single neurotoxin injection appointment. Optimal results are reached in two weeks.
Brella reduces hyperhidrosis and is quick, effective, and affordable with a favorable safety profile. The FDA-cleared “TAT” (targeted alkali thermolysis) patch is single-use and disposable.
The TAT patch uses alkali metal that creates thermal energy when it interacts with underarm sweat, microtargeting sweat glands and temporarily inactivating them to reduce sweating. Clinical studies show that the TAT patch significantly reduces sweat.
The TAT patch is applied in the office for up to three minutes per arm. It is designed to be simple, and fast, with no downtime.
In a pivotal study, the patch demonstrated significant reductions in sweat measured by both quality of life and quantitative measurements. Specifically, the TAT patch reduced underarm sweat and improved multiple quality-of-life measures, including increased confidence, reduced embarrassment, reduced frustration, and less need for multiple showers and shirt changes. Additional deep-dive Scientific Information
Most people with hyperhidrosis experience minimal to no side effects or complications when using clinical-strength antiperspirants, though it’s important to follow directions carefully and exactly to get the best effects and minimize irritation. Two of the most common side effects are irritation and a burning sensation when the antiperspirant is applied. Don’t shave immediately before application or apply if your underarms are irritated.
Over-the-counter antiperspirants and RX formulations are similar but vary in the % of sweat-blocking ingredients. Both work by forming “plugs” in the pores.
Sweatblock, DuraDry, and others are recommended on the International Hyperhidrosis Society Fan Faves.
*A KEY STEP is to be sure your skin is completely clean and dry before applying and applying at bedtime so the product has time to do what it’s intended to do. If needed, use a hair dryer on cool or fan to dry the area first.
Putting on any antiperspirant only in the morning, right before you rush out the door, almost guarantees it won’t work as intended.
Some people are concerned that antiperspirants are linked to breast cancer or Alzheimer’s disease. To date, there is not any substantial evidence of such an association. Certain studies have shown there is not a link. If you are concerned, we encourage you to discuss the matter with one of our medical team members.
If sweat itself is not so much the problem, but odor is. The deodorant business is huge. One only needs to look down the personal care aisle in a drugstore or big box store to understand this culture’s desire to smell fresh. More often than not, deodorants are combined with antiperspirants.
But what if you have problems or reservations with the effective ingredients (aluminum) of antiperspirants? Some products inhibit as opposed to mask odor.
Newer to the smell-good arena are deodorants that contain an AHA such as mandelic acid. For some people, these products are effective when “regular” deodorants aren’t. They won’t impact sweating, but they will impact the odor that develops when you sweat. And the reduced anxiety around odor may lessen the level of sweat produced by that anxiety. Some available products include Sweet Pitti by Drunk Elephant, Kosas Chemistry Deodorant, and a few more. Look for mandelic acid or salicylic acid in the formulation as these AHAs change the pH of your skin and consequently help inhibit odor.
It appears that one of the types of hyperhidrosis – primary hyperhidrosis – may be an inherited condition. You may have family members who suffer from the same excessive sweating. Secondary hyperhidrosis is the other type, and it is associated with an underlying condition, such as neurologic disorders and spine injuries.
Prevention of excessive sweating depends on the cause. You may be able to reduce episodes of hyperhidrosis if you can identify triggers, such as excessive caffeine consumption or untreated generalized anxiety. If the condition is caused by certain medications, you may want to talk to your doctor about finding an alternative medication to see if sweating is reduced.
For most people, hyperhidrosis cannot be prevented, but it can be managed, allowing you to lead a more comfortable, fulfilling life without the constant worry and inconvenience of being too sweaty. Primary care physicians and dermatologists can both offer prescription-level antiperspirants or neurotoxins such as Botox, Daxxify, or Xeomin. Neurotoxin injection is highly effective but can be expensive. Start with the simplest steps first.
The International Hyperhidrosis Society has a website dedicated to the issues surrounding excessive sweating. If you find typical drugstore options ineffective, then you may have actual hyperhidrosis, which requires different avenues for control. Treatments range from clinical-strength antiperspirants to surgery.
Please contact our office to discuss hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) treatments in Los Angeles.
