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Excessive underarm sweating is a condition that is quite embarrassing especially while attending a meeting or get-together. It may even affect one’s self-esteem and confidence.
Medically it is called axillary hyperhidrosis and is a condition in which the sweat glands will be very sensitive to the stimulations of autonomic nervous system and this happen due to stress, hormonal imbalance, neurological diseases etc. If the sweating leads to the growth of bacteria, it causes body odor.Mild or moderate sweating can be cured easily with strong antiperspirants available over the counter or through prescription medication. But, excessive underarm sweating requires drastic treatments such as surgery.
Treatment For Excessive Underarm Sweating
Antiperspirants
Antiperspirants help to control sweating to a great extent, but many people mistake deodorants as antiperspirants and deodorants do not provide the desired result. Hence, you should choose heavy-duty antiperspirants that contain aluminum chloride. Aluminum chloride hexahydrate gel or solution of 10 to 25% strength is an excellent remedy for excessive underarm sweat.
Apply antiperspirant daily on dry armpit and rinse off after six to eight hours. Once sweating becomes normal, weekly maintenance application would be sufficient. Take care not to apply antiperspirant soon after shaving the underarms, as it may be extremely irritating and painful.
Those who may develop irritation after the application of aluminum chloride hexahydrate solution can use 1% cream of hydrocortisone twice a day. But, cortisone creams should not be used continuously for more than two weeks. In order to get rid of the bad odor, you can take a course of antibiotics.
Clothing
Wear loose fitting clothes that help your skin to breathe. Proper breathing of skin avoids excessive sweating to some extent. Hence, avoid all the synthetic clothes and wear only cotton clothes.
Camphor
Make a fine powder from camphor and mix it with water in a bottle and keep for two weeks. Apply this mixture on the armpits, the astringent properties of camphor helps to tighten the skin pores and thereby reduce the perspiration.
Talcum Powder
Apply talcum powder or baby powder on the underarms and this enhance the effectiveness of antiperspirants and absorb the wetness.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is highly useful for controlling the excessive sweat. Dust baking soda in the armpit and this will absorb the sweat and kill the bacteria that develop in the region.
Botox Injection
Botox injections are clinically approved treatment procedure for excessive underarm sweating. Botox injection if taken, blocks the nerves that cause stimulation to produce sweat. At first patients should undergo two or three sessions in a week and then it extends to one session per week and finally to one session in every few weeks.
Each session last for twenty minutes and number of sessions depends on how well the patient reacts to the treatment. The results of the treatment may not last long, hence repeat treatments are necessary.
Iontophoresis
Iontophoresis is a process of sending mild electrical shocks to the areas in armpit and this helps to thicken the skin in that region. Thickened skin prevents the discharge of sweat to the surface of the skin.
Surgery
Surgery is the last resort for treating excessive sweat. The procedure is medically called as Endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy, in which the sweat glands are removed from the underarms to get rid of excessive sweating.
Caution: Please use Home Remedies after Proper Research and Guidance. You accept that you are following any advice at your own risk and will properly research or consult healthcare professional.