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Stumble It!Excessive UnderArm Sweating
by DrGreen
Axillary hyperhidirosis [ax-il-ar-ee- hiper- high-dro-sis], also called excessive underarm perspiration, seems to be a more common problem I (and other dermatologists) am seeing everyday. Axillary hyperhidrosis usually starts in young adults and occurs during the day, but not really during the night when someone is sleeping. Shirts and blouses routinely get ruined with underarm stains. Some people even drip wetness through their clothes onto the floor.
If axillary hyperhidrosis isn’t too advanced, over the counter antiperspirants should be used first to try and improve it. Semi-solid antiperspirants seem to be the most effective way to get underarm protection accurately into the sweat glands. Less effective but still OK are gels and solid antiperspirants. Sprays are the least effective way to obtain antiperspirant protection. Antiperspirants work best when they are applied twice a day, morning and evening. Plus, a simple “wipe, wipe” in your armpits quickly to apply the material will make it not very effective. You should wipe many times for at least 20 or so seconds back and forth under each armpit for these products to work. Doing this ensures the sweat glands become clogged most efficiently with the antiperspirant material. Obtaining clogged sweat glands usually takes at least a week or more of twice daily (appropriate) use of antiperspirants. So, someone shouldn’t expect an antiperspirant to work any quicker than that. Secret Clinical is a brand name antiperspirant that is new and has clinical data that shows with proper use it is very effective at clogging the sweat pores and hence preventing sweating. It is most effective, of course, with proper use twice daily.
Aluminum chloride solution is a prescription antiperspirant that is effective when regular antiperspirants don’t cut it. It is so strong, it often works when used only every other night. You don’t need to use regular antiperspirants anymore when using aluminum chloride. Unfortunately, it is very irritating, and even with detailed instructions on how to use it, many people still get an irritating red rash when using aluminum chloride.
Botox is an extremely effective way to help treat excessive underarm sweating in people where nothing else works. A series of injections of Botox under each arm can almost completely stop any sweating for anywhere from 4-8 months. It is very expensive though, and although medical insurance may pay for Botox, it takes a lot of paper work and persistence to get it covered. For extreme cases when nothing else works, a surgical procedure with general anesthesia can be performed to remove sweat glands.
If axillary hyperhidrosis isn’t too advanced, over the counter antiperspirants should be used first to try and improve it. Semi-solid antiperspirants seem to be the most effective way to get underarm protection accurately into the sweat glands. Less effective but still OK are gels and solid antiperspirants. Sprays are the least effective way to obtain antiperspirant protection. Antiperspirants work best when they are applied twice a day, morning and evening. Plus, a simple “wipe, wipe” in your armpits quickly to apply the material will make it not very effective. You should wipe many times for at least 20 or so seconds back and forth under each armpit for these products to work. Doing this ensures the sweat glands become clogged most efficiently with the antiperspirant material. Obtaining clogged sweat glands usually takes at least a week or more of twice daily (appropriate) use of antiperspirants. So, someone shouldn’t expect an antiperspirant to work any quicker than that. Secret Clinical is a brand name antiperspirant that is new and has clinical data that shows with proper use it is very effective at clogging the sweat pores and hence preventing sweating. It is most effective, of course, with proper use twice daily.
Aluminum chloride solution is a prescription antiperspirant that is effective when regular antiperspirants don’t cut it. It is so strong, it often works when used only every other night. You don’t need to use regular antiperspirants anymore when using aluminum chloride. Unfortunately, it is very irritating, and even with detailed instructions on how to use it, many people still get an irritating red rash when using aluminum chloride.
Botox is an extremely effective way to help treat excessive underarm sweating in people where nothing else works. A series of injections of Botox under each arm can almost completely stop any sweating for anywhere from 4-8 months. It is very expensive though, and although medical insurance may pay for Botox, it takes a lot of paper work and persistence to get it covered. For extreme cases when nothing else works, a surgical procedure with general anesthesia can be performed to remove sweat glands.
This blog is written by an individual Wellness.com forum member and does not necessarily state the views of Wellness.com Incorporated or any of its affiliates.
Community Comments!
Jenny 8/7/2007 6:35:43 PM
What about aluminum and its relation to Alzhiemers and other health problems? I've stopped using any products that contain aluminum.
Luna 8/7/2007 8:59:22 PM
I've always suspected that blocking the sweat glands with an antiperspirant or Botox could inhibit the body's necessary ability to eliminate toxins. Could there be any connection to blocking the elimination of toxins (sweat) and breast cancer risk? Doesn't sound worth it to me.
Lu
Lu
8/8/2007 8:30:11 AM
Most antiperspirant products are based on aluminum salts or other aluminum type combination products. I can definitely see people's worry about them, especially with regard to Alzheimers. But my take is there is a big difference between aluminum by itself and an aluminum salt such as aluminum chloride and aluminum zirconium. Think about this: is sodium the same thing as sodium chloride (the salt of sodium)? Sodium chloride is table salt, but sodium by itself doesn't resemble salt. So, what a chemical is bound to makes a difference on how it behaves in the body.
As far as toxin buildup through sweat inhibition, the body eliminates toxins much more through urine and feces than through the sweat. And clogging sweat glands to decrese armpit sweating still allows the body to sweat everywhere else. So, I don't personally see any problems with clogging sweat glands in the armpits alone.
Most antiperspirant products are based on aluminum salts or other aluminum type combination products. I can definitely see people's worry about them, especially with regard to Alzheimers. But my take is there is a big difference between aluminum by itself and an aluminum salt such as aluminum chloride and aluminum zirconium. Think about this: is sodium the same thing as sodium chloride (the salt of sodium)? Sodium chloride is table salt, but sodium by itself doesn't resemble salt. So, what a chemical is bound to makes a difference on how it behaves in the body.
As far as toxin buildup through sweat inhibition, the body eliminates toxins much more through urine and feces than through the sweat. And clogging sweat glands to decrese armpit sweating still allows the body to sweat everywhere else. So, I don't personally see any problems with clogging sweat glands in the armpits alone.
Jenny 8/8/2007 12:12:20 PM
Thanks Dr. Green! That makes me feel a lot better about antiperspirants. Are the Alzheimer's studies based on aluminum by itself, or a bonded aluminum?
Jenny
Jenny
8/8/2007 1:36:10 PM
Jenny, that is a great question that I unfortunately don't know the answer to. I have read about aluminum and Alzheimer's in the lay press, but since I don't keep up with medical neurology journals (being a dermatologist it's out of my field), I don't really know the specifics. Let's both try and check and see what we can find out. I'll post something after I talk to a neurology colleague of mine.
-Lawrence Green
Jenny, that is a great question that I unfortunately don't know the answer to. I have read about aluminum and Alzheimer's in the lay press, but since I don't keep up with medical neurology journals (being a dermatologist it's out of my field), I don't really know the specifics. Let's both try and check and see what we can find out. I'll post something after I talk to a neurology colleague of mine.
-Lawrence Green
Jenny 8/8/2007 4:28:23 PM
There are over 116 published studies on pubmed.gov with Aluminum and Alzheimer's in the title. Here's a link to the top 100: http://eutils.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/eutils/erss.cgi?rss_guid=0Se077hxJZv2EaK-BnXewK7R3_ZKNSUyY3dHtrYUgH4.
I think it's enough to be concerned about. However, one of the main focuses seems to be the cumulative effect from trace amounts in drinking water. That's probably outside of your discipline. Interested to see what you find.
Jenny
I think it's enough to be concerned about. However, one of the main focuses seems to be the cumulative effect from trace amounts in drinking water. That's probably outside of your discipline. Interested to see what you find.
Jenny
8/9/2007 8:27:51 AM
Thanks Jenny. All those articles talk about the metal aluminum only-not when bound as a salt such as aluminum chloride or aluminum zirconium. These compounds wouldn't be expected to react like aluminum does by itself. So, it seems not to worry about antiperspirants with these aluminum salts. I'll write back when I hear from my colleague in neurology though.
-Lawrence Green
Thanks Jenny. All those articles talk about the metal aluminum only-not when bound as a salt such as aluminum chloride or aluminum zirconium. These compounds wouldn't be expected to react like aluminum does by itself. So, it seems not to worry about antiperspirants with these aluminum salts. I'll write back when I hear from my colleague in neurology though.
-Lawrence Green
John 8/13/2007 7:14:09 PM
Dr. Green, have you heard about this surgical technique for reducing over-sweating and would you consider it safe and effective? Here's link to it:
http://www.hyperhidrosis-usa.com/Hyperhidrosis.html
http://www.hyperhidrosis-usa.com/Hyperhidrosis.html
8/15/2007 1:35:32 PM
Yes, ETS is a surgical option for extreme hyperhidrosis as a last option. I am not that familiar with it because it is a surgical procedure requiring general anesthesia. From what I have heard, it can take a long time to recover from this surgery, but that said, the procedure has become more advanced and safer over the years. For axillary hyperhidrosis, if you want surgery, I would recommend trying a simpler procedure of just trying to surgically remove the sweat glands under local novacaine, prior to trying to remove all the nerve fibers under general anesthesia, as in ETS.
Interestingly, a dermatology colleague of mine was just telling me today he was considering trying to refer a patient with intractable palm and axillary hyperhidrosis for biofeedback therapy. What have you guys heard about that?
BTW, Jenny, I haven't forgotten you. I'm still waiting to hear back from a neurologist!
-Lawrence Green
Yes, ETS is a surgical option for extreme hyperhidrosis as a last option. I am not that familiar with it because it is a surgical procedure requiring general anesthesia. From what I have heard, it can take a long time to recover from this surgery, but that said, the procedure has become more advanced and safer over the years. For axillary hyperhidrosis, if you want surgery, I would recommend trying a simpler procedure of just trying to surgically remove the sweat glands under local novacaine, prior to trying to remove all the nerve fibers under general anesthesia, as in ETS.
Interestingly, a dermatology colleague of mine was just telling me today he was considering trying to refer a patient with intractable palm and axillary hyperhidrosis for biofeedback therapy. What have you guys heard about that?
BTW, Jenny, I haven't forgotten you. I'm still waiting to hear back from a neurologist!
-Lawrence Green
9/3/2007 8:39:39 AM
Jenny:
I am finally getting back to you-albeit two weeks later. I am sorry! End of summer vacations make it hard to track physician colleauges down. OK, as told to me by a neurology colleague-there were some suggestions several years ago that Alzheimers was related to aluminum ions-not aluminum salts like we have been discussing-from drinking water, etc. But that has been since disounted, as Alzheimers is due to the buildup of amyloid deposits in the brain. These are not related to aluminum with current thinking.
Jenny:
I am finally getting back to you-albeit two weeks later. I am sorry! End of summer vacations make it hard to track physician colleauges down. OK, as told to me by a neurology colleague-there were some suggestions several years ago that Alzheimers was related to aluminum ions-not aluminum salts like we have been discussing-from drinking water, etc. But that has been since disounted, as Alzheimers is due to the buildup of amyloid deposits in the brain. These are not related to aluminum with current thinking.
nwaite 9/18/2007 10:44:08 AM
I had this issue when I was younger and found that I sweat less when NOT using antiperspirants. They seemed to produce more sweating! Thanks for the good information and research Doc!
kits85 6/28/2008 10:40:28 PM
Hello Dr. I need some advise. Last year March 2006 i went to India for treatment for reoccuring boils. I had 3 on each underarm that wouldn't go away. I got treated and up until a week ago i got another boil on my underarm and now getting one on the other underarm. I am on antibiotics right now. But is there anything i can do to stop these boils from comming back, is there surgery that i could go thru to stop this problem. I recently read that taking tumeric powder in warm water 3 times a day help it go away but i'm looking for a permanemet cure. Please let me know if you can give me some advise.
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