Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsIs There a Cure?Causes and TriggersPrimary TherapiesMore Treatment OptionsSurgeryHome RemediesComplicationsPreventionSeeking Medical CareNext in Hyperhidrosis GuideWhat Is Hyperhidrosis?
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Is There a Cure?
Causes and Triggers
Primary Therapies
More Treatment Options
Surgery
Home Remedies
Complications
Prevention
Seeking Medical Care
Next in Hyperhidrosis Guide
After the cause is confirmed, people will undergo treatment for the underlying cause, as well as to control the symptom. This could involve self-care, lifestyle changes, medical antiperspirants, or other medications.
This article covers the treatment options your healthcare provider may suggest for excessive perspiration.
Doucefleur / Getty Images
Can Hyperhidrosis Be Cured?
There is no cure for hyperhidrosis. However, certain lifestyle and medical interventions can provide long-lasting or permanent relief from the symptom. Some possible treatments include:
What Constitutes Excessive Sweating?Sweat is a natural bodily response designed to regulate temperature. In certain situations, many people sweat as their body temperature rises. However, in people with hyperhidrosis, sweat occurs even without the need to cool the body down.
What Constitutes Excessive Sweating?
Sweat is a natural bodily response designed to regulate temperature. In certain situations, many people sweat as their body temperature rises. However, in people with hyperhidrosis, sweat occurs even without the need to cool the body down.
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What Triggers Hyperhidrosis?
Hyperhidrosis develops when receptors, known as cholinergic receptors, become overstimulated. These receptors are located on eccrine glands, which are simplesweat glandswithin the skin.
There are two types of hyperhidrosis,primary and secondary. Each type will have different causes and triggers. Primary hyperhidrosis is considered idiopathic because there is no clear-cut cause or trigger for the excessive perspiration. Typically, primary hyperhidrosis results from emotional stress.
Secondary hyperhidrosis means an underlying health disorder or condition is to blame for the symptoms. There are several possible causes associated with this type of excessive sweating. Causes can include:
Because there are many possible causes associated with secondary hyperhidrosis, finding the driving condition is the best way to find the proper treatment.
How Common Is Hyperhidrosis?While medical researchers believe that hyperhidrosis is largely underreported due to shame or embarrassment, it’s thought that roughly 2% to 3% of the global population copes with the disorder.
How Common Is Hyperhidrosis?
While medical researchers believe that hyperhidrosis is largely underreported due to shame or embarrassment, it’s thought that roughly 2% to 3% of the global population copes with the disorder.
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How Is Hyperhidrosis Treated?
There are many possible treatment and therapy options available for people with hyperhidrosis. They include:
Lifestyle Changes
Lifestyle changes can help to improve hyperhidrosis when used alongside another form of therapy. The changes people can make in their everyday lives to prevent excessive sweating include:
Prescription-Strength Antiperspirants
Most over-the-counter (OTC) antiperspirants do not contain ingredients to help with hyperhidrosis. That is where prescription-strength antiperspirants can help. Typically, these products include aluminum salts. These salts clog up pores so that sweat cannot escape them. The concentration of aluminum salts will vary but can range between 5% AND 25%.
Another prescription product that may work for some is sofpironium bromide, an anticholinergic agent. Anticholinergic agents are drugs that can block a specificneurotransmitterthought to be associated with signals that cause sweat to occur.
How Effective Are Aluminum Salts?No prescription will work the same for everyone. That is why there are many treatments available for the same disorder. Regarding hyperhidrosis and aluminum salts, as many as 80% of people experience relief from their symptoms when using prescription aluminum salts antiperspirants.
How Effective Are Aluminum Salts?
No prescription will work the same for everyone. That is why there are many treatments available for the same disorder. Regarding hyperhidrosis and aluminum salts, as many as 80% of people experience relief from their symptoms when using prescription aluminum salts antiperspirants.
OTC Antiperspirants
Some people may also be able to use OTC antiperspirants that contain ingredients to help hinder excessive sweat production.
These types of antiperspirants also contain aluminum salts because this ingredient is effective againstexcessive perspiration. They are typically reserved for cases that affect the underarms.
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Oral Medications
Clinical-Grade Cloth Wipes
When this happens, the glands do not produce more sweat than they need to.
What Happens If These Therapy Approaches Don’t Work?Finding the right therapy may require trial and error for some people. Not all of the above treatments will be effective against hyperhidrosis. However, there are other options.
What Happens If These Therapy Approaches Don’t Work?
Finding the right therapy may require trial and error for some people. Not all of the above treatments will be effective against hyperhidrosis. However, there are other options.
What If Medications and Lifestyle Changes Don’t Improve Symptoms?
Other treatments may be necessary when hyperhidrosis is severe or doesn’t respond to the primary therapies. They include:
Iontophoresis
Iontophoresisinvolves using electricity, water, and sweat glands to help stop excessive sweating. With this treatment, people must soak the area they are treating in water.
A gentle electrical current is pulsed into the skin and sweat glands through the water. This, in turn, shuts off the glands.
This is not a permanent fix. Iontophoresis is especially helpful for people who have hyperhidrosis that affects the hands and feet.
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Botox Injections
Botox(onabotulinumtoxinA) become a household name because of its use in cosmetic procedures, but it can be a helpful therapy for many other health complaints, including hyperhidrosis.
By injecting the Botox oxin into the affected area of the body, nerve signals that drive excessive perspiration are blocked.
How Effective Is Botox for Hyperhidrosis?While not permanent, Botox injections can provide long-lasting relief from excessive sweating. Results can last for as long as six months in some people.
How Effective Is Botox for Hyperhidrosis?
While not permanent, Botox injections can provide long-lasting relief from excessive sweating. Results can last for as long as six months in some people.
Microwave Therapy (miraDry)
Microwave thermolysis, or miraDry, is a hyperhidrosis treatment option that uses microwave energy beams.
Lasers
Laser treatmentshave been used to address many health and cosmetic concerns, but they can also be used to reduce excessive sweating in people with hyperhidrosis.
According to research, laser treatment for hyperhidrosis is a long-term solution lasting for a year or longer.
Who Needs Hyperhidrosis Surgery?
Surgery for hyperhidrosis is a last resort treatment option after trying others and still not finding relief.
The surgery used to reduce the symptom of excessive sweating is called thoracic sympathectomy.
Other Home Remedies and Lifestyle Changes
There are some home remedies that you can explore alongside other treatments or on their own to combat hyperhidrosis. They include:
Adherence to agluten-free dietmay also help to control the symptom of hyperhidrosis.
Other steps a person can take to help cope with excessive perspiration include:
Are Home Remedies Effective?There is little research surrounding the efficacy of specific home remedies against hyperhidrosis. You should always speak to a healthcare provider before trying any natural products, especially if you take other medications or supplements.
Are Home Remedies Effective?
There is little research surrounding the efficacy of specific home remedies against hyperhidrosis. You should always speak to a healthcare provider before trying any natural products, especially if you take other medications or supplements.
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What Are the Complications of Hyperhidrosis?
Research has found that living and coping with hyperhidrosis can lead to a severely impacted quality of life for those with the disorder.
Along with the primary symptom of excessive sweating, hyperhidrosis may also lead to other impactful health issues, such as:
Social and Emotional Impact of Hyperhidrosis
Can I Prevent Hyperhidrosis
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Hyperhidrosis isn’t typically a cause for concern, and many people can have it and cope with it without the need to see their healthcare provider.
However, if you experience repeated infections or start developing shame, embarrassment, or other feelings of anxiety surrounding the symptom, you should see your healthcare provider.
There are therapy options, and you do not have to cope alone. Many treatments have the potential to provide long-term relief from excessive sweating.
Summary
Treating hyperhidrosis can be a complicated task because there are many associated causes, and people respond to therapies in different ways. What works for one may not work for the other.
Primary therapies, such as OTC, prescription medication, and medical antiperspirants, are the go-to when dealing with hyperhidrosis. Other more extensive treatments will be explored if they do not work, such as laser therapy or iontophoresis.
If no therapies provide relief, a person may undergo surgery. This is typically reserved as a last resort after making the necessary lifestyle changes and taking medications as prescribed without relief.
If you experience the symptoms of hyperhidrosis and wish to explore a treatment option that works for you, contact a healthcare provider. They will offer you options based on what is causing your hyperhidrosis.
10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Kisielnicka A, Szczerkowska-Dobosz A, Purzycka-Bohdan D, Nowicki RJ.Hyperhidrosis: disease aetiology, classification and management in the light of modern treatment modalities.Postepy Dermatol Alergol.2022 Apr;39(2):251-257. doi:10.5114/ada.2022.115887International Hyperhidrosis Society.Oral Medications.Medline Plus.Glycopyrronium Topical.International Hyperhidrosis Society.Iontophoresis.UCLA Health.Botox injections one to treat hyperhidrosis sweating.American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.Microwave Thermolysis for Excessive Sweating.Leclère FM, Moreno-Moraga J, Alcolea JM, Vogt PM, Royo J, Cornejo P, Casoli V, Mordon S, Trelles MA.Efficacy and safety of laser therapy on axillary hyperhidrosis after one year follow-up: a randomized blinded controlled trial.Lasers Surg Med.2015 Feb;47(2):173-9. doi:10.1002/lsm.22324Circulation Foundation.What is Endoscopic Thoracic Sympathectomy?International Hyperhidrosis Society.Natural Remedies.Lenefsky M, Rice ZP.Hyperhidrosis and its impact on those living with it.Am J Manag Care.2018 Dec;24(23 Suppl):S491-S495.
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Kisielnicka A, Szczerkowska-Dobosz A, Purzycka-Bohdan D, Nowicki RJ.Hyperhidrosis: disease aetiology, classification and management in the light of modern treatment modalities.Postepy Dermatol Alergol.2022 Apr;39(2):251-257. doi:10.5114/ada.2022.115887International Hyperhidrosis Society.Oral Medications.Medline Plus.Glycopyrronium Topical.International Hyperhidrosis Society.Iontophoresis.UCLA Health.Botox injections one to treat hyperhidrosis sweating.American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.Microwave Thermolysis for Excessive Sweating.Leclère FM, Moreno-Moraga J, Alcolea JM, Vogt PM, Royo J, Cornejo P, Casoli V, Mordon S, Trelles MA.Efficacy and safety of laser therapy on axillary hyperhidrosis after one year follow-up: a randomized blinded controlled trial.Lasers Surg Med.2015 Feb;47(2):173-9. doi:10.1002/lsm.22324Circulation Foundation.What is Endoscopic Thoracic Sympathectomy?International Hyperhidrosis Society.Natural Remedies.Lenefsky M, Rice ZP.Hyperhidrosis and its impact on those living with it.Am J Manag Care.2018 Dec;24(23 Suppl):S491-S495.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Kisielnicka A, Szczerkowska-Dobosz A, Purzycka-Bohdan D, Nowicki RJ.Hyperhidrosis: disease aetiology, classification and management in the light of modern treatment modalities.Postepy Dermatol Alergol.2022 Apr;39(2):251-257. doi:10.5114/ada.2022.115887International Hyperhidrosis Society.Oral Medications.Medline Plus.Glycopyrronium Topical.International Hyperhidrosis Society.Iontophoresis.UCLA Health.Botox injections one to treat hyperhidrosis sweating.American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.Microwave Thermolysis for Excessive Sweating.Leclère FM, Moreno-Moraga J, Alcolea JM, Vogt PM, Royo J, Cornejo P, Casoli V, Mordon S, Trelles MA.Efficacy and safety of laser therapy on axillary hyperhidrosis after one year follow-up: a randomized blinded controlled trial.Lasers Surg Med.2015 Feb;47(2):173-9. doi:10.1002/lsm.22324Circulation Foundation.What is Endoscopic Thoracic Sympathectomy?International Hyperhidrosis Society.Natural Remedies.Lenefsky M, Rice ZP.Hyperhidrosis and its impact on those living with it.Am J Manag Care.2018 Dec;24(23 Suppl):S491-S495.
Kisielnicka A, Szczerkowska-Dobosz A, Purzycka-Bohdan D, Nowicki RJ.Hyperhidrosis: disease aetiology, classification and management in the light of modern treatment modalities.Postepy Dermatol Alergol.2022 Apr;39(2):251-257. doi:10.5114/ada.2022.115887
International Hyperhidrosis Society.Oral Medications.
Medline Plus.Glycopyrronium Topical.
International Hyperhidrosis Society.Iontophoresis.
UCLA Health.Botox injections one to treat hyperhidrosis sweating.
American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.Microwave Thermolysis for Excessive Sweating.
Leclère FM, Moreno-Moraga J, Alcolea JM, Vogt PM, Royo J, Cornejo P, Casoli V, Mordon S, Trelles MA.Efficacy and safety of laser therapy on axillary hyperhidrosis after one year follow-up: a randomized blinded controlled trial.Lasers Surg Med.2015 Feb;47(2):173-9. doi:10.1002/lsm.22324
Circulation Foundation.What is Endoscopic Thoracic Sympathectomy?
International Hyperhidrosis Society.Natural Remedies.
Lenefsky M, Rice ZP.Hyperhidrosis and its impact on those living with it.Am J Manag Care.2018 Dec;24(23 Suppl):S491-S495.
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