Aluminum Chloride Hexahydrate, Driclor or Anhydrol Forte, obtained from your GP, is usually the first line of treatment for excessive sweating. It is the first agent of choice for hyperhidrosis of the armpits.
It comes in a roller ball applicator which can be applied to any area of the body, but is most commonly used under the arms.
It is believed to work by gradually forming a gel matrix in the sweat gland which subsequently reduces, then stops the flow of water. Excess water is then re-absorbed and disposed of in the normal way. Within just a few weeks of use, excessive perspiration may disappear.
Treatment consists of applying the medication onto the skin and leaving it on overnight and washing off again in the morning. The skin must be dry and clean upon application. If the skin is moist, severe skin irritation may occur.
These antiperspirants must not be applied to broken, irritated or recently shaven skin. It may cause irritation which can be alleviated by the use of a weak, corticosteroid cream. Avoid contact with eyes, clothing and polished metal surfaces.
Botulinum Toxin, otherwise know as 'Botox' is a treatment given by injection into the skin. It is licensed in the UK for Axillary hyperhidrosis only. This drug has been used for many years to treat muscle spasms affecting the face, eyes and neck and for foot problems in children with cerebral palsy. It is also used for cosmetic purposes.
It is a preparation of protein and when small doses are injected into the skin, it blocks the nerves that supply the eccrine glands, this prevents the glands from producing sweat.
Botox permanently blocks the nerve endings, but over about 6-12 weeks, new nerve endings grow to replace them. This means that the effects of the treatment last for a few months, but further treatment is necessary.
Botox is available in only a few NHS hospitals, but the procedure is mostly done in private hospitals or clinics.
Botox is not suitable for those who are allergic to any of its contents or for those who are pregnant or who suffer from muscle problems. Those on antibiotics or any drugs used as muscle relaxants should also not have treatment.
Before BTX-A
Area of sweating marked with iodine dye
After BTX-A
Although generally this treatment is very successful for the axillae, some patients have experienced an increase in sweating in another part of the body. Occasionally a small amount of Botox may spread out from the injection site and affect a nearby nerve that supplies the muscle causing temporary weakness of the arm.
Flu-like symptoms may occur after treatment and will disappear within a few days. The injection site can also be a bit sore for a while.
