Good-Bye, Excessive Sweating: 5 Treatment Options for Hyperhidrosis

In the thick of summer in South Carolina, plenty of people perspire. You might notice that you seem to get wetter faster than other people, though. If you sweat so much that it dampens your clothes, drips off of you, or you perspire even when you’re not exerting yourself or in a hot environment, you might have a condition called hyperhidrosis.

Hyperhidrosis is characterized by excessive sweating. If that sounds familiar, it’s time to talk to Kenneth Warrick, MD, FAAD, and our team at Atlantic Dermatology in Longs, South Carolina. As a specialist in hyperhidrosis, Dr. Warrick can help you explore your treatment options. Those include:

1. Lifestyle changes

Some adjustments to your life can help with hyperhidrosis. These include wearing breathable fabrics and opting for pharmaceutical-grade antiperspirant (not deodorant, which only addresses odor, not sweat volume).

Additionally, identifying your triggers can help. Notice if you feel sweaty after drinking coffee, eating spicy food, or encountering a stressful situation, for example. Learning to manage your triggers and implementing some relaxation techniques can help you stay dryer. 

2. Medication

Dr. Warrick can explore both oral and topical medication options with you. Prescription creams, patches, and wipes can be particularly helpful for specific areas where you get really sweaty, like your:

• Face
• Feet
• Hands
• Underarms

Additionally, some people benefit from nerve-blocking medications they can take orally. 

3. Botox

Botox® interferes with your sweat glands by blocking the nerves that trigger their activity. As a result, it can stop sweating in targeted treatment areas. It’s FDA-cleared to address excessive underarm sweating, and Dr. Warrick can use it for other particularly damp areas like your forehand, hands, or feet. 

Botox usually starts working a few days after treatment. To maintain your results, you’ll likely need repeat sessions every six months or so. Still, Botox gives you a quick, minimally invasive way to target the sweatiest parts of your body. 

4. Microwave therapy

Using controlled microwave energy, microwave thermolysis destroys sweat glands in targeted areas. Most commonly used for your underarms, this treatment usually works best when you get a couple of sessions to have a maximum impact on sweat gland function. 

5. Surgery

If no other treatment alleviates your hyperhidrosis, you can explore endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS). During this minimally invasive procedure, your surgeon cuts the nerves that trigger sweat. 

You’re not stuck with excessive sweating. To learn more about these hyperhidrosis treatment options and to figure out what might work best for you, schedule a visit with Dr. Warrick. Call our office or use our online feature to book an appointment today.