It's unflattering and embarrassing to be constantly sweating more than everyone else. Aggravating underarm sweating leaves patches on your clothes. (Sweaty armpits aren't the impression you want people to remember you for.)

If you sweat more excessively than most people, you may have the condition Hyperhydrosis- which is simply over-active sweat glands.

Stop Excessive Underarm Sweating

You don't have to endure Hyperhydrosis any longer, there are many options in treating excessive sweating: Antiperspirants, Botox Injections, Oral Medications, & Surgical Options, one of them will be the right fit for your needs and change your life.

With Our Sweating Treatments You'll Get

• Renewed Confidence
• Control Over Your Sweating
• Peace of Mind That your Getting the Best Care by the Best Doctor
  

The Best Doctor to Treat Underarm Sweating

Dr. Charles Crutchfield is one of the top doctors in Minnesota when it comes to cosmetic dermatology. Voted Top Doc by Mpls St. Paul Magazine for 7 years in a row!
He specializes in the treatment of hyperhidrosis under the arms. Utilizing a variety of medical interventions including topical medications, oral medications, and inject able Botox.
We are confident that Dr. Crutchfield can successfully treat your underarm hyperhidrosis and restore your confidence.

Schedule your consultation today and we will discuss a treatment strategy with you. 651-209-3600

Hyperhidrosis and Antiperspirant Treatments: A discussion with Dr. Crutchfield

Antiperspirants

It’s important to distinguish between antiperspirants and deodorants. Deodorants are fragranced preparations that will mask odor. Antiperspirants actually will reduce and/or eliminate perspiration. The active ingredient is aluminum chloride, whose exact mechanism is incompletely understood. It does form small plugs in the pores to help block perspiration production. It tends to be very effective, especially at higher concentrations. Anything stronger than 12% aluminum chloride is considered prescription strength and you need a physician’s prescription to obtain it. The disadvantage at higher concentrations is that it is difficult to get aluminum chloride into solution so it usually comes dissolved in alcohol, which can be extremely irritating and drying to the skin. I like the water-based preparations of 12% aluminum chloride applied twice daily. They tend to work very, very well. There are lots of new preparations on the market that are over-the-counter with 12% aluminum chloride in moisturizing and/or water vehicles that work well. One of the advantages for antiperspirants is they can be used anywhere that perspiration occurs. That includes hands, feet, underarms, forehead, and any other areas where perspiration is a concern. The disadvantage is it can be slightly labor intensive to apply twice daily, and there are some unsubstantiated health concerns about aluminum chloride but not enough that I would dissuade any patients from using it.

Botox Injections to Treat Sweating

We’ve used both Botox and Dysport with great success. It works on the nerves that cause the perspiration glands to secrete sweat. Usually these injections can last three to four months, and I have had several patients who come in three times a year for their treatment and they say that it is absolutely life changing. It’s been one of the biggest medical advances in medicine with respect to hyperhidrosis since the invention of antiperspirants. The disadvantage is they are slightly painful and involve multiple injections, and there are certain sites that are very difficult to treat. Botox and Dysport injections work extraordinarily well under arms. It’s a lot trickier to treat the hands and feet and almost impossible to treat other areas. Additionally, injections in the hands and feet are so painful, you need set up a nerve block so when you do the injections it is more comfortable. However, because it also affects muscles, one of the side effects is that it can cause weakness of the hands and feet. This is generally something that I don’t recommend and only use it as near last resort. I have had some patients who have hyperhidrosis of their nose when they eat spicy foods, and we’ve treated gently with Botox/Dysport injections, and that has worked well. The advantage is that it is becoming more and more accepted and many insurances are covering it. Once again, the disadvantage is that not all insurances cover it and the treatment can cost upwards of $1000.

Oral Medications to Treat Sweating

The one that I use is Robinul. This medication can work extremely well, it has a good safety record, and it’s been around for many years. The advantage is it works everywhere, so if the hyperhidrosis is involved on the scalp or back, it tends to work well there too. The disadvantage is sometimes it can make patients a little bit sleepy or give them a feeling of a dry mouth. The other advantage is that the tablets are scored, so if patients are getting sleepy or dry mouth, I have them take half a tablet. For larger patients, I might have them take a tablet and a half, depending on their response. But for the most part, this is a great starting point and patients tend to tolerate it very well.

Surgical Options to Stop Sweating

Sometimes when the hyperhidrosis is so profound and all the other discussed mechanisms don’t work, surgical intervention has been used with success. Oftentimes the nerve that enervates the sweat glands, especially of the hands and feet, is severed causing reduction or elimination of perspiration in those areas. Many people have extraordinarily profound hyperhidrosis where they actually have to buy new shoes every month or so because the perspiration is degrading their shoes.

Sweating Treatments Summary

In summary, my initial approach to hyperhidrosis is to use a 12% aluminum chloride preparation twice daily to the affected areas with Robinul. If that doesn’t work and the areas are amenable to treatment, then Botox/Dysport injections are indicated and they tend to work well. If that doesn’t work, then I refer them to a thoracic surgeon for surgical options.

If you have additional questions, feel free to schedule a consultation and we can discuss all options.