ARMPIT SWEATING SOLUTIONS

For people who suffer from more than one of the four (hand, face, feet and armpit) main types of localized hyperhidrosis conditions, excessive armpit sweating is usually the least problematic one. Moreover, armpit sweating is also the most likely type of hyperhidrosis to respond favorably to basic nonsurgical treatments such as prescription strength deodorants or Botox injections. Some people who only sweat from their armpits decide to get ETS surgery to cure it, and quite often end up regretting this because of the main side effect of compensatory sweating – i.e., their armpits stop sweating, but they start sweating excessively in other parts of their bodies. As a result, many surgeons no longer offer ETS surgery for the sole purpose of stopping armpit sweating.

Armpit Bromhidrosis

One unique and bothersome aspect of armpit sweating is that it can often be smelly, a condition called bromhidrosis. Almost all the sweat glands in your body are of a type called eccrine (also called merocrine), and such sweat glands do not emit odor. Eccrine sweat glands primarily emit water and sodium chloride (salt). However, the armpits and groin area contain both eccrine and apocrine sweat glands, and the latter can exhibit significant odor. Apocrine sweat glands increase activity at puberty and contain pheromones that are also said to attract the opposite sex in spite of the bad smell.

Antiperspirants to stop armpit sweating

I have tried a number of prescription strength antiperspirant products (some with deodorant in them too) for my feet sweating in recent years, but none helped. In contrast, those same products were very effective for my armpit sweating. Some even made my armpits too dry. Note that for my feet, I did not try the most effective method of applying such products (i.e., wash feet at night, apply antiperspirants, saran wrap feet, go to sleep and repeat all over again the next night) because I did not want to do that whole procedure every night for the rest of my life even if it worked! Moreover, my feet don't sweat every day, and when I am fully asleep, they never sweat. Most people who use antiperspirant type products for their excessive hand and feet sweating tend to see little or no benefit. The few who do see significant benefit typically apply the product in the manner I described above after showering or washing and drying their hands or feet. On the other hand, antiperspirant and deodorant use in the armpits can be very effective, especially when the product is clinical/prescription strength.

Botox to stop axillary sweating

Botox can be very effective at stopping armpit sweating, often for even more than six months at a stretch after one round of injections. If you cannot afford Botox injections, you can sometimes get free treatment. For more on that, read my botox feet sweating treatment experience.

Iontophoresis to stop sweaty armpits

Most people do not know that besides its most common usage of drug delivery, iontophoresis therapy can also stop excessive hand and feet sweating. Moreover, even people who know this, often don't know that a select few iontophoresis machine suppliers also offer special electrodes that can be used to stop armpit sweating! Both HIDREX and Idromed offer such electrodes. You can purchase those machines from the pages I just linked to via the banners at the bottom.

A new nonsurgical electromagnetic therapy received FDA clearance in 2011. For more, see: miraDry.

1. Liposuction

It seems like retrodermal curettage (see further below) is an improved version of this old method.

2. Aspirection Hidrectomy

I read about this surgery being done by a Dr. Popp in a book on hyperhidrosis that an author from Germany sent me to review. I remember also reading about someone in the UK who also does this procedure too. If anyone has an update on this procedure, please e-mail me or post on the forums.

3. Tumescent Suction Curettage

4. Retrodermal Curettage

Retordermal Curettage is a surgery akin to liposuction. Under general anaesthesia, a surgeon will scrape off some skin under your armpits and in the process permanently damage sweat glands. Two US-based surgeons who have significant experience with this procedure are:

Dr. Grazer

and

Dr. Pnini

5. Laser Sweat Ablation (LSA) and Sub-dermal Laser Ablation (SDLA)

UK's first laser sweat ablation surgery for armpit sweating performed in 2009 by Dr. Whiteley. The cost of this surgery plus consultation and related work with Dr. Whiteley is 3,000 British pounds as of 2010.

UPDATE Jan 8th 2012: Dr. Whiteley just e-mailed me and said that they had performed their 101st LSA procedure.

Dr. Nielsen's SDLA laser procedure that he is now also using to treat other body areas such as the feet and chest

Note that these procedures are all fairly recent, and some people have bad results. Dr. Nielsen told me that between 2009 and 2012 his procedure has improved significantly, but it is still imperative to read about the unsatisfied outcomes such as: a Nielsen patient's results blog before jumping in.

6. ETS surgery

Do not undergo this surgery if you solely sweat from your armpits. ETS might be a good solution if you have both hand and armpit sweating and alternative treatments fail. Most surgeons no longer recommend ETS just to stop armpit sweating.