Suffering from Hyperhidrosis - Help Needed

addicted on 21/03/2016 - 22:36

Hi guys,
I am 38 years old male and I am suffering from hyperhidrosis, specifically profuse sweating in hands. Seeing the quality of discussions and suggestions offered here in the posts, I wanted to share this and ask for how do people manage who are suffering from this condition are managing it. So the treatment options for this condition are:
1. Topical creams, ointments etc. i.e. Apply stuff with high percentage of aluminium chloride e.g. Drysol etc. I have tried them and you have to try them for some time to see results. I have met with only a bit of success with this method.
2. Iontophoresis - some weird method of passing low electric current in your hands. Have not tried this and evidence does not suggest this has much efficacy either.
3. Botox injections in hands: This involves applying botox injections in hands. The effect lasts for 4-8 months. Costs around a 1000$ per treatment. I have not tried this one but am willing to give this a shot.
4. ETS surgery : This involves sugically cutting the nerve behind lungs. This is kind of controversial surgery and the after effects could be sever compensatory sweating. This option is taken if the person is really really desperate.

I now turn to you and ask if any of you suffer from this and have any handy strategies which have worked for them and would like to recommend?

Health & Beauty

Comments

  • Stevetheadventurer on 21/03/2016 - 22:42
    -1

    this should help

    • addicted on 21/03/2016 - 22:49
      +2

      erm that is for hemorrhoid. I do not have them!

  • scrimshaw on 21/03/2016 - 22:45

    I overheard a patient talking about this while I was at a dermatologist clinic. We then discussed it, because I sweat profusely as well, just not as much that I would classify as hyperhidrosis. But i do sweat a lot.

    The dermatologist then mentioned Miradry, http://www.miradry.com.au/
    Its a non-invasive procedure that burns away sweat glands in the armpits using electromagnetic energy. The only side effects are swelling or hair loss. This targets the armpits. I don't know if it will work on hands.

    NVM, this treatment won't work on hands.

    • addicted on 21/03/2016 - 22:50

      thanks scrimshaw, yeah that's what I was going to say

  • sparkles on 21/03/2016 - 23:03

    I saw this condition on the show Embarrassing Bodies and from memory the girls problem was fixed. Here is the video, shows the surgery in a decent amount of detail if you decide to go that route.

    http://www.channel4embarrassingillnesses.com/video/in-detail…

    • addicted on 22/03/2016 - 10:23

      thanks sparkles that's useful.

      • sparkles on 22/03/2016 - 16:53

        Good to hear, hope you find your solution.

  • ferguscan on 22/03/2016 - 00:45

    FWIW, I have a friend who suffered from profuse sweating in only one armpit. His condition was solved by long-term application of creams containing large aluminium particles. He applied the cream over a few years, and no longer has to.

  • derek324 on 22/03/2016 - 08:08

    This is rather strange place to ask. Quick Google search discovers many support groups where people discuss this specific issue, and many commercial sites which offer various products (usually ointments). But… OzBargain? Not sure I see the logic behind asking here.

    • addicted on 22/03/2016 - 10:23

      As I said, the whole idea of this post was to bump into someone who has successfully managed it and how they did it. The specialist recommend an approach which they are comfortable with and not being suffering from this issue means they do not have first hand perspective of the problem.

      • derek324 on 23/03/2016 - 23:45

        Why not join a support group where people affected by the same problem exchange their experiences? (Google is your friend). Here… well, read again the very first response you got: some idiot making stupid joke and directing you to a hemorrhoids ointment.

  • fruit on 22/03/2016 - 09:54

    You've seen a real doctor right?

    • addicted on 22/03/2016 - 10:21

      yes I have - a GP as well as a specialist. The whole idea of this post was to bump into someone who has successfully managed it and how they did it.

  • kyttiekat on 25/03/2016 - 13:44

    Thanks for sharing and I'm sorry you're going through such a frustrating issue. I also have hyperhidrosis, but mainly just on my face. I've found some sprays and creams to be the most effective - in fact, VERY effective. These ones both work on hands as well:

    • Odaban: This one's a spray, and takes a while to start working but it's incredible when it does. I've had trouble finding it locally so I end up getting it imported from US/UK, which is a pain. It takes about two weeks to start working - at first, you need to apply every day or every other day, but once it kicks in you only need to apply a "top-up" once a week. Using Odaban took my facial sweating down to zero. Everywhere else on my body might still be pouring sweat ugh (if it was a hot day), but my face was drryyy. Magic! Downside is it stings a lot on your face for the first few minutes. Also, over-applying it (ie too much product on the skin) can "reset" your attempts to zero again.

    • NoMoreSweat: I've found this one locally in many pharmacies, eg Chemist Warehouse etc. There's a face-specific version (which is more sensitive, I assume) and a general body one (for hands, feet, armpits etc). It works in a shorter timeframe (about a week), but you have to re-apply every 3-4 days after that to keep the effect (so it's a little more high maintenance than Odaban). It's not AS effective as Odaban for me, but it's still like 95%+ effective at eliminating any facial sweating. It doesn't sting as badly on my face though, and is so easy to find locally, that it's my preferred one to use right now.

    Perhaps give one of them a go? Also remember that they can be quite finicky, eg for most of these products (well, at least the two above that I know of), you have to apply them at night only when your skin is totally dry. If you get your skin wet or start to sweat at all, it reduces the effect immediately (as the product doesn't have time to sink in). So I do it right before bed in a cool room.

    I've looked into / dreamt of some of the more serious procedures, but they all seem very pricey / high-risk / have their own downsides.

    Hope this helps! Any questions welcome. :)

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join