Tips to Stop Sweaty Hands
- Antiperspirants containing aluminum chloride hexahydrate might be used to block the sweat ducts on the palms of your hands. While applying antiperspirants may not be able to block the entire production of sweat, they may significantly reduce it. These should be applied to the skin chiefly in the morning and at night. Dry the palms before application, then apply a thin layer to the palms.
If over-the-counter antiperspirants do not prove effective, a physician might be able to prescribe an antiperspirant containing at most 30 percent aluminum chloride hexahydrate. This high concentration has been shown to cause inflammation or irritation in addition to the sweat-blocking effects. For this reason, the hands should not be washed before application as this can increase irritation to the skin. - If antiperspirants are not effective, they can be coupled with a treatment known as iontophoresis. This involves placing the hands into two basins of water, then running a low-voltage electric current through the water. The process is not pain-inducing, and is effective in more than 83 percent of patients (according to the American Academy of Dermatology). The electric current can thicken the skin's outer layer, thus making it more difficult for sweat to escape.
The treatment typically takes 10 to 20 minutes and is conducted three times a week for several weeks, then maintenance sessions are conducted once a week. - While a physician can prescribe medications known as anticholinergics to stop the production of sweat, these medications are not considered a long-term solution to sweating because of their side effects, including dry mouth, blurry vision, constipation, heart palpitations and urinary retention. Also, the medication works on the entire body, making it difficult for the body to cool itself through the production of sweat.
- The Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of botulinum toxin (Botox) injections to prevent sweating in the armpits. However, this is considered an experimental procedure for the palms as the injections can be painful and its long-term effectiveness has not yet be evaluated.
Surgical options are also available, but because they involve severing sweat or nervous glands, they are only used in the most severe cases as the procedures are irreversible. One approach, known as endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS), involves deflating a lung to reach nerves coming from the spinal column to prevent nerve signals that can cause a person to excessively sweat.
