The 5 steps to treating your hyperhidrosis

When you’re dealing with something like hyperhidrosis, all you can think about, day in, day out, is “How do I get rid of this? How do I treat hyperhidrosis?”. The discomfort and the embarrassment wear you down. This is no sustainable way of living. You need to take action. But there’s unfortunately no one-fit-all-easy solution. There are various things to try out though: treating hyperhidrosis is a journey.

Disclaimer: I’m not a doctor. I’m writing based on my own personal experience, and I added some more details based on hours and hours of research. I’m simply giving you an overview of the options available to you to deal with hyperhidrosis, so you can have an understanding of what’s available when you talk to your doctor. Contrary to most things you will find online, this overview is not written from a medical or objective point of view, but written from the individual, unique, point of view of someone who went through most of the options. This is based on what I liked/didn’t like when I was trying each option.

The path to treating hyperhidrosis

So yes, treating hyperhidrosis will be a path. There is no clear-cut solution for hyperhidrosis. There IS a surgery for most severe cases (the one I got – called sympathectomy) but it’s quite extreme, very painful, and intrusive. So, you want to try the less-intrusive solutions first, as they may suffice in your case. And if the 1st level option fails, you move to the 2nd one, and the 3rd one, etc. Each of us responds differently to different options, so hopefully your body responds positively to one of the first few, less extreme options.

I’ve created a graph that shows the different options that are out there to treat/ alleviate hyperhidrosis. As the level goes up, it gets more intrusive/expensive/painful. I’ll go into the details of each option in other articles.

Step 0: Acknowledge there’s an issue and get a pro to confirm what it is

OK, so you are sweating. But is it that bad? There are a few signs you may have hyperhidrosis. Are you sweating when it’s not even hot? Are you sweating when you’re not even stressed? Are your hands/feet/armpits/etc. dripping bullets? If it’s becoming a handicap in your professional and private life, there is obviously an issue. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be here reading this I’m sure! Once you’ve acknowledged there’s an issue, the next thing to do is to NOT assume it’s hyperhidrosis (we have all been sick, read articles online, and figured we had the symptoms of each and every rare disease – you know what I mean- we all do it 😊). Because excessive sweating can stem from a bunch of things (anxiety, diabetes, menopause, thyroid or heart disease, post-partum, etc.). So, you want to rule these out first!

Make an appointment with a specialist. You can go to your family doctor, but usually, a dermatologist would be the best starting point. Dermatologists are familiar with hyperhidrosis and will know how to lead you on the treatment path and they will know who to put you in touch with.

Steps To Treat Hyperhidrosis

1. Antiperspirants for Hyperhidrosis

2. Aluminum Lotions & Anticholinergic Wipes

3. Iontophoresis or Brella Sweat Patch

4. Botox

5. ETS(Endoscopic Thoracic Sympathectomy) Surgery

Conclusion

I wrote this article to serve as a walkthrough on 5 possible steps to approach this condition, offering insights from both personal experience and extensive research.

Remember, the path to managing hyperhidrosis is as unique as you are. Each treatment option comes with its own set of considerations and potential outcomes. It’s about finding what works best for you, in consultation with medical professionals. While this journey might seem daunting, it’s filled with hope and possibilities.

Hyperhidrosis is more than just a physical condition; it’s a personal experience that affects each individual differently. By exploring these steps, you empower yourself with knowledge and choices. It’s not just about treating hyperhidrosis; it’s about reclaiming your comfort, confidence, and quality of life.