86theHH
Well-known member
I have generalized mild hyperhidrosis on my body and severe plantar hyperhidrosis. It has caused a lot of misery for me. The huge amount of stress and anxiety was debilitating. I would guess that everyone reading this can relate to the emotions that go along with not only dealing with everything that happens with excess sweat, but the sheer lack of desire to go out and interact with people because of the embarrassment and aggravation it brings. The time and money I have spent seeking out something to help me deal with this condition has been another component that has added to my frustration. I have experienced so many emotions that I would not want to experience ever again if possible. I'm hoping the day comes when MiraDry becomes available as a treatment for plantar hyperhidrosis. I would gladly endure nearly any amount of pain if it means ending plantar HH and finally being able to stop doing iontophoresis. It would let me have a little more time put back in my day and give me even more of the quality of life I have been working so hard to attain.
So here is the level of sweating I have dealt with having hyperhidrosis. If I placed a folded paper towel in my shoes, within an hour it would be wet. I'm not talking the kind of wet in which removing the paper towel would have sweat dripping from it, but it would look like it was given a few sprays from a spray bottle. That was the result of me simply sitting in a chair in room that was never warmer than 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
:reading:If baking soda is being added to the water, then be sure to soak the aluminum trays in vinegar overnight at least once a week when you're done. In the morning, scrub them with a scrubbing sponge. This removes the buildup that accumulates on the aluminum from the baking soda. If you don't, then the buildup on the aluminum will increase the resistance on your aluminum.:thumbdown:This results in less electricity flowing to your skin and will reduce the effectiveness of iontophoresis.
I began using a homemade iontophoresis setup in 2012 consisting of:
My sessions using this equipment:
I did maintenance every 4-5 days of four 15 minute sessions.
This helped with the plantar hyperhidrosis. I was able to reduce it enough so that my feet were sweating at a normal amount. I was prescribed glycopyrrolate by my dermatologist to handle my generalized hyperhidrosis.
My methodology for making glyco help my generalized HH:
30-60 minutes after taking the glyco, I would feel a reduction in from my hands.
3-4 hours after taking the glyco, was the peak of sweat reduction. I could rest my arms on the table without having them stick to the surface of the table. Overall sweat reduction was pretty good. Although my mouth was dry, I chewed gum to handle that issue. The drying effects usually lasted about 5 hours past the peak with the effectiveness tapering off gradually around 3 hours after peak dryness.
The most difficult part of taking glyco, was holding off on eating in the morning. If I ate anything before or after taking glyco, the sweat reduction was not as nearly as much compared to taking it on an empty stomach. I tried doing 4 mg of glyco, but my vision began to blur. That was scary and I never did it again.
Because I travel on business and like taking vacations, taking a large DC power supply with me was out of the question. I decided to cough up the money in 2015 and purchase a Hidrex DVP1000. This made traveling with ionto much easier. I use baking soda in my water. I use hot water then toss in the baking soda which dissolves easier in the hot water.
My sessions using a SKYTOPPOWER STP6005H DC Converter
Equipment used
Water solution:
Since my HH was being managed even better, I decided to experiment with my sessions, length of time, amount of time per session, and frequency. Here is what I learned:
Increasing the amount of time per session is not helpful
Setting the session time to 12 minutes, switching polarity, and increasing the daily sessions produced the results I wanted faster
So with those results in mind, I think that the mechanism responsible for iontophoresis causing a reduction in sweat is it likely stuns or overstimulates sweat glands or nerves in direct contact with the water. There is a gradual increase in sweat production each day that passes beyond the 4 day scheduled maintenance. If enough days pass, I end up back with severely sweaty feet and the misery that goes along with it.
To help prevent my skin from cracking due to dry skin, I use Healthy Feet. O'Keeffe's for Healthy Feet Foot Cream, 3.2 oz., Jar - Foot Creams - Amazon.com
Out of all the products I've tried this has worked the best. I put it on after I shower in the morning and after I shower at night.
So here is the level of sweating I have dealt with having hyperhidrosis. If I placed a folded paper towel in my shoes, within an hour it would be wet. I'm not talking the kind of wet in which removing the paper towel would have sweat dripping from it, but it would look like it was given a few sprays from a spray bottle. That was the result of me simply sitting in a chair in room that was never warmer than 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
:reading:If baking soda is being added to the water, then be sure to soak the aluminum trays in vinegar overnight at least once a week when you're done. In the morning, scrub them with a scrubbing sponge. This removes the buildup that accumulates on the aluminum from the baking soda. If you don't, then the buildup on the aluminum will increase the resistance on your aluminum.:thumbdown:This results in less electricity flowing to your skin and will reduce the effectiveness of iontophoresis.
I began using a homemade iontophoresis setup in 2012 consisting of:
- a variable 30 Volt DC power supply
- plastic trays with aluminum foil folded to make 3 layers
- 2 test leads with alligator clips on each end
- salt - 3 Tbsp
- baking soda - 3 Tbsp
- tap water - enough to rise up just above the soles of my feet
I heat the water in a pot and add the baking soda and salt because they dissolve much easier in hot water. Then, I pour it into my ionto trays.
My sessions using this equipment:
- Four 15 minute sessions, switching polarity at each session
- 20-30 Volts depending on my pain threshold
- Daily sessions for 4 weeks
I did maintenance every 4-5 days of four 15 minute sessions.
This helped with the plantar hyperhidrosis. I was able to reduce it enough so that my feet were sweating at a normal amount. I was prescribed glycopyrrolate by my dermatologist to handle my generalized hyperhidrosis.
My methodology for making glyco help my generalized HH:
- 2 mg in the morning on an empty stomach. No food for 2 hours after taking the glyco
30-60 minutes after taking the glyco, I would feel a reduction in from my hands.
3-4 hours after taking the glyco, was the peak of sweat reduction. I could rest my arms on the table without having them stick to the surface of the table. Overall sweat reduction was pretty good. Although my mouth was dry, I chewed gum to handle that issue. The drying effects usually lasted about 5 hours past the peak with the effectiveness tapering off gradually around 3 hours after peak dryness.
The most difficult part of taking glyco, was holding off on eating in the morning. If I ate anything before or after taking glyco, the sweat reduction was not as nearly as much compared to taking it on an empty stomach. I tried doing 4 mg of glyco, but my vision began to blur. That was scary and I never did it again.
Because I travel on business and like taking vacations, taking a large DC power supply with me was out of the question. I decided to cough up the money in 2015 and purchase a Hidrex DVP1000. This made traveling with ionto much easier. I use baking soda in my water. I use hot water then toss in the baking soda which dissolves easier in the hot water.
My sessions using a SKYTOPPOWER STP6005H DC Converter
- Four to six 15 minute sessions, switching polarity at each session
- 30-60 volts.
- Daily sessions for 3 weeks
Maintenance is done every 4 days with 4-6 fifteen minute sessions (switching polarity of course)
Equipment used
- SKYTOPPOWER STP6005H DC Converter
- Alligator clip test leads with banana connectors
- 2 Aluminum trays
- Small rectangular towels to cover the aluminum trays
Water solution:
- baking soda - 1 Tablespoon
- tap water - enough to wet the soles of my feet
Since my HH was being managed even better, I decided to experiment with my sessions, length of time, amount of time per session, and frequency. Here is what I learned:
Increasing the amount of time per session is not helpful
I did two 30 minute sessions and I could not achieve the results I wanted (with a reversal of polarity).
I did two 45 minute sessions and still could not achieve the results I wanted.
These sessions were done for 4 weeks each. (with a reversal of polarity)
I did two 45 minute sessions and still could not achieve the results I wanted.
These sessions were done for 4 weeks each. (with a reversal of polarity)
Setting the session time to 12 minutes, switching polarity, and increasing the daily sessions produced the results I wanted faster
I did 4-6 consecutive sessions daily and began getting a reduction in sweat in a week.
I was able to attain the results I wanted in 3 weeks instead of 4 or more weeks.
I would guess the sweet spot for the session time is from 10-15 minutes. I have no desire to deviate from that.
I was able to attain the results I wanted in 3 weeks instead of 4 or more weeks.
I would guess the sweet spot for the session time is from 10-15 minutes. I have no desire to deviate from that.
So with those results in mind, I think that the mechanism responsible for iontophoresis causing a reduction in sweat is it likely stuns or overstimulates sweat glands or nerves in direct contact with the water. There is a gradual increase in sweat production each day that passes beyond the 4 day scheduled maintenance. If enough days pass, I end up back with severely sweaty feet and the misery that goes along with it.
To help prevent my skin from cracking due to dry skin, I use Healthy Feet. O'Keeffe's for Healthy Feet Foot Cream, 3.2 oz., Jar - Foot Creams - Amazon.com
Out of all the products I've tried this has worked the best. I put it on after I shower in the morning and after I shower at night.
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