Treatment for armpit HH that ISN'T Irritant?! Help!

[jezzer256]

Hi

I've been having a problem with excessive sweating of the armpits. I first tried antiperspirants like Mitchum and other off-the-shelf brands, but in a social environment I'm still soaking wet!

All the other treatments I've tried so far (Driclor, Anhydrol Forte, Odaban) have been extremely irritant. I put them on a couple of hours after having a bath, when the skin is totally dry & clean. Within minutes I am red and very very itchy... I cannot possibly sleep, and have to wash it off.

I have also tried 15% aluminium chlorohydrate solution (See here), but that has no effect.

Can anyone recommend ANYTHING that will work, without the unbearable skin irritation?!

Cheers

Jez

 

[SweatParty]

It sounds like your skin may just be very sensitive to any of these products, but are you sure you're not applying too much?

I use Odaban but just a small spray or 2 on each armpit. If you apply too much it can definitely get itchy. At first you think you need to spray a lot for it to be effective, but actually just a little is the appropriate amount.

You listed several products... I can think of one other that you didn't list -- Certain-Dri. I think it's very similar to the others, but you might want to check it out in case it is more tolerable for you.

Also, Botox injections are very effective for underarm HH. They usually last much longer than hand/feet injections. Maybe up to a year. So if you really can't get anywhere with topical treatments, you may consider Botox.

Good luck!

 

[jezzer256]

I use the TINIEST amount of odaban (1 spray onto a cotton wool ball and then apply gently to the armpit) and it's already too itchy to sleep

I'm in the UK so it's going to be quite expensive to get certain-dri imported. Is there really a chance that it won't burn my underarms like all the others do?!

Jez

 

[EscapeArtist]

I stop sweating, or having bad breath or anything when I go on a raw vegan diet. I don't think this would be a very flexible long term plan though, it's a little extreme, so otherwise i'm no help

 

[SweatParty]

I use the TINIEST amount of odaban (1 spray onto a cotton wool ball and then apply gently to the armpit) and it's already too itchy to sleep

I'm in the UK so it's going to be quite expensive to get certain-dri imported. Is there really a chance that it won't burn my underarms like all the others do?!

Jez

I recommend you compare the ingredients of Certain-Dri to the others (Odaban, Driclor, etc). I think they're all aluminum chloride, just some different concentrations (i.e. 15% vs. 20%). Odaban has another ingredient that is supposed to make it less irritant, but unfortunately it sounds like it's not helping for you.

Based on your experience I doubt you'd have much less irritation with Certain Dri, but you never know unless you try.

Maybe you can try using one of them for a longer period of time to try to get more used to it unless the itching/burning is so unbearable that you can't.

If none of these work for you, check out the Botox route. It could dry you for a year.

 

[HH123]

Hi,

I totally understand your problem with the stronger anti persperents. I have very very sensitive skin and unfortunately 75% of the time very sweaty armpits.

I have tried most of the high strength products on the market and have found them to be very irrantant however much is applied. To me after about 10-20mins of application it feels like burning needles coming through the skin, quite painful. I end up washing it all off and am left with quite a major rash/chemical burn. Ok right now for the kind of positive. What I found kind of works is applying something like odaban, close and rub your arm pits together. Then apply a generous amount of talcum powder to the area. This seems to stop the burn. My understanding of why this works is that when these antipersperents mix with water they turn acidic causing your skin to actually burn. Since someone like myself who is always sweating quickly develops water underneath the arm it causes this bad reaction. The talcum powder however absorbs any excess moisture. Although this technique is good it is far from perfect and quite fiddley. You usually end up breathing in a fair amount of talcum powder as you sleep.

Another product which I have personally found very good, not perfect, but very good, is Sure's 48 hour underare cream (not the new spray). This product does'nt stop sweating, for me, completely but it is by far the best thing I have found on the high street. If anything this one moistureisess the skin. To get this to work I have to really be liberal when applying. Probabaly 3 or 4 times the recomended dose.

With regards to other high street products these just seem to upset my skin and make my sweating worse.

I hope this helps

I have struggled with the embarrasment and social issues for many years now and I am now looking into getting some sort of surgery if anyone has any advice, past experiences, I would be very glad to hear it?

All the best

Jay

 

[SweatSweatGoAway]

I would recommend botox for you if you're able to afford it and get the perscription for it. If you're unable to get it, you could try an antiperspirant with another ingredient. Topical formaldehyde is supposed to work (google it), and topical methanamine (Dehydral cream/Antihydral). You could also try Secure Wipes, which have glycapyrrolate in them (order them from pharmacy.ca).

Good Luck!

 

[Sprawling]

It seams that anything that contains Aluminum Chloride is a potential irritant. Check the % and maybe start with the lowest amount and see how you react. I've used the 20% prescription stuff and the 12% stuff. The burning was way worse with the 20% aluminum Chloride based product. I'm not sure what alternative ingredient works?