Antiperspirant & Topical Medication

For most patients with excessive sweating, or hyperhidrosis, topical antiperspirants are the first choice for treatment. Many products are on the market, each with its own unique characteristics. The staff at SLUCare Physician Group Hyperhidrosis Clinic is prepared to help select the best one for you. We will also instruct you on proper technique for each product's use and offer tips to avoid adverse effects.

We work with local pharmacies that compound glycopyrrolate for topical application.

Topical Antiperspirants for Hyperhidrosis

When you first start using the topical antiperspirant, apply it every night to clean, dry areas being treated (underarms, palms of hands, soles of feet, forehead, etc.).

Apply a thin coating to the area and then allow it to dry. (Consider using a hair dryer or fan to dry off the areas before application of antiperspirant if needed.) Leave the antiperspirant on overnight and then wash off the following morning. Do not cover the antiperspirant with plastic or other material that occludes the skin causing moisture to accumulate.

If you develop irritation, redness, itching or rash in the treated area, decrease application of antiperspirant to every other night or every third night as tolerated. If symptoms of irritation, redness, or skin breakdown continue while using the antiperspirant, you may need to discontinue use. If the antiperspirant is effective, after two weeks you may decrease its application to twice a week to control excessive sweating.

It is recommended that you use a clinical strength antiperspirant on the nights you are not applying one of the products above. In addition, you should use your clinical strength or regular antiperspirant or deodorant applied in the morning after you have washed off the topical antiperspirant.

If the antiperspirant is ineffective or you must discontinue use due to irritation, call to schedule a follow up appointment to discuss other treatment options.

• Secret Clinical Strength, Gillette Clinical Strength, Dove Clinical Strength, Mitchum Clinical Strength, and Degree Clinical Strength: Available at local drug and grocery stores.
• Certain Dri (12 percent aluminum chloride): Available at local drug and grocery stores.
• Hydrosal Gel (15 percent aluminum chloride): Available at our office and online.
• Drysol or Hypercare (20 percent aluminum chloride): Available by prescription from local pharmacies and online pharmacies.
• Aluminum chloride percent: Available at our office.

Topical Anticholinergics for Hyperhidrosis

• Secure Wipes (1 to 2 percent glycopyrrolate pads): Available online.
• Glycopyrrolate (Robinul) 2 percent solution. (Requires a prescription and a local compounding pharmacy.)
• Apply at bedtime to affected areas, and rinse off in the morning. You may alternate the aluminum chloride/clinical strength topical antiperspirant with the topical glycopyrrolate every other night. Or, you may apply the aluminum chloride/clinical strength antiperspirants at bedtime and the topical glycopyrrolate in the morning.

Shoe Products for Hyperhidrosis

Glagla shoes (Shoes with extra ventilation and moisture wicking for children and adults.) Available online.

Summer Soles (Shoe inserts with moisture wicking): Available online at summersoles.com or at 1-888-773-962.