The action of this medication targets the apocrine and eccrine sweat glands and reduces their production. Antiperspirants constitute a milder and less efficient method of diminishing the negative effects of hyperhidrosis. Many patients notice that the available commercial non-medical antiperspirants don’t produce the desired effects. Deodorants designed for this purpose also manage to help contain excessive sweating, but they do not eliminate the problem. Probably the most efficient over the counter product is Aluminum Chloride, which, in high concentration, has a more powerful impact.
Drysol is an antiperspirant containing 20% Aluminum Chloride and anhydrous ethyl alcohol. It is mostly used to treat excessive underarm sweating and palmar hyperhidrosis. It is moderately effective and as a side effect it may cause serious skin irritation. The medicine is applied to the areas affected by hyperhidrosis and is left there for six hours. It is recommended that the drug is applied at night, before going to sleep and then washed off in the morning. Long term results are not satisfactory, even though the initial effects are positive.
Another medical antiperspirant used in treating hyperhidrosis is Xertac AC. Obadan and Maxim are also commonly used to treat excessive sweating, but they are not as efficient as Drysol. Solutions based on ethanol, formalin and tannic acid are also used to treat hyperhidrosis but they are known to produce skin irritation. These antiperspirants work best when applied at night, when the negative manifestations of hypderhidrosis are reduced. The best curative effects for palmar hyperhidrosis are obtained when the antiperspirants are used in a combination with plastic gloves
Stronger antiperspirants such as Drysol, ArmsUp, WhipWetless lotion, Odaban, Mitchum Clear Gel Sport and gel base AICI can be used to control profuse sweating.
A few popular drugs commonly taken under the care of a physician are Probanthine, Prpranolol SR and Xanax.
Sonia says
Hi I’m 31 yrs and I’ve suffered with excessive sweating for 3 yrs now it is so embarrassing it stops me going out and doing activities with my kids it’s worse on my face plz can anyone advise me on anything I can use for my face I can sort of cope with the sweating everywhere else but my face sweating is getting me down I have no confidence because of it please help.
Momo says
I live in South Africa and sweat excessively under the arms and looking for a antiperspirant I could buy online that isn’t offered at the local stores here. Any suggestions? Something everyone is using and is safe but effective. Thank you in advance!
Queen says
Hi. Iam a 35 yrs old female and Ihave been suffering from excessive sweat for the past three years, and with me all starts with my back and my legs it is so embarrassing. Done lots of blood tests and the doctor couldnt help me at all .
ghen says
where can i buy certain dri in united arab emirates?please help
kedibone says
i have a problem of swearting and my armpits become too black in a matter that i cant undress next to any1,i’m looking forward to get a best roll on in south africa please help.
Mich says
Hi guys, I also have a problem of sweaty armpits, I’ve used several 48hr protection antiperspirant roll-ons but they dont seem to work. I’ve read comments about driclor roll on. I’m in South Africa in KZN province where can I buy this roll on because pharmacies like Sparksport they do not have this kind of roll on. Please help
Kanu says
My name is kanu, lives in Nigeria. I have been a victim of hyperhidrosis,and i can’t get any of those drugs mentioned here in Nigeria. i need help pls before i decide to end a live. pls help
Ariel says
This problem started since junior year. I am 16 and have to suffer everyday from excess sweating. A day can’t go by without me wearing a jacket and not stinking. I have tried aluminum based deodorants and haven’t had any luck. Even sweatblock doesn’t work. Not only is this a problem but it damages my self esteem pretty badly. If anyone can recommend something that is less likely to cause skin irritation compared to drysol please let me know….
lola says
Don’t understand why no one mentions the harmful effects of aluminum and links to Alzheimer’s!
also the milk of magnesia would work because of the zinc they also sell a zinc cream or baby rash cream anything containing zinc helps keep you dry.
Stella says
I have had this excessive sweating issue for 3 yrs nw nd am a lady i knt take it animore it make mi cry evryday i dnt knw wat 2 do pls help mi….am in nigeria and i have tried getting drysol but it is no where 2 be found in nigeria…plsss help
Tina Morales says
I was suffering with excessive sweating for a long time as well and I started using 1-2DRY. Believe me when I tell you I never really had luck with a deodorant -they are really just geared to odor. The pads I use absorb the sweat and it lasts all day – I sometimes just change the pads twice a day just because I am really OCD about preventing any stains. I found an option and hope you guys do too!
Broley says
I use Certain Dri roll-on (or the stick if my underarms are irritated) and then a reg deodorant in the morning and I’m good to go! I’ve suffered too long with excessive underarm sweat, but now I can wear things and I feel much more confident! Note: the Certain Dri worked the next day for me, but it took about a week for it to work for my sister. My friend Jan uses Milk of Magnesia, but I’m afraid to try something new! I’m going with what works. 🙂
sazamehat says
where can i buy drysol in Malaysia…please someone help me!! i`m drowning here..
cima says
I am a 21 young beatufil lady who has been suffering from Hyprehidrpsis since birth.I really feel embarrased especially with the armpit sweeting because I cannot were what I feel like at any time.I ve been using Mitchium but it doesnt work.I am always wet..
Adrienne says
I have underarm sweating problems. It drives me crazy everyday that while other people can lift their dry arms and wear bright beautiful clothes I have to wear dark colors and sweatshirts to cover up my sweat stains.
I tried to tell my mom about it but she thinks I’m just over reacting and I’m “hot blooded” and hormonal but I doubt thats the case. I’ve tried all sorts of deoderants but they either wreck my clothing more or make it worse. My face gets pink and oily and my hands sweat too. It’s like hell.
I wish I was one of the normal kids who didn’t even know this problem exists.
I HOPE A CURE THAT ISN’T EXPENSIVE AND ISN’T GOING TO CAUSE NASTY SIDE EFFECTS AND ALLERGIC REACTIONS! Please. Somebody help me. I can’t go to high school like this. I’ve had this problem since 6th grade and I don’t want to have this disease anymore.
sweatymike says
I am a 58 year old, mostly disabled man. I have lived with this condition since a small child and it is now terrible. I guess I led a sheltered life, (although I spent 23 yrs in the military), because until 2 months ago I didn’t know this was a treatable medical condition or that it had a name. I have literally “drowned” 3 sets of hearing aids in the last 2 yrs from head/scalp sweat. I am starting treatment with script deodorant first and will go from there. Either a lot of Dr’s are not very aware of this condition/treatment or they have kept it a secret from me all these years.
sweatypalms says
@Anna. I am in South Africa too and can confirm that Odaban and driclor are available in South Africa. Odaban even has a South Africa based website and you can get Driclor from for just over R100.
A Lee says
I have suffered from hyperhidrosis most of my adult life. I recently received a procedure called a Bi-lateral Sympathectomy and was done in a single day outpatient procedure. The effects were immediate…no more sweaty palms and no more sweaty blouses. I was back at work the next day with minor aches from the procedure and two days later had no pain and no perspiration. I can’t thank the doctors enough for this treatment!
Anon says
I am 15 years old and ive had extreme sweaty palms since i was about 10 and ita getting far far worse now. I cant high five or anything.I’m too embarrased to discuss it with my mum or dad but they know I suffer from it. I really need help, anything. Natural remedies?? Please, I’m so desperate. I panic so much becuase I’m scared a teacher will say something about a wet paper from my hands leaning on it. Please. This is not nice.
J Settles says
I am a 56 year old female who has been battling with this chronic ailment since I was about 7 or 8 years old. I have primary focal hyperhidrosis of the underarm (axilla). I sweat 24/7. I suffered embarrassment all through school and growing up without finding out what I had until my early twenties when I accidentally stumbled upon the information in a newspaper columnist’s response to a reader. I went to my General Practitioner for help but left humiliated and worthless.
Since my parents nor seven siblings seemed to have this problem, I just suffered in silence; at a lost for what was wrong and how to handle it. Over the past 30 plus years, I have tried just about everything on the market. I have taken the chlorophyll pills, charcoal pills, the prescription strength roll-ons, the Drionic machine and even “prescribed products such as “Methenamine”, which is actually formaldehyde or embalming fluid. Some of these products caused side-effects for ME because I have highly sensitive skin and I am allergic to lots of medications and antibiotics.
I have bought enough underarm shields to open my own store. In trying to control this problem, I have stopped short of nothing but botox (because of medical conditions) and surgery (because of the Keloid factor). I am very thankful for washing machines (burned the motors out in 3 or 4 of them) and new clothes (scent stays in them after a while and they must be thrown away).
The only products that I’ve found most effective for me (90-95%) is taking zinc tablets or applying zinc topical ointments under my arms at night. I also use two to three deodorants/antiperspirants at once; one must be a cream-creams seem to absorb into and adhere to the skin. Bi-Drier roll-on and Mitchum creams have always worked best but both are now discontinued in my area.
My struggle continues but now I speak out only because my six-year old granddaughter developed the condition at the age of four. It appears to me, the only way to get a handle on this problem is to get at the root cause. Since the body was designed to sweat, to cool itself, if you stop the sweating in one locale, it will either cause sweating in another or it will eventually cause irreversible side effects.
Thanks for letting me share my experience. I thought for sure that I would take this dreadful, emotionally painful disease to my grave with me, but it is not to be. It will live on in my family line.
Mike Spur says
I use milk of magnesia and it works. I know what your thinking, but I tried it 2 yrs.ago and now I don’t need it every day. Put a small amount on your hand and rub it in and when its dry use a deodorant-that will help take the white off. I read about this in a Dallas news paper.
Use the original flavor,flavored milk of magnesia does not work. Give it a try-$3.00-$4.00 and your set for 6 months
Christie says
I can’t find anything over-the-counter that will help with my hyperhidrosis, and I don’t have the money to buy some of these things through the mail. Is there anything that I can use to help with my hyperhidrosis? HELP please.
nohemi ramirez says
en el comentarios sobre el drysol dice: Resultados a largo plazo no son satisfactorios, aunque los efectos iniciales son positivos.
¿en que manera no son satisfactorios a largo plazo?
en determinado momento ya no me hara efecto? o no se debe usar en algun tiempo determinado?
yo sufria de sudoracion excesiva ningun desodorante ni remedio casero me ayudaba, mi hermano me recomendo drysol y llevo usandolo 6 meses, puso fin a la sudoracion y el mal olor.
anna sejaphala says
Why are all these cures only available outside SOUTH AFRICA? i am a south African female 35 yrs old and have been suffering from excessive sweat for more than 10 years. I have been from pillar to post, nothing is available here in S.Africa except Mitchum which does not help at all. Why must we have people called DOCTORS whereas there is no cure? At least let there be some imported medications such as Obadan, Maxim, armpit pads etc. PLEASE HELP we need those cures!