| What to Expect From Treatment |
To better manage your Hyperhidrosis, you should be thinking about these five goals: |
- Reducing the amount you sweat so that it is not noticeable and doesn’t interfere with your daily activities
- Few, if any, side effects
- A cost that which you can afford to maintain
- Compatibility with any underlying health conditions or medications you are currently taking
- Convenience
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Whichever treatment you ultimately choose, please ensure that you discuss any other underlying health conditions or medications you are currently taking with your sweat specialist. This is important in determining if your treatment will be effective.
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- Focal injections: interrupting the signal from the nerve to the sweat glands
- Topical antiperspirant treatments: applying aluminum chloride hexahydrate
- Oral medications: treating the underlying conditions
- Iontophoresis: applying low-intensity electric current to affected areas
- Surgery: severing the nerves that cause excess sweating
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| What to Expect from Iontophoresis |
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| Treatment Experience |
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| During treatment, each hand or foot is placed for 30 minutes in a tray containing a pad that has been wet with tap water. The pad is connected to a device that sends a low-intensity electric current to the area, conducted through the water. There should be a tingling, but not uncomfortable, sensation. |
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| Iontophoresis is non-invasive and causes only slight discomfort. The procedure itself is time consuming, as it must be repeated at regular intervals – at least 4 days a week initially. |
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| Response to Treatment |
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| In the beginning, the treatment is repeated several times, but once control is achieved (usually after 5 to 10 sessions), a single treatment can be effective for 2 or 3 weeks. |
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| Side Effects |
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| There may be temporary skin irritation with dryness or cracking, and is not usually recommended for underarm or facial/head Hyperhidrosis. Women who are pregnant, have a cardiac pacemaker or have a metal implant should not be receiving this treatment. |
