How to Reduce Sweaty Hands
Sweaty hands can be a sign of a serious medical condition and should be discussed with a qualified medical practitioner. Sweating of the hands, feet, face or armpit can be caused by a condition called primary focal hyperhidrosis. Excessive sweating of the hands is called palmar hyperhidrosis. Excessive sweating can affect quality of life. It can cause moderate to severe emotional problems due to psychological discomfort in social situations.
Instructions
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See your doctor if your hands are sweating enough to impair your daily life or if the sweating makes you uncomfortable in social situations.
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Educate yourself. Ask your doctor to explain the condition and treatment options to you.
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Try a topical therapy. One of the first options your doctor might recommend, is a topical AICI Chloride Hexahydrate applied regularly to your palms. There are possible side effects, including skin irritation which can be reduced with a 1 percent hydrocortisone cream or by applying the cream less frequently.
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Find out more about tap water Iontophoresis. Effective and safe, this method is often the first option suggested by a doctor. Tap water Iontophoresis takes two pans of water and runs an electrical current through it. The electric current stops the eccrine ducts and this stops the sweating. Though sometimes mildly uncomfortable, pain usually only hurts if you have wounds on your skin. You control the amount of electricity going through the water with a dial. Though very effective, this option is a costly. At between $600 and $1,000, the machine may or may not be covered by your insurance. You will have to continue to use the machine a few times a week.
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Consider intradermal botulinum toxin injections. These injections are safe and are effective in 90 percent of people. The injections themselves can be quite painful, but icing and local or regional anesthesia helps. The injections last between 7 and 10 months, but they usually cause mild weakness of the hand muscles, which can be a problem for some people.
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Discuss surgical options with your doctor if nothing else has worked. You will be referred to a dermatologist who can discuss the different means of extracting the eccrine glands and the pros and cons of each method. Generally, surgery is not recommended, except as a last resort, because there are real risks involved.
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Tips & Warnings
As with all medical procedures, the treatment of sweaty hands should be discussed with your doctor. There could be restrictions based on your health, the medications you're taking or if you are pregnant.
