How to Eliminate Sweaty Palms

Sweaty palms can make shaking hands embarassing.

Sweaty palms or excessive sweating might be caused by a condition called hyperhidrosis, in which a person sweats excessively and without reason. Usually your palms sweat to help your body stay cool; this is normal, but excessively sweaty palms can be embarrassing and worrisome. There are ways to stop sweaty palms; their effectiveness depends on the severity of your sweating and its causes.

Things You'll Need

• Cornstarch
• Talcum powder
• Antiperspirant

Instructions

1. Control sweating with powder. Talcum powder or cornstarch can soak up excess sweat on your hands, but you'll need to keep reapplying and this works only on mild cases of sweaty palms.

2. Use an antiperspirant. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, the best type to use is an aluminum chlorohydrate based product and not a deodorant. For excessive cases this might not work, but it's worth trying as a first step.

3. Consult with a doctor if powders or antiperspirants don't work. He will want to rule out the possibility of another more serious illness causing your palms to sweat. Take medication if your doctor determines you have hyperhidrosis. Anticholinergic drugs like Robinul help prevent the stimulation of sweat glands. These drugs haven't been studied as well as others, but they are effective in stopping sweaty palms. If your sweaty palms are related to stress, beta-blockers or benzodiazepines may help.

4. Use electricity to turn off your sweat gland temporarily. Do this through iontophoresis, an FDA approved procedure most effective for sweaty palms and feet. After placing your hands into water, a gentle electrical current passes through it, gradually increasing, until you feel a tingling sensation. This therapy requires at least six to 10 sessions. After sweating is controlled, you may only need a treatment once every one to four weeks.

5. Ask your doctor about endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS). In severe cases of excessive sweating, a mildly invasive surgery such as ETS may work where other treatments have not. This procedure turns off the signal that tells the body to sweat. Typically this procedure is intended for people whose palms sweat heavily.

Tips & Warnings

• Always consult your doctor if your sweaty palms can't be treated by using a simple method like cornstarch or antiperspirant. Some causes of hyperhidrosis can be serious.

References

• University of Maryland Medical Center: Hyperhydrosis
• Sweaty Palms.org: Hyperhydrosis Treatment