Treatments for excess sweating palms and soles
Sweating of the palms can be an embarrassment and for some, affect their work.
Treatment options include:
- Antiperspirants which can be purchased from pharmacies. It should be applied to dry clean skin at night and are not the same as deodorants.
- Tablets can help some patients with excessive sweating
- Sympathectomy with a surgeon
- Iontophoresis is a treatment for hyperhidrosis or excessive sweating, most commonly used on the palms and soles. The hands and feet are submerged in a solution and a weak current used. It is less effective for the axilla or underarms sweating. The solutions are commonly glycopyrollate (most effective), salt water or tap water (least effective).
How does Iontophoresis feel?
Some patients describe the sensation like pins and needles. After treatment, the skin feels drier and maybe slightly red.
Recommended iontophoresis machines
There are a few available and they range in cost from $400 to over $1000. At Skinplus dermatology we have experience with 3 machines Hidrex PSP 1000 and Idromed 5PS, and Dermdry.
If you are trying to decide which to purchase, we have compared the devices for you. The image below compares the size of the 2 units.
HIDREX PSP1000
Advantages
Treat yourself at home without assistance even when treating both hands! The Hidrex unit recognizes the start of the therapy automatically increases the current after you place your hands or feet in the treatment trays. After the treatment, the device will automatically decrease the current to zero.
Disadvantages
More expensive unit. Can only treat one area at a time ie. both feet or both hands.
Idromed 5
Advantages
Simple dial up design, single dial controls.
Double treatment at one time - hands and feet simultaneously. Time saving and slightly larger, able to treat both hands and feet simultaneously.
Disadvantages -
Assistance required to dial the device up and down ie not an automatic dial up/dial down design.
Dermdry
Advantages similar to Hidrex unit
No need for assistance to dial up machine
Very simple to use
Can also treat underarms
Disadvantanges
Can only treat one location at a time, either hands or feet or axilla – plates narrow
I would suggest trying a unit first even with tap water to ensure there is improvement before purchasing a unit. Please contact our friendly staff if you would like to purchase a unit or have questions regarding the treatment. contact us here.