How to Treat Hyperhidrosis: Antiperspirant vs. Deodorant
When you suffer from hyperhidrosis, it can be hard to understand how to stop underarm sweating.
But it doesn't have to be.
You could actually find a hyperhidrosis treatment that works for you.
Today, you'll learn the difference between antiperspirant and deodorant, which one will help your excessive sweating, and how to treat hyperhidrosis.
Antiperspirant vs. Deodorant: What's the Difference?
The main difference between deodorant and antiperspirant is that they serve two distinct purposes. Deodorant treats body odor while antiperspirant treats sweat.
If you experience body odor, it's because your sweat is mingling with bacteria buildup. Deodorant works to prevent and kill bacteria on your skin, but it doesn't stop sweating. Without the bacteria, body odor is less likely to form. The best deodorants offer 24 hours of protection, but some less-effective options might not last more than 6 hours.
Antiperspirants, on the other hand, work by blocking the sweat glands on your skin, reducing the amount of sweat that seeps through. Clinical or prescription strength antiperspirants are designed for people who experience excessive underarm sweating. Interestingly, most people use this product incorrectly. You should actually apply antiperspirant to your underarm before going to bed. It takes time to kick in and offers 12-48 hours of protection.
There are also some combinations called deodorant-antiperspirant. These are antiperspirants that contain a fragrance to also minimize body odor. For those that suffer from hyperhidrosis, this is a great option.
What Should You Use for Hyperhidrosis Treatment?
If you need a hyperhidrosis treatment, antiperspirant is your best bet. It is designed to block and reduce sweating.
The combination, deodorant-antiperspirant, is also a good option. However, it's important to keep in mind that these might not be as effective. Again, for best results, you'll want to apply antiperspirants the night before.
If antiperspirant doesn't provide full relief, you'll want to consider other hyperhidrosis treatment options as well.
Best Hyperhidrosis Treatment
The best hyperhidrosis treatment is miraDry®. miraDry® is a long-lasting, noninvasive treatment that targets and destroys the sweat glands in your underarms. It's a nonsurgical treatment that gets rid of your sweat glands for good.
Here's what to expect:
- Little to no healing time - You can go back to work the same day.
- Simple, safe procedure - The procedure only takes a few minutes.
- Painless - A small amount of local anaesthetic is used to ensure comfort, but standard routines and exercise can be resumed in a few days.
This is a permanent solution with impressive results.
Overall, one of the first things you should do when treating your hyperhidrosis is try out antiperspirant to see if it does the trick. If not, going with a treatment like miraDry® is the best solution.
If you suffer from excessive underarm sweat, miraDry® is for you!
Nobody understands your condition, or the treatment better than Dr. Chung and his staff at the Vein & Skin Center of Hawaii.
Get rid of your underarm sweat for good. Take the first step by calling us at (808) 949-8346 to make an appointment.