My Daughter Sweats a LOT; Antiperspirant Suggestions Needed

Updated on June 27, 2009
J.N. asks from San Mateo, CA
30 answers

I really feel for my 18 year-old daughter. She got the "sweating gene" I guess. My mother used to sew underarm pads in all of her clothes she sweat so much. I lucked out and don't have a problem. My daughter has tried every antiperspirant on the market, and when she finds one that works, it only works for a few months. I read old posts on this board that suggested Secret Clinical. That worked for a while.

Any other suggestions?

TIA.

1 mom found this helpful

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T.H.

answers from San Francisco on

Talk to her doctor or a dermatologist about using Hytrin - a medication with few, if any side effects, that can reduce sweating considerably. Good luck.

A little about me. I'm a child,adolescent and adult psychiatrist with two children 12 & 18 and a sweet husband of 20 years,

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S.A.

answers from Sacramento on

For severe sweating, botox is often used. Apparently it works really well. You might look into it. Good luck!

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W.M.

answers from Sacramento on

J N,
I have noticed the same thing with myself. I have started just switching between deodarants every few months, then switching back. I usually stick with degree and Dove. They both seem to work well. The clinical ones work great also.
W. M.

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N.A.

answers from San Francisco on

Hi JN,

Antiperspirant is not good as it clogs the lymph system. If she drinks plenty of water everyday she will not smell. If you use a deodorant use burts bees or a natural one.

For information on good clean water email me and I will share the best water to drink.

Have a great day.

N. Marie

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A.B.

answers from Sacramento on

Hi, I too, had a problem with sweating and it got really bad in college. I think it was worse d/t stress and dating and just being more nervous of it. I went to the Dr. and he put me on something that I rubbed on my armpits that 'deadens' some of the sweat glands. You don't use it very long; and the results were SO GREAT. Now I feel normal still and it is 12 years later. I got made fun of several times for rings on my shirts while just sitting at functions during college.... so glad I got that medicine b/c it made such a difference. Hope she can check into this.... Good luck!

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S.B.

answers from San Francisco on

Our clinic does use Botox for people who have a problem with excessive sweating. It paralyzes the nerve that generates the sweat. Since excessive sweating is a medical condition (hyperhidrosis) this treatment may be covered by your insurance, you would have to check. These injections are usually done by plastic surgeons as they are the ones that have a lot of Botox around and Botox is expensive to keep in stock. This, of course, is not medical advice.

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E.C.

answers from San Francisco on

Hello, JN--

It is probably annoying to be having that issue your daughter is experiencing. I think your mother had the best solution to it as far as health is concerned. Health experts say that clogging the underarm pores with antiperspirant is stopping the body from eliminating the toxins. Therefore, toxins stay within and becomes body burden which over time will cause health issues.

E. C

J.P.

answers from Stockton on

I know that my deodorant doesn't work as well if I do not shave every day....I don't have the same problem as your daughter, but maybe that might help a little? I wish I had more advice to give, I am sure that is very frustrating for her! Good Luck ~ maybe there is a prescription deodorant a Dr. could give her???

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J.R.

answers from San Francisco on

Take her to the doctor, I heard the botox in the arm pits helps. Weird uh??

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L.N.

answers from San Francisco on

i'M CURIOUS TO READ WHAT OTHERS HAVE WRITTEN. i HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM AS WELL. i'VE LEARNED TO AVOID CERTAIN CUTS OF SHIRTS AND COLORS ( WHITE). i HAVE USED CLINICAL STRENGHTH ARRID ROLL ON BUT IT BURNS FOR ABOUT A HALF HOUR AND I KNOW THAT CAN'T BE GOOD!

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W.H.

answers from Modesto on

Ask your doctor about Drysol. I got it after having my son (who just turned 7) and have felt "normal" ever since!

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G.R.

answers from Sacramento on

Dermadoctor makes a great antiperspirant. It is expensive but really works. I buy it at Sephora, but you can also get it online.

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E.P.

answers from San Francisco on

Get a prescription from the doctor. A friend of mine had this and it's the only thing that helped enough. Good luck!

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M.C.

answers from Salinas on

I used Mitchum when I was younger and fortunately as I have gotten older the perspiration has become much less. Maybe it is hormonal. I have an online business where i sell items that prevent the perspiration from showing through the underarm. If you are interested the site is www.underarmed.com. I hope this helps.

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P.S.

answers from San Francisco on

I've had the same problem most of my life.I was considering consulting with an MD and discovered Kiss my Face Liquid Rock deoderant at Whole Foods Market. It lasts a long time and works well. I had the same situation that I thought one deoderant worked and then after a month or two it didn't. Hope this helps.

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I.Y.

answers from Sacramento on

I was going to suggest the same. I know for a fact that there are antiperspirants available by prescription only. She might benefit from one. A common brand name is Drysol. Have her talk to her doctor.

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T.H.

answers from Sacramento on

Take her to the doctor. They have prescription antiperspirants that can be prescribed and the doctor might wan to do tests to see if there is something else going on to cause the excessive sweating. Good Luck

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E.M.

answers from Bakersfield on

Hi-
I hate to say this, but the use of anti-perspirant is probably making it worse for her in the long run. At 18 years old, I was a sweaty girl, and I was in the same boat. One girl in my gymn class, bless her heart, convinced me that it wasn't about sweating, because sweat is how your body cools down- it's about the odor. If you don't smell, then don't worry about it- just wear a white t-shirt so the sweat hardly shows! She was a savior to me about that.
I have switched permanently over to straight deodorant. I started with the crystal in liquid form and it worked like a charm. But in my mid twenties, my body changed, then so did my deodorant. I use Jason's Tea Tree Oil deodorant, and on occasion, my husbands AXE deodorant. Since the fragrance is really mild, if there is one, it doesn't overpower anything.
Last thing I want to say is that anti-perspirant is bad for your sweat glands. My aunt actually had to have hers drained because they got so blocked. You get lumps in your armpits and they can cause serious infections. It's the aluminum.
I hope this helps!
-E. M

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R.P.

answers from Sacramento on

I just read in my July issue of Consumer Reports on Health that applying antiperspirants before bed allows them to work overnight, when body temp. and perspiration drop, and effectively prevents wetness and odor when they peak the following day. The article was on chronobiology (the body's circadian rhythms). It was geared more to medications for arthritis, cancer, ulcers, etc. but did mention the antiperspirants as a 'for example' on how our bodies work. Worth a try to put on a layer at night and a layer again in the a.m.

Good luck to her!

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D.J.

answers from San Francisco on

Hi JN,

The condition you are describing is called Hyperhidrosis, a condition where the body sweats profusely and this mechanism is controlled by our sympathetic nervous system, examples are: excess sweating of the hands, axilla (Under Arm), face, scalp, and sometimes feet this is present in 0.6 to 1% of the population.

There are many options for treatment, however keep in mind, most are temporary and only “treat” the symptoms, i.e...sweating and not the cause. This condition can only be permanently corrected by surgical means.
For detailed information I am adding a link:

http://www.hyperhidrosis-usa.com/ets.html?gclid=CK-ix9OEq...

HOWEVER…

I do not recommend surgery for your daughter. My friend had the surgery. Before the surgery he had smooth skin, oily at times, but wrinkle free. Once he had the surgery his skin ALL OVER his body started to feel and appear dry. Yes, the profuse sweating under his arms was gone but the effects on his skin as a whole were detrimental. No woman wants dry wrinkled skin – period.

As stated by a few of the other mothers Botox is an option, however, under the arms injections can be painful. If you pursue this option please note, the result will only last for 3 to 4 months and will need to be repeated. The average cost for Botox is $10 to $15 per unit. The amount of Botox needed is subjective and biased on a per person basis.

If you choose to use Drysol this link will help you understand the product and the side effects:

http://www.drugs.com/mtm/drysol-topical.html

This is a personal issue that often causes embarrassment and self image issues and needs to be addressed with Care and sensitivity.

I wish you the best of luck,
D. Jones

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H.H.

answers from Redding on

I heard that you can accually have injections in the underarm to stop the persperation. I dont know how long it lasts or if its painfull :(

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M.B.

answers from San Francisco on

Mitchem is the best. If the Mitchem for women is not stopping the sweat use the Mitchem for mens. I swear by it. My boyfriends sister told us about it 5 years ago and no more rings under the shirts. Good Luck!

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M.S.

answers from Stockton on

I would talk to her Dr about it. I had the same problem. I couldn't even wear shirts with sleeves for years. Finally I talked to my Dr and she prescribed me a deoderant called Drysol. To this day I don't have the sweating problem (it's been about 7 years since I used it). They might have new stuff out now. But the Drysol worked great. The only downside was that it burned, especially if you shave just before putting it on. You just put it on at night and wear your regular deoderant during the day.

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J.H.

answers from Sacramento on

i posted a message about this topic several months ago, i got lots of advice. tried many things, but what works w/out doing the botox is Drysol antiperspirant. my md perscribed it. after using it for a couple of weeks, i don't even have to use it daily. it was a miracle!

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B.W.

answers from San Francisco on

I have tried Certin Dri overnight and AM for the days. You use the Dri (green container) at night about once a week or every 3-4 days and the AM works like regular deodorant. it's not harmful and I like it alot since I play sports and sweat like crazy.....

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S.B.

answers from San Francisco on

My brother and I had that same problem at that age. I think it was the pressures of the age with college and social issues. As others have suggested, I'd recommend seeing her doctor for a prescription, that's what we did. We both grew out of it. I now use Mitchum, it's the only anti-perspirant I've found to work well. I wish I knew about underarm pads because I would have used them, too, during that time.

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J.L.

answers from Sacramento on

You might have your daughter check with her doctor. Our niece also sweats a lot and was afraid she would have unsightly and visible sweat stains at her brother's outdoor wedding. She got a prescription for a super anti-perspirant that really worked well. I think the prescription strength is stronger than the Secret Cliniical.

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S.A.

answers from Merced on

Speak with her doctor.
There is a deoderant that can be prescribed or a liquid that can be applied to the underarms at night under whatever deoderant of her choice.
My ex-husband and consequently my son have the same issue and this is what I have done for them.
Hope this helps.

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V.O.

answers from San Francisco on

My friend in high school had that problem and she used to get a prescription anti-perspirant. I would take your daughter to the doctor to see what they can do for her.

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L.S.

answers from Stockton on

Please let your daughter know that she is lucky to be able to sweat; this way we detox our bodies, and now days, our environment is completely toxic, so, those who sweat more, are the ones who detox more.
We need to change the way we have been thinking for decades. It has been stated and mandated to "all of us" (by deodorant manufacturers, especially) that sweating is socially unacceptable. This is why most of us have used antiperspirant for life, which has brought many breast cancer issues (and other anomalies, like cysts, lumps, maybe). Antiperspirants contain ALUMMINUM, which is very toxic, and it stores in the brain (is this one of the causes of this new wave of Alzheimer's?? I ask myself. it is known that Alzheimer's patients have alumminum stored in their brains, and you know, this metal is neurotoxic.

Antiperspirants block our sweat from going out of our bodies (which nature intended to do in the first place - so, we are interfering with nature when we use antiperspirants). Don't you think that we may have side effects one day because of this? Just think about it, it is common sense. Once you interfere with your body's natural course, you pay the price.

I stopped using antiperspirant a couple of years ago. Now I use essential oils, but they do not interfere with your sweating. I allow my sweat glands to do their job now. I don't know if I will still have side effects one day for using antiperspirants all of my life, but at least, I think I have learned my lesson.
My daughter has the same problem and I'm trying to help her know the blessing that this is.
Good luck and SWEAT!!! that's good for your body!

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