Antiperspirants are proposed as a first-line treatment for people suffering from hyperhidrosis. In most cases, they give very good results.
Summary
First, it is important not to confuse deodorants and antiperspirants. Deodorants help you smell nice despite sweating thanks to fragrance, which masks bad odors, or to antimicrobial substances which combat them.
Antiperspirants work by reducing the amount of sweat that a person produces.
Antiperspirants used to prevent hyperhidrosis always have one active ingredient in common, which is aluminium salts, whether in natural form, such as alum stone, or not.
These are currently the only active ingredients that appear to be effective against excessive perspiration.
They act on two levels:
Sweating is a natural physiological mechanism, so the idea is not to completely block it, but to treat oversweating by regulating it so as not to be bothered by its effects.
Antiperspirants come in different forms: spray, roll-on or stick for the armpits, or in the more convenient form of a lotion or cream for use on the face, hands or feet. It is important that you look at the product’s formula, in order to make the right choice among the many products on offer. A product containing aluminium salts is a true antiperspirant, and is guaranteed to be effective.
A deodorant containing only fragrance and alcohol will not be sufficient for someone suffering from hyperhidrosis.
