Dry the area before application, I suggest using a hair drying on cool setting. This can reduce skin irritation. Initially use every other night, preferably after a shower.

Use a small amount only, allow it to dry on your skin before putting on night clothes. Wash off in the morning and continue to use your normal deodorant. If you have some skin irritation, buy some 1% Hydrocortisone cream to help settle the skin rash. Increase your application accordingly. It often takes a week or two to notice an improvement.

Once sweat production is reduced, you can apply the product two to three times a week, or even less!

*Recommended strengths of aluminium chloride hexahydrate range from 12 to 20%. This can be compounded by My Skin Pharmacy in Brisbane.

**Other options include NMS or No More Sweat. Try the higher strength conventions of aluminium chloride.

Don’t worry too much as most patients with moderate to severe sweating will develop a rash from antiperspirants. This is because the skin has irritation from the sweat combined with the chemicals from antiperspirants. In some cases, it is transient, in other cases you will need to troubleshoot (see below).

Tips to reduce skin irritation include- use less product, apply less frequently, apply on dry skin (after using a hair dryer), use at night. In some cases we may prescribe a mild anti-inflammatory cream after antiperspirant use.

If you are intolerant to clinical strength antiperspirants, you will qualify for anti-sweat injections through Medicare.  

Yup, that is the negative side of aluminium chloride. When the ingredient combines with sweat, it creates a yellow tint that can be nearly impossible to remove. I guess you would have figured it out, hence that’s why you wear dark coloured clothes.

There are many brands without aluminium, Drunk Elephant, Native Men’s & Women’s deodorant, Myro plant based, & QV are just some of the brands out there. Remember, a deodorant’s main purpose is to stop you smelling, they are not as effective as antiperspirants to reduce sweating.

If sweating is still impacting your life, you could have excessive sweating, also known as hyperhidrosis. There are several treatment options available including anti sweat injections, iontophoresis, oral medication, microwave treatment or surgery.

Injectable treatments involve injections to the underarm area. This chemical is the same one that is used for anti-wrinkles (believe it or not). It functions by temporarily blocking the chemical signals from the nerves that stimulate the sweat glands. When the sweat glands don’t receive chemical signals, the severe sweating is significantly reduced. These injections are expected to temporarily stop the production of excessive sweat in the treated areas. Treatments are partially covered by Medicare (with the stipulation that it is undertaken by a dermatologist).

Iontophoresis temporarily switches off the sweat glands by using an electrical current device. This treatment is best for sweaty hands & feet. Dermatologists may use a compound called glycopyrrolate to make it work better.

Tablet medications can block the chemical signals to the sweat glands and reduce underarm sweating as well. This group of tablets are called anticholinergics and include glycopyrrolate & propantheline bromide. You can ask your doctor for a prescription.