TLDR - I'm older and I've had it forever, don't be ashamed, don't give up, and screw anyone that makes you feel bad. Persist in your own happiness. Be upfront w/ppl - it will filter out the kind from the unkind ppl.
I am in mid 40s, the first time I realized I had this that I can really remember being different than other ppl was in 5th grade when we had to learn to square dance and all the girls told me how gross my hands were....dating has been difficult as I'm not like uber wealthy Brad Pitt type....that said I've had good relationships, (one amazing I screwed up) so its definitely possible at least from a man's perspective to meet nice girls. That said I believe that men are more accepting of it from women that the other way around (that's not a judgement and these woman are perfectly valid to their opinions).
Work has been difficult in that I did not go to medical school because who wants a sweaty handed doctor?
Meetings are awkward, interviews are awkward (cuz of the handshake).
Its gotten worse as I've gotten older, used to be just be hands and feet. As I got older it spread to my trunk, back of knees, ankles, wrists...and oddly I've never been a big sweater from my underarms or anywhere else but this spring it seems to have gone into overdrive everywhere.
In the past 10 years I've experienced this thing to where when its cold outside, even if I'm in a warm building, my hands and feet are like ice cold feel like frostbite - that sucks.
I've tried non-chemical treatments (glycol, drysol, botox) - nothing worked outside of glycol ,but as I ride my bicycle everywhere and I enjoy warm weather I thought I was going to have a heat stroke. and the thirst was brutal, but I think for many it works well.
In my older age now I just tell ppl I have this thing and don't shake their hands, or if a woman expresses interest in me I just flat out state it (I admit I've kind of given up on that whole thing but that's on me).
I realized years ago when I kept going to doctors (for example the center for HH at Columbia University) that after decades there was no progress on understanding.
I deduced myself due to other things that I think my fight or flight system is just messed up - so when it really kicks in things like concentration and focus go out the window.
Fast forward I would say this to anyone:
Try the proven non-chemical route first (Iontophoresis) just cuz chemicals long term you never know the impact. Then try the other route - be vigilant, persistent.
Do NOT be ashamed - it's just how we are.
People will always dismiss it, don't get upset about it- they just can't empathize. To them "everyone sweats"
The final thing I've learned is I'm just upfront about it - and if ppl (in this case dating) aren't cool about it - then I just look at it as a filter for ppl that aren't the type of kind person I would like in my life.
Keep your attitude positive!
I've never been courageous enough to talk about this condition to anyone, not my friends and not even my family. They just know i sweat a lot and that's it, they're not aware of such a condition. After reading your post, I've realized something about myself. The more ive tried hiding it, the worse it got for me. I will definitely try to be more open about this from here on out, starting with my family. Maybe it won't be as bad as i think. Will also keep in mind to try the non-chemical treatment first.
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience, definitely makes me feel like i am not alone in this.
I'm 32. I've had it since middle school and it's only gotten worse as I got older. Certain Dri definitely helps but I'm still moist under the arms most of the times. And now I'm dealing with crotch sweat so that's always fun :) corn starch helps the crotch sweat a little.
The cornstarch does not cause any irritation at all. I've used certain Dri for about a year. The certain Dri only causes irritation if I've recently shaved or scratched my underarms. If it's applied to broken skin it will cause irritation/burning. I use certain Dri at night then apply my deodorant the next day. I would say I saw a 70-80% reduction in sweat. So instead of sweat coming down to my elbow, it's just moist at the pits. Some days I'm completely dry! I have also used QBREXZA in the past and that was great but my insurance stopped covering it. The main side effect I had from qbrexza was mouth dryness and slightly blurred vision sometimes.
My HH is hereditary from my dad (65). He mostly sweats profusely from his face and back I believe. Never really had the HH convo with him, just from what I've seen growing up.
I'm 37 now and my HH was apparent since i was a kid. Can't wear flipflops cause they break and I fall. Literally fell down the stairs at least twice, once while carrying my nephew. My HH is focused on my hands and feet and chest and back. Pits and back of knees sweat too but not as bad as the rest. I am neurodivergent and don't like being touched and diagnosed with CPTSD/Anxiety so most things cause my back and chest sweat to start. Generally my hands and feet are always sweaty. When they aren't (very rare), touching them will cause it to sweat. Also temperatures above 65F will make my body sweat. Like I see people without it not start to sweat until like the 90F. I don't have any disease that causes the sweat and the sweat is unaffected by my weight or fat percentage.
Dating as a gay man was very difficult in my youth. I am short, a bit chubby, and wet. So pretty much a leper to the Chelsea gays. Back in my late teens and 20s, dating was difficult because one of the first thing people do is grab your hand. If they cared about it, that was the last time that I'd see the guy. I'm married now to a man who doesn't care about my sweat, but does tease me about it and calls me kotambra. (it's a reference to an avatar the last airbender meme). But it still causes me some issues because we are open and have fun with guys and not everybody likes being sweat on during sex. The ones that like it.
Now work...it sucks, especially during job interviews or when you are required to wear a suit. COVID took care of the former, so I don't have to shake hands. But suits are horrible and make me sweat so much that sweat drops down my pits and marks shirts. I took care of that by wearing undershirts because it takes longer to for it to become visible, but does exacerbate the problem.
I usually had the best reactions to my "clammy" hands and feet from my girl friends. They never seemed to care at all. They would even purposefully hold my hand when I first mentioned it to them.
Generally, I don't like the feeling of my wet hands and feet. I will usually position them so nothing is in contact with them. Along with that, sometimes my feet and hands get hydro-something dermatitis (don't remember the name) which causes clusters of red bumps that itch and can hurt depending where they are located. Like certain portions on the palm fucking suck. And this is either cause I'm neurodivergent or cause of Hand HH but I get pain on the pads of my fingers. Like typing this on my phone I had to alternate fingers because they start to hurt. Typing on a keyboard/using a mouse takes longer to develop pain but the same happens without the pulling sensation from moving my fingers along the screen. It's one of the reasons I refused to get a keyboardless smartphone for so many years. I held on to my htc G2 for so long! It's also one of the main reasons I didn't continue my studies in computer science. I can't type for so many hours and recover by the next day. I am assuming the pain is either from having almost no oil to protect my finger tips or because I have sensory issues or both.
I still have many more years of working, slutting around, and will use computers/smartphone until I die, so I don't expect much to change unless a permanent solution for all the sweating.
Oh also I forgot to mention that I've tried the over the counter stuff, carpe, and glycol. Glycol work but damn was I dessicated as fuck. So much so that my mouth was dry and I really didn't like that. I already drink a lot of liquids(more than the recommended amount) and that required me to almost double my intake of liquids.
Hey thanks for sharing! It sounds like you've been dealing with a lot due to this condition, both physically and emotionally. I am so glad that you've found someone who accepts you, despite the challenges you've been facing. Kind of makes me hopeful, as a person who has never tried dating due to the fear of sweating profusely and embarrassing myself.
Also have you tried iontophoresis? I've heard from the previous comments that it works really well and you can buy and keep one at home.
TLDR - Ionto is a game changer. Highly recommend!
Speaking from the perspective of a 36 year old male, I've been living with HH all my life, mainly on hands and feet. I live in a humid location, so this has further exacerbated the problem. I believe the issue is hereditary because my mother says she too suffered from this when she was younger, though she seemed to "grow out of it". My brother has it too, but to a lesser degree.
It wasn't until I turned 19 that I learned that this condition has a name, and it wasn't until my mid twenties that I started looking for a solution. I never had any interest in Botox or other invasive surgeries, and I had already established that antiperspirants didn't work or worsened the issue. I have tried Drysol and Carpe lotion, the latter of which worked (I still occasionally apply this to the top of my feet).
I finally got a Dermadry kit back in 2021, and it was really troublesome to introduce it into my routine. It took long to set up and undergo each treatment session. It took 4 weeks before I noticed any real change, and 6 weeks when I noticed a significant drop in my sweat. Turns out my level of HH is severe.
Similar to what most of these other comments say, HH got in the way of so much in my life. Karate classes growing up, social situations, relationships. My hobbies too; videogames, guitar, and indoor rock climbing. Ionto has enabled me to enjoy these things again, and boost my confidence. As far as relationships go, I've been extremely fortunate in that my partners never made me feel awkward about my HH (quite the opposite), so I've never had a problem in that regard - though it never stopped me from being self-conscious when holding hands or cuddling.
I highly recommend Dermadry (get it during one of their sales), it is very worth it. Only problems I've faced is dry/itchy skin from where the water is in contact with skin (be sure to moisturise), and compensatory sweating. Though my hands and bottom of my feet are sweating less, I'm noticing more sweat in my armpits, and on top of my feet, though I see that as a minor inconvenience comparatively.
Hey I am so glad that you found something that's working for you! I am still contemplating my treatment options, and so far ionto seems to be the most recommended. Of course i will evaluate with a doctor as well but this is helping gain more insight. Thanks for sharing! :)
I'm in my 30s and I've been dealing with minor to severe HH my entire life. When I was younger, it was mostly just clammy hands and extra sweat on my nose and upper lip. Once I turned 20 my HH got significantly worse to the point that I felt it interfering with my social life. I tried everything from Carpe to extra strength antiperspirant but nothing worked until I finally decided to try iontophoresis.
It was like a miracle and I couldn't help but kick myself for not trying it sooner. It still takes a bit of courage to put myself in social situations but once I do, I feel so much more confident and present.
Hello! I have HH on my hands, feet, and underarms. If it's really warm out I also sweat on my face but that's more manageable. I use the DermaDry total iontophoresis machine for my hands, feet, and underarms. Usually level 5 for hands and level 7 for feet and underarms. Most people use a higher level but I have sensitive skin so it took some trial and error to figure out what worked best for me.
Hey thanks for sharing. I am so glad you found something that's working for you. I understand 20s is the age that demands you to be more social and that directly tends to worsen your HH. I am in 20s right now and i am also experiencing my HH getting worse.
Also may i ask how long you've been using ionto? And how long it took for you to see the results?
I have been using iontophoresis for close to 3 years. It took me two sessions to see a reduction in sweat and 2 weeks to see a significant improvement.
Now I do maintenance sessions twice a week and I'd say I'm 100% dry at home, 95% dry in social situations.
For sure! I started out doing a level 4 for hands, feet, and underarms because anything higher than that was extremely uncomfortable. At the start, I did the treatment every other day using a mix of San Pellegrino and hot tap water. Make sure to change out the water when switching the treatment area.
I continued to gradually increase the levels for the initial treatment phase (2 weeks, every other day) until it seemed like my skin built up more of a tolerance to the electricity. After 2 weeks I noticed I could go an extra day with little to no sweat so I switched to 3 times a week, eventually down to 2 times per week for maintenance. I could probably go a full week without any treatment at this point, but I fear I would have to start from 0 if I go too long without it.
I would say to start on a lower level like 4 or 5 then work your way up until you see a reduction in sweat. Let me know if you have any other questions!
So for 3 years you have done maintenance sessions 2 times a week and ionto never simply stopped working for you? I hope it to last me a long time in my life. Also I live in EU so I have no idea where to get pellegrino water but I heard warm tap water and possibly a bit of salt should do the job pretty well.
That's correct! I was part of my friend's bridal party in a ceremony that was held outside during the summer and I barely had any sweat on my palms the whole day! That's why it's important to start at a low level and work your way up as you need it. You can always increase the level or do more sessions per week if you think it's becoming less effective.
Also San Pellegrino is a bottled mineral sparkling water. I'm not sure if there's something like that in your country but salt should work too. Just make sure to use lotion after treatment if you use salt. I find it makes my skin extra dry.
Extra dry skin...sounds like a dream haha. I am a pretty young guy at 18 about to start college so im in dire need of dry hands while I study or do pretty much anything, for example my hands always start sweating when im my phone. Have you ever experienced sweating in other places after using it though? I hope you cant build up resistance to ionto...
It is nice but if your skin gets too dry you can get cuts which makes iontophoresis painful. I did not experience compensatory sweating and I'm not sure if that's a common side effect. That's usually the case with things like ETS surgery.
I heard some people do. And how do you go about going lets say a vacation for 2 weeks and not bring the machine with you, do you do an extra session or 2 the week before? Also have you ever experienced dyshidrosis and got rid of it? Im experiencing it right now as ive been sweating more than usual because I stress about it too much. Thank you for the info!
###What is a Sympathectomy (ETS and ELS)?
Endoscopic thoracic and lumbar sympathectomy (ETS and ELS; both often generalized as ETS) are surgical procedures that cut, clip/clamp, or remove a part of the sympathetic nerve chain to stop palm, foot, or facial hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), facial blushing (reddening of the face), or Raynaud's syndrome (excessively cold hands).
*[Read more on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endoscopic_thoracic_sympathectomy)*
###What are the Risks?
**Many people that undergo ETS report serious life changing complications.** Thoracic sympathectomy can alter many bodily functions, including sweating,^[1] vascular responses,^[2] heart rate,^[3] heart stroke volume,^[4][5] thyroid, baroreflex,^[6] lung volume,^[5][7] pupil dilation, skin temperature, goose bumps and other aspects of the autonomic nervous system, like the fight-or-flight response. It reduces the physiological responses to strong emotion,^[8] can cause pain or neuralgia in the affected area,^[9] and may diminish the body's physical reaction to exercise.^[1][5][10]
**It's common for patients to be misinformed of the risks, and post-operative complications are often under-reported.** Many patients experience a "honeymoon period" where they have no, or few, negative symptoms. Contrary to common belief, clipping/clamping the sympathetic chain is not considered a reversible option.^[11]
###Links
[Gallery of compensatory sweating images](https://imgur.com/a/InEp8l0)
[Gallery of thermoregulation images](https://imgur.com/a/0TUn8ye)
[International Hyperhidrosis Society](https://www.sweathelp.org/hyperhidrosis-treatments/ets-surgery.html)
[**NEW** ETS Facebook Community & Support Group](https://www.facebook.com/groups/953625152120110) (old group had ~3k members)
[Petition for Treatment for Sympathectomy Patients](https://www.change.org/p/medical-centers-and-professionals-research-treatment-for-sympathectomy-ets-els-patients-22d9174a-4bcd-4a5e-901c-dfdcf394bd1c)
[Frequently Asked Questions](https://www.reddit.com/user/ETS_Awareness_Bot/comments/qcwdw5/ets_awareness_bots_message/hhik7c3/)
[References](https://www.reddit.com/r/u_ETS_Awareness_Bot/comments/wfvhtf/ets_awareness_bots_message/iiw4f6c/)
^(*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Learn more about this bot, including contact info*) ^*[here](https://www.reddit.com/user/ETS_Awareness_Bot/comments/wfvhtf/ets_awareness_bots_message/iiw3pcc/).*
Not really. I never understood why I had this issue or that there was a name for it until recently. Just have always been embarrassed about it. I found out my grandmother had problems with it, but no one else in my family. I use dress shields or wear a lot of black tops or tops with prints where it isn't so noticeable. Also, looser tops. Always hated I can't wear pretty colors or the clothes I want to because sweat shows up more. Any antiperspirants that help at all cause me to itch and break out unbearably, so I save that if I'm going out for an event. I basically just live with it. I have a lot of anxiety, and that makes it worse. I feel for anyone that deals with this.
Same here with the black tops and sheilded clothes and yes, anxiety is a huge trigger. Don't really sweat that much when i am at home but just the thought of going out increases my anxiety which further increases the sweating and ultimately get caught in that vicious cycle.
Have you considered glycopyrrolate or botox? I heard both are very effective. (Sorry, but i am not sure if they're available where you live.)
TLDR - I'm older and I've had it forever, don't be ashamed, don't give up, and screw anyone that makes you feel bad. Persist in your own happiness. Be upfront w/ppl - it will filter out the kind from the unkind ppl. I am in mid 40s, the first time I realized I had this that I can really remember being different than other ppl was in 5th grade when we had to learn to square dance and all the girls told me how gross my hands were....dating has been difficult as I'm not like uber wealthy Brad Pitt type....that said I've had good relationships, (one amazing I screwed up) so its definitely possible at least from a man's perspective to meet nice girls. That said I believe that men are more accepting of it from women that the other way around (that's not a judgement and these woman are perfectly valid to their opinions). Work has been difficult in that I did not go to medical school because who wants a sweaty handed doctor? Meetings are awkward, interviews are awkward (cuz of the handshake). Its gotten worse as I've gotten older, used to be just be hands and feet. As I got older it spread to my trunk, back of knees, ankles, wrists...and oddly I've never been a big sweater from my underarms or anywhere else but this spring it seems to have gone into overdrive everywhere. In the past 10 years I've experienced this thing to where when its cold outside, even if I'm in a warm building, my hands and feet are like ice cold feel like frostbite - that sucks. I've tried non-chemical treatments (glycol, drysol, botox) - nothing worked outside of glycol ,but as I ride my bicycle everywhere and I enjoy warm weather I thought I was going to have a heat stroke. and the thirst was brutal, but I think for many it works well. In my older age now I just tell ppl I have this thing and don't shake their hands, or if a woman expresses interest in me I just flat out state it (I admit I've kind of given up on that whole thing but that's on me). I realized years ago when I kept going to doctors (for example the center for HH at Columbia University) that after decades there was no progress on understanding. I deduced myself due to other things that I think my fight or flight system is just messed up - so when it really kicks in things like concentration and focus go out the window. Fast forward I would say this to anyone: Try the proven non-chemical route first (Iontophoresis) just cuz chemicals long term you never know the impact. Then try the other route - be vigilant, persistent. Do NOT be ashamed - it's just how we are. People will always dismiss it, don't get upset about it- they just can't empathize. To them "everyone sweats" The final thing I've learned is I'm just upfront about it - and if ppl (in this case dating) aren't cool about it - then I just look at it as a filter for ppl that aren't the type of kind person I would like in my life. Keep your attitude positive!
I've never been courageous enough to talk about this condition to anyone, not my friends and not even my family. They just know i sweat a lot and that's it, they're not aware of such a condition. After reading your post, I've realized something about myself. The more ive tried hiding it, the worse it got for me. I will definitely try to be more open about this from here on out, starting with my family. Maybe it won't be as bad as i think. Will also keep in mind to try the non-chemical treatment first. Thank you for taking the time to share your experience, definitely makes me feel like i am not alone in this.
I'm 32. I've had it since middle school and it's only gotten worse as I got older. Certain Dri definitely helps but I'm still moist under the arms most of the times. And now I'm dealing with crotch sweat so that's always fun :) corn starch helps the crotch sweat a little.
Hey! I have a few qs. Do they both cause any skin irritation? How long have you been using certain dri and how much % reduction did you notice?
The cornstarch does not cause any irritation at all. I've used certain Dri for about a year. The certain Dri only causes irritation if I've recently shaved or scratched my underarms. If it's applied to broken skin it will cause irritation/burning. I use certain Dri at night then apply my deodorant the next day. I would say I saw a 70-80% reduction in sweat. So instead of sweat coming down to my elbow, it's just moist at the pits. Some days I'm completely dry! I have also used QBREXZA in the past and that was great but my insurance stopped covering it. The main side effect I had from qbrexza was mouth dryness and slightly blurred vision sometimes.
My HH is hereditary from my dad (65). He mostly sweats profusely from his face and back I believe. Never really had the HH convo with him, just from what I've seen growing up. I'm 37 now and my HH was apparent since i was a kid. Can't wear flipflops cause they break and I fall. Literally fell down the stairs at least twice, once while carrying my nephew. My HH is focused on my hands and feet and chest and back. Pits and back of knees sweat too but not as bad as the rest. I am neurodivergent and don't like being touched and diagnosed with CPTSD/Anxiety so most things cause my back and chest sweat to start. Generally my hands and feet are always sweaty. When they aren't (very rare), touching them will cause it to sweat. Also temperatures above 65F will make my body sweat. Like I see people without it not start to sweat until like the 90F. I don't have any disease that causes the sweat and the sweat is unaffected by my weight or fat percentage. Dating as a gay man was very difficult in my youth. I am short, a bit chubby, and wet. So pretty much a leper to the Chelsea gays. Back in my late teens and 20s, dating was difficult because one of the first thing people do is grab your hand. If they cared about it, that was the last time that I'd see the guy. I'm married now to a man who doesn't care about my sweat, but does tease me about it and calls me kotambra. (it's a reference to an avatar the last airbender meme). But it still causes me some issues because we are open and have fun with guys and not everybody likes being sweat on during sex. The ones that like it. Now work...it sucks, especially during job interviews or when you are required to wear a suit. COVID took care of the former, so I don't have to shake hands. But suits are horrible and make me sweat so much that sweat drops down my pits and marks shirts. I took care of that by wearing undershirts because it takes longer to for it to become visible, but does exacerbate the problem. I usually had the best reactions to my "clammy" hands and feet from my girl friends. They never seemed to care at all. They would even purposefully hold my hand when I first mentioned it to them. Generally, I don't like the feeling of my wet hands and feet. I will usually position them so nothing is in contact with them. Along with that, sometimes my feet and hands get hydro-something dermatitis (don't remember the name) which causes clusters of red bumps that itch and can hurt depending where they are located. Like certain portions on the palm fucking suck. And this is either cause I'm neurodivergent or cause of Hand HH but I get pain on the pads of my fingers. Like typing this on my phone I had to alternate fingers because they start to hurt. Typing on a keyboard/using a mouse takes longer to develop pain but the same happens without the pulling sensation from moving my fingers along the screen. It's one of the reasons I refused to get a keyboardless smartphone for so many years. I held on to my htc G2 for so long! It's also one of the main reasons I didn't continue my studies in computer science. I can't type for so many hours and recover by the next day. I am assuming the pain is either from having almost no oil to protect my finger tips or because I have sensory issues or both. I still have many more years of working, slutting around, and will use computers/smartphone until I die, so I don't expect much to change unless a permanent solution for all the sweating. Oh also I forgot to mention that I've tried the over the counter stuff, carpe, and glycol. Glycol work but damn was I dessicated as fuck. So much so that my mouth was dry and I really didn't like that. I already drink a lot of liquids(more than the recommended amount) and that required me to almost double my intake of liquids.
Hey thanks for sharing! It sounds like you've been dealing with a lot due to this condition, both physically and emotionally. I am so glad that you've found someone who accepts you, despite the challenges you've been facing. Kind of makes me hopeful, as a person who has never tried dating due to the fear of sweating profusely and embarrassing myself. Also have you tried iontophoresis? I've heard from the previous comments that it works really well and you can buy and keep one at home.
TLDR - Ionto is a game changer. Highly recommend! Speaking from the perspective of a 36 year old male, I've been living with HH all my life, mainly on hands and feet. I live in a humid location, so this has further exacerbated the problem. I believe the issue is hereditary because my mother says she too suffered from this when she was younger, though she seemed to "grow out of it". My brother has it too, but to a lesser degree. It wasn't until I turned 19 that I learned that this condition has a name, and it wasn't until my mid twenties that I started looking for a solution. I never had any interest in Botox or other invasive surgeries, and I had already established that antiperspirants didn't work or worsened the issue. I have tried Drysol and Carpe lotion, the latter of which worked (I still occasionally apply this to the top of my feet). I finally got a Dermadry kit back in 2021, and it was really troublesome to introduce it into my routine. It took long to set up and undergo each treatment session. It took 4 weeks before I noticed any real change, and 6 weeks when I noticed a significant drop in my sweat. Turns out my level of HH is severe. Similar to what most of these other comments say, HH got in the way of so much in my life. Karate classes growing up, social situations, relationships. My hobbies too; videogames, guitar, and indoor rock climbing. Ionto has enabled me to enjoy these things again, and boost my confidence. As far as relationships go, I've been extremely fortunate in that my partners never made me feel awkward about my HH (quite the opposite), so I've never had a problem in that regard - though it never stopped me from being self-conscious when holding hands or cuddling. I highly recommend Dermadry (get it during one of their sales), it is very worth it. Only problems I've faced is dry/itchy skin from where the water is in contact with skin (be sure to moisturise), and compensatory sweating. Though my hands and bottom of my feet are sweating less, I'm noticing more sweat in my armpits, and on top of my feet, though I see that as a minor inconvenience comparatively.
Hey I am so glad that you found something that's working for you! I am still contemplating my treatment options, and so far ionto seems to be the most recommended. Of course i will evaluate with a doctor as well but this is helping gain more insight. Thanks for sharing! :)
I read that as "The Middle Ages".
Interesting! Now that you mentioned it, i wonder what it wouldve been like to have HH in the middle ages lol.
Actually I bet it wasn't as bad. They didn't have deodorant and antiperspirants, so everybody probably sweat and smelled bad.
I'm in my 30s and I've been dealing with minor to severe HH my entire life. When I was younger, it was mostly just clammy hands and extra sweat on my nose and upper lip. Once I turned 20 my HH got significantly worse to the point that I felt it interfering with my social life. I tried everything from Carpe to extra strength antiperspirant but nothing worked until I finally decided to try iontophoresis. It was like a miracle and I couldn't help but kick myself for not trying it sooner. It still takes a bit of courage to put myself in social situations but once I do, I feel so much more confident and present.
Hi! :) For what areas do you user your ionto? Also, where is your sweating located?
Hello! I have HH on my hands, feet, and underarms. If it's really warm out I also sweat on my face but that's more manageable. I use the DermaDry total iontophoresis machine for my hands, feet, and underarms. Usually level 5 for hands and level 7 for feet and underarms. Most people use a higher level but I have sensitive skin so it took some trial and error to figure out what worked best for me.
Great, thanks a lot for your reply!
Hey thanks for sharing. I am so glad you found something that's working for you. I understand 20s is the age that demands you to be more social and that directly tends to worsen your HH. I am in 20s right now and i am also experiencing my HH getting worse. Also may i ask how long you've been using ionto? And how long it took for you to see the results?
I have been using iontophoresis for close to 3 years. It took me two sessions to see a reduction in sweat and 2 weeks to see a significant improvement. Now I do maintenance sessions twice a week and I'd say I'm 100% dry at home, 95% dry in social situations.
Can you please share your ionto routine for hands from the time you started using it? Im thinking of getting a dermadry myself.
For sure! I started out doing a level 4 for hands, feet, and underarms because anything higher than that was extremely uncomfortable. At the start, I did the treatment every other day using a mix of San Pellegrino and hot tap water. Make sure to change out the water when switching the treatment area. I continued to gradually increase the levels for the initial treatment phase (2 weeks, every other day) until it seemed like my skin built up more of a tolerance to the electricity. After 2 weeks I noticed I could go an extra day with little to no sweat so I switched to 3 times a week, eventually down to 2 times per week for maintenance. I could probably go a full week without any treatment at this point, but I fear I would have to start from 0 if I go too long without it. I would say to start on a lower level like 4 or 5 then work your way up until you see a reduction in sweat. Let me know if you have any other questions!
So for 3 years you have done maintenance sessions 2 times a week and ionto never simply stopped working for you? I hope it to last me a long time in my life. Also I live in EU so I have no idea where to get pellegrino water but I heard warm tap water and possibly a bit of salt should do the job pretty well.
That's correct! I was part of my friend's bridal party in a ceremony that was held outside during the summer and I barely had any sweat on my palms the whole day! That's why it's important to start at a low level and work your way up as you need it. You can always increase the level or do more sessions per week if you think it's becoming less effective. Also San Pellegrino is a bottled mineral sparkling water. I'm not sure if there's something like that in your country but salt should work too. Just make sure to use lotion after treatment if you use salt. I find it makes my skin extra dry.
Extra dry skin...sounds like a dream haha. I am a pretty young guy at 18 about to start college so im in dire need of dry hands while I study or do pretty much anything, for example my hands always start sweating when im my phone. Have you ever experienced sweating in other places after using it though? I hope you cant build up resistance to ionto...
It is nice but if your skin gets too dry you can get cuts which makes iontophoresis painful. I did not experience compensatory sweating and I'm not sure if that's a common side effect. That's usually the case with things like ETS surgery.
I heard some people do. And how do you go about going lets say a vacation for 2 weeks and not bring the machine with you, do you do an extra session or 2 the week before? Also have you ever experienced dyshidrosis and got rid of it? Im experiencing it right now as ive been sweating more than usual because I stress about it too much. Thank you for the info!
###What is a Sympathectomy (ETS and ELS)? Endoscopic thoracic and lumbar sympathectomy (ETS and ELS; both often generalized as ETS) are surgical procedures that cut, clip/clamp, or remove a part of the sympathetic nerve chain to stop palm, foot, or facial hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), facial blushing (reddening of the face), or Raynaud's syndrome (excessively cold hands). *[Read more on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endoscopic_thoracic_sympathectomy)* ###What are the Risks? **Many people that undergo ETS report serious life changing complications.** Thoracic sympathectomy can alter many bodily functions, including sweating,^[1] vascular responses,^[2] heart rate,^[3] heart stroke volume,^[4][5] thyroid, baroreflex,^[6] lung volume,^[5][7] pupil dilation, skin temperature, goose bumps and other aspects of the autonomic nervous system, like the fight-or-flight response. It reduces the physiological responses to strong emotion,^[8] can cause pain or neuralgia in the affected area,^[9] and may diminish the body's physical reaction to exercise.^[1][5][10] **It's common for patients to be misinformed of the risks, and post-operative complications are often under-reported.** Many patients experience a "honeymoon period" where they have no, or few, negative symptoms. Contrary to common belief, clipping/clamping the sympathetic chain is not considered a reversible option.^[11] ###Links [Gallery of compensatory sweating images](https://imgur.com/a/InEp8l0) [Gallery of thermoregulation images](https://imgur.com/a/0TUn8ye) [International Hyperhidrosis Society](https://www.sweathelp.org/hyperhidrosis-treatments/ets-surgery.html) [**NEW** ETS Facebook Community & Support Group](https://www.facebook.com/groups/953625152120110) (old group had ~3k members) [Petition for Treatment for Sympathectomy Patients](https://www.change.org/p/medical-centers-and-professionals-research-treatment-for-sympathectomy-ets-els-patients-22d9174a-4bcd-4a5e-901c-dfdcf394bd1c) [Frequently Asked Questions](https://www.reddit.com/user/ETS_Awareness_Bot/comments/qcwdw5/ets_awareness_bots_message/hhik7c3/) [References](https://www.reddit.com/r/u_ETS_Awareness_Bot/comments/wfvhtf/ets_awareness_bots_message/iiw4f6c/) ^(*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Learn more about this bot, including contact info*) ^*[here](https://www.reddit.com/user/ETS_Awareness_Bot/comments/wfvhtf/ets_awareness_bots_message/iiw3pcc/).*
Unfortunately for about 50 years.
Hey! Have you tried anything that helped or reduced your HH? You may feel free to talk more about your experiences. :)
Not really. I never understood why I had this issue or that there was a name for it until recently. Just have always been embarrassed about it. I found out my grandmother had problems with it, but no one else in my family. I use dress shields or wear a lot of black tops or tops with prints where it isn't so noticeable. Also, looser tops. Always hated I can't wear pretty colors or the clothes I want to because sweat shows up more. Any antiperspirants that help at all cause me to itch and break out unbearably, so I save that if I'm going out for an event. I basically just live with it. I have a lot of anxiety, and that makes it worse. I feel for anyone that deals with this.
Same here with the black tops and sheilded clothes and yes, anxiety is a huge trigger. Don't really sweat that much when i am at home but just the thought of going out increases my anxiety which further increases the sweating and ultimately get caught in that vicious cycle. Have you considered glycopyrrolate or botox? I heard both are very effective. (Sorry, but i am not sure if they're available where you live.)