How to Stop Sweaty Palms

Excessive sweating of the palms may be seen in a condition known as hyperhidrosis. There are surgical and non-surgical treatments that may stop sweaty palms. If you suffer from sweaty palms, you should consult your doctor before starting any treatment plan. You should speak with your doctor because excessive sweating may be caused by some other disease process, known as "secondary" hyperhidrosis. (Please see Primary versus Secondary Hyperhidrosis). This section is focused on the treatment to stop sweaty palms when caused by primary hyperhidrosis.

In general, patients with hyperhidrosis should try to treat symptoms with non-surgical treatments before considering surgery for excessive sweating. There are many non-surgical approaches that may be used to stop sweaty palms.

Medications to Stop Sweaty Palms

There are three general groups of medications used to stop sweaty palms. They include sedatives, beta-blockers, and anticholinergics (medications that block the substances that are responsible for nervous system activity.) Anticholinergic medications carry many side effects including dry mouth, blurred vision, and urinary retention. These side effects often significant and not well tolerated by patients. Benzodiazepines (like Valium) are useful in treating excessive palmar sweating that is caused by stress, but carry the risk of dependence and abuse.

Antiperspirant Treatment to Stop Sweaty Palms

Antiperspirants and deodorants may be used to stop sweaty palms. In people with excessive palmar sweating, special antiperspirants containing aluminum chloride hexahydrate (Drysol ®) are often the first therapeutic measure recommended, and function by blocking the opening of sweat glands. Side effects of Antiperspirants include skin irritation, and the results are often not sufficient to stop excessive palm sweating.

Iontophoresis Treatment to Stop Sweaty Palms

Iontophoresis uses low-intensity electrical current to disrupt the function of the sweat glands. During inotophoresis, each hand or foot is rested on a wet pad in a tray that is connected to an electrical current that passes through the pads. The currents are sent through the skin to sweat glands, which results in blocked sweat glands and reduced palm sweating. Iontophoresis is a safe, non-invasive treatment and causes only minor discomfort. The biggest drawback is that the process is time consuming, and must be repeated at regular intervals. Each iontophoresis treatment may take 15 to 30 minutes to complete. Often the intervals between treatments can be lengthened once control is achieved. Iontophoresis has been shown to stop palm sweating in around 85% of patients with sweaty palms. (1)(2)

Botox® treatment for Sweaty Palms

Botox ® (botulinum toxin type A) is a medication that is used to stop sweaty palms. Botox is a toxin that blocks the function of nerves, and leads to decreased sweating in the area where it is injected. One of the primary side effects is pain at the site of injection. Injections to stop sweaty palms tend to be more painful than when used to stop underarm sweating. Please see our section on botox treatment for more information.

Endoscopic Sympathectomy to Stop Sweaty Palms

The creation of endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy has lowered the complication rate of surgery for excessive sweating. Surgical treatment is a good option for patients who cannot control symptoms on medication alone. The most common side effect of endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy is compensatory sweating, where the patient may experience increased sweating in other areas that previously were not a problem. Please visit our section on surgical treatment for excessive sweating.

The surgery has been shown to be effective to stop sweaty palms. Overall, the surgery is safe and effective for the treatment of hyperhidrosis.

Studies on endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy to stop sweaty palms have shown the procedure to reduce increased sweating in the majority of patients. In one study of 850 patients, 98% of the patients said that the results of the surgery were satisfactory, (3) while another study of 233 patients showed satisfactory results in 95% of patients. (4)

The main side effects of sympathectomy for sweaty palms include hemothorax (blood in the thoracic cavity, behind the lungs) in 1% to 2%, recurrence of symptoms in around 2% of patients, and compensatory sweating (increased sweating in other areas of the body) in 55% to 67% of patients.