Home Remedies for Perspiration

Perspiration is a natural part of life. We all sweat, but this time of year we sweat more because of the hot temperatures outside. There are a lot of things that cause perspiration besides the weather and there are also medications that cause us to sweat more than others. If you have a major problem with sweating and you are on certain prescription drugs, make sure to ask your doctor if your medications could be causing you to sweat more than usual. Here is a list of some medications that may cause excessive sweating.

Wellbutrin
Celexa
Anafranil
Clozaril
Cymbalta
Lexapro
Prozac
Luvox
Zoladex
Betaseron
Pegasys
Niaspin
Rituxan
Requip
Zoloft
Bexxar

Keep in mind, these medications may cause excessive sweating but it could be something else entirely.

The scientific term for excessive sweating is Hyperhidrosis. Nearly three percent of adults sweat too much, thus could have Hyperhidrosis. If you have a problem with sweating such as your armpits perspire so much that your shirt or blouse ends up soaked with sweat, you might have Hyperhidrosis. Also, if your hands are too sweaty causing them to feel slippery, or if your feet sweat a lot, which could cause odor-forming bacteria and fungi, you might have Hyperhidrosis. If you or someone you know has this problem, try these home remedies.

Milk of Magnesia

This over-the-counter treatment is used as a laxative but did you know it can also be used as an under-arm deodorant. Some people suggest applying it to the armpits to get rid of odor. Readers of the book, Best Choices from the People's Pharmacy, suggest shaking the bottle well before applying it to the armpits. It leaves no stains, dries clear, and they say it is completely effective in stopping odor and perspiration. You should watch out for irritation or rash in case of allergic reaction.

Vinegar and Baking Soda

Again, the wonders of baking soda and vinegar never cease to amaze me. It has been said that vinegar and baking soda can change the balance of acid and base on the skin, so this may be one reason why it has worked for those who have tried it.

Users of vinegar for armpit odor suggest to dilute the vinegar with water, half vinegar to half water before applying it. Also make sure to only apply it before shaving your armpits because it could sting. If it causes a rash or skin irritation, discontinue use immediately.

As for the baking soda, people who have tried this remedy say they apply it to their armpits by itself without mixing it with water and it works fine for them. Only apply a dime size amount because any more than that could cause irritation.

Some people say that vinegar and baking soda are better than any antiperspirants or deodorants in the stores today and since these products are in most everyone's home already, you have nothing to lose by trying it. Some say vinegar and baking soda lasts longer and is cheaper than antiperspirants and deodorants.

Tea Treatment for Hands and Feet

You might be wondering, "what about my sweaty feet and hands?" So let's talk about ways to fix sweaty hands and feet. The remedies above that are used for armpits can also be used for hands and feet but there are other solutions you might want to try.

Tannic acid can help reduce sweaty hands and feet. One home remedy you might want to try to make tannic acid is by steeping 5 tea bags in a quart of hot water for 15 minutes and then soaking your hands and feet in the tea for 30 minutes a day. The big problem with this remedy is that it can stain the hands and feet so use this remedy with caution.

Tannic acid also comes in some topical medications. The good thing about the tea solution is that it is cheap and works for some people.

Lemons

Some people say that by rolling 3 unpeeled lemons on a hard surface until soft, cutting them in half, and then rubbing each half on armpits, the acid kills the odor. If you have hairy armpits, make sure to shave them before doing this and then take a shower or bath afterwards.

Zinc

Another suggestion is to take one tablet of zinc with food or milk every day. Zinc has been said to get rid of perspiration and odor completely. You can find Zinc at your local Wal-Mart or drugstore.

Botox

Even though this is not a home remedy, I had to mention it because I doubt a lot of people know about this. I didn't know about it until reading about it in the book, Best Choices from the People's Pharmacy. Apparently, if you get botox treatments around your armpits it can be quite effective for controlling excess perspiration and this treatment has been approved by the FDA. The downside to this treatment is, it is very expensive, costing around $500 a treatment. The good thing about this treatment is that it can last for up to 8 months without wearing off, of course you will have to go back and get it done again every 6-8 months.

Before paying that much for botox, consider trying out the home remedies I have mentioned. If they don't work, go to your doctor and ask for a prescription. Then, if all else fails, try the botox.