1. DeodorantIf you barely notice sweat, just odor, you can use deodorant, which is free of aluminum, the ingredient that blocks sweat glands.Try: Arm & Hammer Essentials Solid Deodorant ($6, amazon.com) or Lavanila Laboratories Healthy Deodorant ($14, lavanila.com). 2. Regular-Strength Antiperspirant/DeodorantRegular-strength formulas contain aluminum compounds that keep perspiration to a mimimum by plugging up your sweat glands, says Dee Anna Glaser, MD, president of the International Hyperhidrosis Society.Try: Ban Invisible Solid Antiperspirant/Deodorant ($4, drugstore.com), Degree MOTIONsense Invisible Solid Antiperspirant/Deodorant ($6, amazon.com), or Dove Advanced Care Antiperspirant/Deodorant ($6, amazon.com). 3. Extra-Strength The difference here is more aluminum (and a few more bucks). Be sure to apply at night instead the morning—you have less sweat on your skin at bedtime, giving the aluminum better access to your sweat glands.Try: Secret Clinical Strength Clear Gel ($8, drugstore.com) or Dove Clinical Protection Antiperspirant/Deodorant ($10, amazon.com). 4. Ultra-Strong A product with a different aluminum compound may work better.Try: Certain Dri Clinical Strength Roll-On ($8, amazon.com), which packs 12% aluminum chloride (the strongest formula you can get without an Rx). 5. Prescription Once you’ve tried all the OTC options without success, it’s time to see your dermatologist. Rx formulas offer 20% aluminum chloride, but that amount of active ingredient can irritate skin. “If you’re noticing irritation, try alternating between the prescription product and a clinical strength option every other day,” suggests Glaser. MORE: Natural Ways To Stay Cool This Summer 6. BotoxStill sweating through Rx-strength options? You may have a condition called hyperhidrosis, or excessive sweating. But don’t panic: There are a handful of highly effective treatments on the market right now, starting with Botox. The frown-line-freezing injectable is FDA-approved to treat excessive underarm sweat by blocking the chemical signals that turn your sweat glands on. “One treatment will generally last seven months, so I tell patients to plan on coming in twice a year,” says Glaser. 7. MedicationIf you’re needle averse or the Botox proves ineffective, your doctor may prescribe medication called anticholingerics, which block the chemical messenger that triggers the sweating response from reaching the sweat glands. They work all over the body, which can make them very effective, but they do come with the risk of side effects like blurred vision, so keep your doctor in the loop on any issues so she can precisely tailor your dosage. 8. MiradryThis safe procedure uses electromagnetic energy to destroy armpit sweat glands. Two treatments done three months apart will solve your sweating problem for good. The only downside is that it’s not currently covered by any insurance plans, and it can cost up to $3,500. MORE: 15 Awkward Things You Only Ask Google
