Body Temperature: Sweating & Coldness / Question
Published: May 9, 2001
Dear TeenHealthFX,
I have severe underarm perspiration problem and I need to take care of it. What do you suggest? I am on two types of medications, tetracycline for acne and proprananol for a heart condition. Are there prescriptions that eliminate sweat altogether?
Signed: Female, 20, Severe Perspiration
Dear Female, 20, Severe Perspiration,
Perspiration helps your body regulate temperature so you would not want to eliminate it completely. However, TeenHealthFX recognizes that this can be a really distressing problem for some people.
When choosing a personal product make sure you are selecting an antiperspirant and not just a deodorant. A deodorant masks body odor while an antiperspirant reduces the flow of perspiration. Antiperspirants and deodorants come in many different forms including creams, roll-ons, and aerosols. The creams and roll-ons tend to be more effective.
If you have not had much luck with over the counter products, then ask your doctor if a prescription for Drysol would be appropriate for you. Drysol is a prescription topical agent that has shown to reduce sweat production. It is not a cure but it has been helpful to other people with the same problem.
Signed: TeenHealthFX
Smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in this country. More than 400,000 Americans die from tobacco-related causes each year, and most of them began using tobacco before the age of 18.
