What is an iontophoresis machine?

An iontophoresis machine is a medical device used to treat excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis) by delivering a mild electrical current through water to the skin surface.

Which machine is best for sweaty hands?

The Hidroxa SE20 is specifically designed for treating hands and feet, providing effective results for most users.

How long does treatment take?

Initially, treatments are usually done 15-20 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Once desired results are achieved, maintenance treatments are done 1-2 times per week.

How often should I use the device?

For the initial phase, use it daily or 5 times a week until sweating stops. For maintenance, use it 1-2 times a week.

Is iontophoresis painful?

No, it should not be painful. You may feel a slight tingling sensation, but it should always be comfortable.

How soon will I see results?

Most users see significant results within 1-2 weeks of consistent daily use.

The Anti-Sweat Guide - How To Handle Your Excessive Sweating

Dr. Sandra Eriksson Mirkovic
Physician with a special interest in hyperhidrosis

This guide is aimed primarily at those who suffer from hyperhidrosis - a disease that leads to a greatly increased tendency to sweat, despite outer stimuli like environment and activity, but it can also be helpful to you with “normal sweat”.There are a variety of anti-sweat products and treatments on the market. For those of you who suffer from heavy sweating, you have probably tried some of these and noticed that they were not very helpful. However, there are other, not so well known, anti-sweat treatments that even healthcare professionals lack knowledge of.

The most suitable anti-sweat product or treatment largely depends on which areas of the body are affected by excessive sweating. For issues with sweating on the hands, feet, armpits, or even other areas like the face, one of the most effective options is to use an anti-sweat device, specifically an iontophoresis machine, which allows you to treat sweating conveniently at home. This machine is simple to use and doesn’t require assistance from healthcare professionals. Compared to many other anti-sweat treatments, iontophoresis is cost-effective and typically has mild side effects, such as skin irritation, which can occur if the instructions are not followed or if the currents are set too high.

When used correctly, iontophoresis can provide significant symptom relief, often resulting in little to no sweating in the treated areas within a couple of weeks (approximately 12 treatment sessions, though this can vary). Maintenance treatments are then required on an ongoing basis, typically lasting 20–40 minutes per session, one to a few days per week, to sustain the results. While the treatments may feel time-consuming, the payoff of reducing excessive sweating and achieving normal levels of sweating is well worth the effort.

Another evidence-based anti-sweat device with proven results is Miradry. Miradry is specifically approved for treating excessive underarm sweating. The treatment involves applying a local anesthetic to the armpits, followed by the use of microwaves at a specific wavelength to heat the sweat glands, reducing their ability to produce sweat. In many cases, the results are permanent after 1–2 treatments. However, this method is more invasive and more expensive compared to iontophoresis.

Best antiperspirants

Another anti-sweat method is antiperspirants of various kinds. Most are available in rollon form, adapted for the treatment of the armpits and most contain aluminum chloride. There are rumors circulating on the internet that the aluminum in antiperspirants would be carcinogenic but there are no studies that prove this. Many of you may have tried applying the roll on your feet or hands and noticed that the result hasn’t been very good. There are different brands of products, e.g. STOP 24, Carpe and Perspirex for example, which are stronger antiperspirants and where several of them have anti-sweat products in other forms than rollon. It can be, for example, a spray for the chest and back, a foot cream and others. These can be easier to apply and with a stronger anti-sweat effect than if you, as I mentioned, apply the rollon on, for example, the feet. Remember that when you apply a product that contains aluminum chloride, the skin must be dry.

Many people sweat less in the evening, so it can be a good time to apply the product, which often has to remain on the skin for a certain number of hours before it is washed off. If you would start sweating when the product is on the skin, there is a risk that the chloride in the product reacts with hydrogen in the sweat and forms HCl, hydrochloric acid, which irritates the skin and creates a rash. Many people mistake this for an allergic reaction, but it is all the more common with irritation due to the formation of acid. Some patients who have been prescribed anti-sweat medication choose to take a tablet before applying the aluminum chloride product, to sweat less and not risk skin irritation.

What is primary palmar hyperhidrosis?

Palmar hyperhidrosis is excessive sweating of palms and hands. It is a condition characterized by extremely wet palms and hands making it difficult to function normally in everyday activities. Sweating is a natural way of the body cooling itself and regulating body temperature.

When it comes to palms and hands, sweat serves for a better grip function. Palmar hyperhidrosis occurs when the nervous system triggers your sweat glands to produce sweat more than needed.

Complications

This is a big issue when it comes to doing activities in both personal and professional life. Many jobs require people with sweaty palms to work with gloves, such as medical personnel, pharmacists. Any job that requires glove usage can become extremely hard and nerve-wracking for people with severe cases.

Some medical professionals that are suffering from palmar hyperhidrosis reported that they avoid as much as possible physical contact when they are examining patients. They are ashamed and afraid that their sweat will go on the patients and cause unpleasant situations.

Sweaty hands are also an issue for people working in offices since the sweat can ruin papers they are handling, or make it hard to use their personal computers and technologies. Other daily activities that can be extremely stressful are meetings, situations that require handshakes, and general contact with other people.

It is normal for almost everyone to have hand sweat when they are being nervous. However, people with extremely sweaty palms and hands will sweat in situations when they aren't nervous. Sometimes, they will sweat even more because they are nervous. In some hyperhidrosis societies, people like to describe anxiety and hand sweat as a closed circle.

They sweat because of their hyperhidrosis and start being anxious because of it. As a product of that, they even start to sweat more than the level that they are usually experiencing.

In some cases, excessive sweating of the hands can cause infections and irritations of the skin. There are multiple signals that could be potential signs of extremely sweaty palms.

Palmar hyperhidrosis symptoms

Dripping sweat of palms and hands
Cold, clammy, or wet palms
Relatively symmetrical recurring sweating
Sweating is usually concentrated in the palms and fingers area. Sweating is less common for the other parts of the hands.
Pale fingers (Raynaud’s phenomenon)
Red and swollen fingers in some cases
Sweating usually starts before age of 25
Sweating can be present during sleep

Iontophoresis for sweaty hands

For people with hyperhidrosis of the hands, feet and/or armpits, iontophoresis treatments have been shown to dramatically reduce sweating. It is an effective and safe treatment with minimal side effects. You can perform iontophoresis to treat your hands and palms at your own home. During the iontophoresis treatment, the iontophoresis machine delivers electrical currents that are mild to your skin.

The electrical current affects the way that nerve signals are conducted to the sweat glands of your hands. This treatment has some side effects such as blistering, and skin irritation. This can be treated with moisturizing creams. The treatment is medication-free, pain-free, and needle-free and you can perform it inside your own home.

This treatment lasts for 20-40 minutes and requires repetition from 1-5 times a week depending on your level of sweat. Once you achieve the desired effect, you can perform the treatment 1-2 a week. Iontophoresis can be a highly successful treatment option, but it requires patience, the right guidance, and advice.

Hidroxa customer care is backed by the medical support of Dr. Sandra Eriksson Mirkovic, a licensed physician with multiple years of experience working with hyperhidrosis patients, and she is also a palmoplantar hyperhidrosis patient herself.
Since every experience is individual, here at Hidroxa we offer you 50 days to test the machine and see if the treatment will work for you, and if you are not satisfied, you can return the machine and get your money back.
To read more about iontophoresis treatment, visit our iontophoresis page.

Prescription antiperspirants

The first treatment option that is advised if you have not treated your excess sweating of the hands is prescription antiperspirants. These antiperspirants contain aluminum chloride which is a substance that helps to decrease sweat in mild cases. Some antiperspirants can be bought prescription-free at the pharmacies, while for others you will need a prescription from your general practitioner. In severe cases, antiperspirants require usage in combination with other medical treatment options.

Injections

Treatment with injection is one of the most efficient, but it requires repetition over the year. The substance is injected into the palms or part of the hands that are affected. The effect can last from 2-9 months, which depends on the level of sweat, and how quickly your body will break the substance. Many people find this type of treatment painful. In some countries, this treatment is covered by health insurance, while in others patients have to pay for the treatment themselves. You can talk to your doctor, or join the hyperhidrosis society in your country to find out more information.

Oral medications

Some pills can help control excessive sweating of your hands. Before your doctor or your general practitioner prescribes you any type of oral medication, make sure that they inform you of all possible side effects. If you have other medical conditions, or if you are taking medications, it might be unsafe to use the medicine. Consult with your doctor, or at a sweat clinic, to learn if the treatment is the right for your hand sweat. Some common side effects are dry mouth, fatigue, bowel problems, lowered blood pressure, etc.

Endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy

Endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS) is a surgery for a permanent treatment of hand sweating. The surgery consists of cutting or clipping the nerves that send signals to sweat glands. For some people the surgery is successful, but some people can experience side effects. One of the most common side effects of this surgery is severe compensatory sweating in other body areas after the procedure and other unpleasant side effects. Before considering the surgery, we advise you that you research information from credible sources and institutions.

When to see a doctor?

If your sweating problem is impacting your life quality and you have difficulties functioning in everyday life it is advised to seek medical help. You can contact dermatologists with experience, clinicians, and doctors. They can help you discover if your sweating is because of primary hyperhidrosis or secondary hyperhidrosis.

They will help you examine your case and exclude other diseases if needed. Focal hyperhidrosis is not visible on the blood tests, even though the symptoms can be severe.

Seek a proper sweat clinic with experience to make sure that you are getting the right diagnosis.

Chawki Mayed has submitted a review about Hidroxa

Life-Changing. No More Sweaty Hands. I’m Free.
Sweaty hands have haunted me for years. I tried wipes, creams, sprays — nothing lasted. Then I found Hidroxa.
After just 10 short sessions, I can honestly say: my palms are dry. For the first time in my adult life, I’m shaking hands with full confidence. My hands feel tight, clean, and dry — and that’s exactly what I wanted. The feeling is hard to describe… It’s like freedom in your own skin.
Thank you, Hidroxa. Your product has genuinely changed my life. I’m beyond satisfied — I’m grateful. If you’re thinking about buying this, don’t hesitate. It works. Period.

Glezzel Marrie has submitted a review about Hidroxa

I'm very grateful that this treatment exist! I am now dry both my hands and my feets. I highly recommend this to everyone who is suffering with palmar and plantar hyperhidrosis. Give it a try because this iontophoresis is truly a life saver. ❤️

Motiejus has submitted a review about Hidroxa

I had excessive sweating most of my life, hands and feet, it was embarrasing to go to somebodys house, remove shoes and wet feet and socks. Not to mention always having to dry my hand on my clothes before shaking someones hand. When I heard about iontophoresis, I gave Hidroxas machine a chance, and after 2 weeks, my life changed. No more sweaty hands or feet, except when doing something active like working out, which is normal. Best of all, I can play the piano without having a ventilator right by my hands , without getting the keys wet! Thank you so much Hidroxa ❤️

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