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What is Drysol?

Drysol (brand name for aluminum chloride hexahydrate) is a prescription medication commonly prescribed for excessive sweating. A fairly common problem, excessive sweating can be limited to the armpits, but often affects the palms and soles of the feet as well. Once a person has tried several different kinds of over-the-counter antiperspirants without success, doctors often recommend Drysol.

Drysol is reported to work in 80 percent of the people who use it for excessive sweating. Doctors generally recommend applying it to problem areas after drying the skin completely. Wearing it only at bedtime and then washing it off in the morning with plain water reduces the chance of skin irritation.

Generally, treatment is repeated nightly until sweating is under control. This may happen after just two or more treatments. Thereafter, you can apply Drysol once or twice weekly or as needed.

Drysol should not be applied to broken, irritated, or recently shaved skin. Nor should it be used with regular daytime antiperspirants or deodorants. Once the excessive sweating has stopped, you can try using your >regular underarm products again.

Sources:
Drysol product information, Person & Covy Inc.,1998.
Goh, C.L. "Aluminum chloride hexahydrate versus palmar hyperhidrosis: Evaporimeter assessment," International Journal of Dermatology 29 (1990).
Glent-Madsen, L. "Axillary hyperhidrosis: Local treatment with aluminum-chloride hexahydrate 25% in absolute ethanol with and without supplementary treatment with triethanolamine," Acta Dermato-Venereologica 68 (1988).
Micromedex® Healthcare Series. Thomson Micromedex, 2006.

This answer prepared 9/20/2000.
This information updated 12/5/2006.