From the Research
Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) can influence sweating patterns, but there's no direct evidence that it causes excessive sweating, and the most effective treatment for hyperhidrosis is prescription-strength antiperspirants containing aluminum chloride, as supported by the study published in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology in 2009 1. DHT is a potent androgen hormone derived from testosterone that plays a role in regulating sweat gland activity. If you're experiencing excessive sweating and suspect it's hormone-related, consider consulting with an endocrinologist or dermatologist. For those with high DHT levels causing other issues like hair loss, medications such as finasteride (1mg daily) or dutasteride (0.5mg daily) can reduce DHT by inhibiting the 5-alpha reductase enzyme. However, these medications are not specifically prescribed for sweating problems.
Treatment Options for Hyperhidrosis
- Prescription-strength antiperspirants containing aluminum chloride (apply nightly to dry skin)
- Oral anticholinergics like glycopyrrolate (1-2mg twice daily)
- Procedures such as Botox injections or iontophoresis The relationship between hormones and sweating is complex, involving both central and peripheral mechanisms, and individual responses to hormonal fluctuations vary significantly, as discussed in the study published in Deutsches Arzteblatt international in 2009 2.
Key Considerations
- The study published in Cutis in 2011 3 highlights the effectiveness of combination therapy with aluminum chloride hexahydrate and botulinum toxin type A for moderate to severe hyperhidrosis.
- The study published in the Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research in 2011 4 demonstrates the efficacy of iontophoretic application of low concentration aluminum chloride solution in patients with palmar hyperhidrosis.
- The study published in Acta dermato-venereologica in 1978 5 shows the effectiveness of local treatment with aluminum chloride hexahydrate 25% in absolute ethanol for axillary hyperhidrosis.