SweatSolutions.org: A Natural Sweat Cure? We Did a Test

May/June 2006 Edition Table of Contents:

» Study Proves Hyperhidrosis Treatment Improves Work Productivity

» 2006 CME Programs Focus on Practical Tips for Busy Practices

» Is There a Link Between Breast Cancer and Antiperspirants? An Expert Answer

» TV’s “Las Vegas” Features Hyperhidrosis High Roller

» A Natural Sweat Cure? We Did a Test

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A Natural Sweat Cure? We Did a Test

(May/June 2006) In his electronic book (e-book) that debuted in late 2005, Mike Ramsey of Humble, Texas, says he has an easy, natural, and practical method for stopping hyperhidrosis of the underarms. The book is called "Stop Sweating and Start Living; A Practical Guide to Ending Your Sweating Problem Naturally."

Mike Ramsey is in his late 30s and reports that he has been sweating excessively from his underarms since high school where it caused him a lot of frustration and embarrassment, especially in social and dating situations. He writes that later, when he was working in an office environment, his sweating started taking an even greater toll — causing him to be distracted and less productive (see the related story in this issue about hyperhidrosis and its negative effects on work productivity). At the age of 27, after attending a seminar on natural health and having spent years trying a variety of antiperspirants and daily management techniques, Mike says he developed his own plan to tackle sweating. This "plan" is detailed in his e-book. Interestingly, before Ramsey wrote his book, he had no idea that treatment options such as Botox injections or iontophoresis existed for hyperhidrosis. He did not even know the word "hyperhidrosis" and he has never consulted a physician for diagnosis or treatment.

The e-book, which costs $34.95 to download, is short and to the point. In fact, it is just a 14 scant pages. My reaction to this was, "Yikes, that's expensive for a 14-page-book that I have to print myself!" And if that wasn't bad enough, Ramsey has even recently raised the price of his book. In response to concerns about cost, Ramsey, on his Web site, says "many people who suffer from excessive sweating will do almost anything to end the embarrassment and suffering". Hmmm, maybe that's what he's literally banking on.

And now, for my scenario. While I don't think that I suffer from textbook excessive sweating, I do live in a warm climate (Northern California), I am physically active, and I definitely sweat significantly more than my peers. In fact, I often "pit out" my t-shirts and am very hesitant to wear tight fitting tees in certain colors, such as heather gray, because they show the sweat distinctly. So, while I have tested Ramsey's techniques, my review is merely that — my review.

By now I'm sure you're dying to know what Ramsey recommends. First, he recommends that excessive sweaters completely stop using soap or any soap-like products under their arms. Second, instead of using soap, Ramsey instructs sweaters to scrub their underarms with a natural loofah sponge each day and then wash them with a washcloth. And finally, says Ramsey, stop using antiperspirants. This routine, provided all of the instructions in the book are followed correctly, should, says the Texan, stop your sweating problem in less than two weeks.

As a writer and researcher, I like facts, statistics, and proof, which is where I ran into major trouble with Ramsey's e-book. In it he states, "What I recommend in this book is not backed by research," and "I did not write chapter after boring chapter about why my three-step process works." His theory as to why his process works (for him) is that it unclogs the pores in the underarms (please note that Ramsey only touts his technique as a "cure" for underarm sweating and not for palms, feet, or head/face), allows the skin to breathe, and revitalizes the skin. When I asked Ramsey for a more detailed explanation he politely declined saying, "I don't want to pretend to know any more than I do."

Still, I wanted know more about how Ramsey's unconventional technique could possibly help to limit sweating. It seems counterintuitive to me. So, I took Ramsey's advice (in his book he asserts "I'm sure there are health professionals that can tell you exactly why it works.") and asked International Hyperhidrosis Society Board Member and reknowned dermatologist Dr. Dee Anna Glaser to comment on Ramsey's process. Her response was; "Frankly, it does not make any sense from a physiologic point of view. A loofah will remove the top dead layers of skin. But these layers don't have a lot to do with the sweating mechanism, neither does soap. Topical antiperspirants and, we believe, iontophoresis work by depositing molecules in the sweat ducts and thereby blocking sweat. Exfoliation would, on the other hand, lead to more drainage of sweat. The routine may have a benefit in terms of body odor, however. By removing the dead layers of skin, the underarm would not be as good of an environment for the growth of odor-causing bacteria." Does this mean that Ramsey is confusing bad odor (bromhidrosis) with hyperhidrosis? Perhaps.

But back to my personal trial. I initially found it quite difficult to remember not to use soap in the shower. After all, I've been soaping up my underarms for as long as I can remember and first thing in the morning, when I'm half-asleep, my body just seems to be on shower-autopilot. That hurdle, though, was certainly surmountable and I got used to the idea after a couple days.

Scrubbing with the loofah was not comfortable and my underarms ended up red, chapped and itchy. Although the irritation was superficial, the itching would worsen when I started to sweat.

Shaving was a problem. Like many American women, I shave my underarms with soap multiple times per week. As per Ramsey's instructions, I was no longer using soap. Ramsey recommends shaving under running water or shaving with a lotion or gel and then completely washing it off and using the loofah, etc. I don't know about you, but shaving with just water or scrubbing with a loofah after shaving delicate skin does not sound appealing. My response was not to shave at all — not pretty.

After my trial-run of Ramsey's plan I must say that odor didn't seem to be a problem but I did sweat more than I had previously and continued to have serious wet rings in the underarms of my t-shirts. And I could not have donned a gray or pale blue tee because I'd "pit out." In a music class with my one-year-old daughter I was self-conscious that the other mothers would notice my sweating as I raised my arms during the singing and dancing. In the end, I am skeptical that this process will provide sweat-reducing results for true hyperhidrosis sufferers as it did nothing miraculous or even mildly helpful for me.

In sum, it seems likely that the only person benefiting from sales of this e-book is Ramsey himself. After my two-week trial, I gratefully resumed using soap and antiperspirants and demoted my loofah for use only on the calluses on my feet.

If you suffer from hyperhidrosis, take my word for it and please don't place your money or your hopes on Ramsey and his book, or other e-books and "cures" that are not backed by valid scientific research. Hyperhidrosis is a medical condition and requires treatment from a medical professional, and no amount of scrubbing with a loofah is going to change that.