Actually, they do work. Sort of.
Antiperspirants are the first line of treatment for excessive sweating of the underarms. They are the least invasive and experts recommend that they be tried first, before other more serious treatments.
Antiperspirants work by blocking or plugging your sweat glands, which reduces the amount of sweat that reaches the skin. Strong over-the-counter antiperspirants include:
Certain Dri
Secret Platinum Protection
Kiehl’s Superbly Efficient Antiperspirant & Deodorant
Medical Antiperspirants
There’s evidence that antiperspirants that contain a high concentration of Aluminum Chloride can be effective in reducing sweat. One such antiperspirant is Drysol. It’s applied to the underarms and left on for 6-8 hours. It’s best to put it on before going to bed. In the morning, the medication is washed off. Warning: Long-term results with Drysol have been unsatisfactory, and it has been known to cause severe skin irritation.
Tips for using all antiperspirants