How to Use Drysol for Excessive Sweating: Step-by-Step Guide

If you are wondering how to use Drysol for excessive sweating, the basics are simple: apply a thin layer at bedtime to clean, completely dry skin, let it dry, then wash it off with soap and water in the morning. Drysol Solution 50ml is an extra-strong antiperspirant for excessive sweating of the underarms, palms, scalp and soles, and it contains a high concentration of aluminium chloride hexahydrate. Most people use it every night at first, then less often once their sweating is under control.

For general advice on heavy sweating and everyday tips for hot days, read our guide to excessive sweating in UAE heat. This article is about Drysol itself: what it is, who it may suit, how to apply it without stinging, and how to keep it safe in the heat.

What is Drysol and how does it work?

Drysol is a liquid antiperspirant. The manufacturer describes it as 20% aluminium chloride hexahydrate in an alcohol base, much stronger than most everyday antiperspirants.

Aluminium salts work by forming temporary plugs in the sweat ducts, so less sweat reaches the surface of your skin. The effect wears off over time, which is why Drysol is used regularly at first and then topped up less often.

Why bedtime matters

Your sweat glands are much less active while you sleep. Applying Drysol at night gives the active ingredient time to settle into the sweat ducts, instead of being washed straight out by fresh sweat.

Who Drysol may suit

Drysol is made for excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis) that a regular product cannot handle. It may suit you if:

• you sweat through your clothes even when you use a regular antiperspirant the right way
• you have very sweaty palms or soles that make handshakes or writing awkward
• your work keeps you warm and active, for example outdoors or in a busy kitchen
• your sweating has been heavy for years, rather than starting suddenly

Ask before you use it

Ask our pharmacist or your doctor before using Drysol if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, if you have ever had kidney disease, if the skin in the area is broken or irritated, or if you are buying it for a child or teenager. If your sweating is new or has changed, see your doctor first to look for a cause.

How to use Drysol: step by step at bedtime

1. Pick the right night. The skin should be healthy and unbroken, and not freshly shaved or waxed.
2. Wash the area. Use mild soap and water, then rinse well.
3. Dry it completely. Pat the skin dry; the manufacturer's directions suggest waiting at least 2 hours after a bath or shower. A cool, air-conditioned bedroom helps, so you are not sweating as it goes on.
4. Apply a thin layer. Dab it gently onto the area that sweats with the applicator or a cotton ball. Do not rub it in like a regular deodorant.
5. Let it dry before you dress. Then wear an old cotton T-shirt to bed to protect your bedding.
6. Wash your hands after applying it, and keep your fingers away from your eyes.
7. Wash it off in the morning. Use soap and water, then pat the skin dry.
8. Cut down once it works. Use it once a night to begin with. The manufacturer's directions say that if your sweating has stopped after about 3 nights, you can reduce it to once or twice a week.

For palms or soles, follow the leaflet for those areas. Leaflets can differ between packs and countries, so always read the one in your box and follow it if it differs from this guide.

How to avoid stinging and irritation

Some itching, mild stinging or a prickly feeling is common, especially at first. Most irritation happens when the skin is damp or freshly shaved, so a few habits help:

• Make sure your skin is bone dry. Even a little moisture makes stinging more likely.
• Plan around shaving and waxing. Do not apply Drysol to recently shaved or waxed skin. Once you are on once- or twice-weekly use, it is easier to shave on the days in between.
• Use less, not more. Extra product does not keep you drier and is more likely to irritate.
• Skip a night if your skin feels sore.
• Moisturise in the morning after washing it off, with a fragrance-free moisturiser.
• Stop and get advice if you have severe burning, redness or swelling. Our pharmacist can suggest soothing options.

Storing and handling Drysol safely in UAE heat

• It is flammable. Drysol contains alcohol, so keep it away from open flames, cigarettes, candles and bakhoor burners, including while it dries on your skin.
• Keep the cap tightly closed. The liquid evaporates quickly when left open.
• Store it at room temperature, away from heat. Never leave it in a parked car or a bag in the sun; cars get extremely hot in a UAE summer.
• Protect your eyes, nose, mouth and lips. If it gets into them, rinse with plenty of water.
• Watch your clothes and jewellery. Drysol may damage some fabrics and metals, so let it dry fully and keep it off watches and rings.
• Keep it out of reach of children. It is for the skin only and must not be swallowed.

Using Drysol alongside a gentle daytime deodorant

Once you have washed Drysol off in the morning, you may still want some freshness during long, humid days. A gentle deodorant made for sensitive skin, or an aluminium-free one, is a kind choice for skin that has just been treated.

Always apply Drysol to clean skin with nothing else on it, and do not layer another antiperspirant over it at night. If your leaflet says otherwise, follow it, or ask our pharmacist how to fit your usual products around it.

Drysol vs everyday antiperspirants

Everyday antiperspirants

Regular sticks, sprays and roll-ons usually contain gentler aluminium salts at lower strengths. They are made for daily use, are less likely to sting, and suit most people. Some are made for heavy sweating.

Drysol

Drysol contains a high concentration of aluminium chloride hexahydrate in an alcohol base. It is applied at bedtime, washed off in the morning, and used less often once your sweating is controlled. It is more likely to sting, so it needs more care.

If you are looking for a strong antiperspirant for heavy sweating, a daily product made for heavy sweating can be a sensible first step, with Drysol as the next option if it is not enough.

Drysol and underarm care products at Bait Al Dawaa Pharmacy

Here are Drysol, two gentle deodorants you can use around it, and an everyday antiperspirant for heavy sweating if you would like to try that first. Check each label before use.

• Drysol Solution 50ml: an extra-strong antiperspirant for excessive sweating of the underarms, palms, scalp and soles, for men and women, containing a high concentration of aluminium chloride hexahydrate.
• ISDIN Deo Lambda Control Fresh Roll-On: an underarm deodorant specially formulated for sensitive skin, giving up to 48-hour protection and a fresh feel.
• Vichy Aluminium-Free Roll-On Deodorant for Sensitive Skin: a roll-on made for sensitive skin that gives 24-hour freshness without aluminium salts.
• Vichy 48H Anti-Perspirant for Intense Perspiration: a roll-on for heavy sweating with 48-hour protection that dries to a soft, non-sticky finish, for people who would like to try an everyday antiperspirant first.

You can browse more deodorants and everyday essentials in our personal care range.

When to see a doctor or ask our pharmacist

Ask our pharmacist if you are not sure whether Drysol suits you, if it irritates your skin, or if you are buying for a child or teenager.

See your doctor if:

• Drysol has not helped enough after a few weeks of regular use as directed
• you have started sweating much more than usual, suddenly, without a clear reason
• you regularly wake up drenched in sweat (night sweats)
• sweating comes with weight loss you cannot explain, a fever, or a racing or pounding heartbeat (palpitations)
• the sweating affects only one side of your body
• the sweating began after you started a new medicine (do not stop a prescribed medicine without speaking to your doctor first)
• sweating is affecting your work, sleep or mood

A doctor can look for an underlying cause and talk you through other treatment options. Call an ambulance on 998 straight away if you have signs of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, or difficulty breathing, or if heavy sweating comes with chest pain, shortness of breath or feeling faint.

Frequently asked questions

How long does Drysol take to work?

Some people notice a difference after a night or two; others need a few more nights. If you see little change after regular use, ask our pharmacist or your doctor.

Can I use Drysol every night?

Use it nightly at first, then cut down to once or twice a week once your sweating is under control, as the directions describe. Using it more often than you need makes irritation more likely.

Can I shower after applying Drysol?

Leave it on overnight and wash it off in the morning. Avoid showering just before you apply it, because your skin needs to be completely dry.

This article is general information, not medical advice. For advice about your own health, speak to your doctor or ask our pharmacist at Bait Al Dawaa Pharmacy.