If you are a sufferer of excessive underarm sweating - otherwise known as axillary hyperhydrosis, your first port of call was probably to try every regular off-the-shelf deodorant and antiperspirant you could get your hands on.
They didn't work very well, maybe for an hour or so, but then you'd burn through the effectiveness.
Then, you might have considered the more heavy-duty products containing aluminium chloride, which might work if your problem is on the mild side.
Diet: You may have been told to try changing your diet, with the goal to eliminate foods and drinks that contain caffeine, which make sweating worse.
Sure, you may have seen a tiny bit of improvement, but the trade-off - no tea, coffee, cola or chocolate - well, for some people, giving up those favourites, that is a fate worse than death (or sweating).
Sweat Shields: Some individuals buy or make sweat shields to absorb the excess sweat; the shields are either disposable or washable, and are worn under clothing, and attached either by an adhesive backing (for the disposable kind) or can be pinned in (for the washable kind).
That's a great idea, but only if you're wearing something with sleeves; sweat shields would just look plain weird under a sleeveless shirt or blouse.
Prescription Medication: Medications can also be prescribed for axillary hyperhidrosis, though this medication usually works only in the mildest of cases.
Higher doses of medication can have significant side effects, including nausea, constipation, heart palpitations, blurred vision and glaucoma.
Now, that's just a list of a very few side effects.
If the hope of medication for excessive sweating is to improve your quality of life, then this can fall far short of the mark.
Iontophoresis: Some people have found Iontophoresis therapy has worked for them.
How it works is this; the doctor attaches pads with electrodes to your arm pits, the electrodes are attached to a little machine which passes a mild current through your pits.
A few days later, you get to do this all over again.
Now, this procedure can be quite uncomfortable, depending on your pain tolerance level.
Botulinum Toxin A: So, how about a serving of botulism? Botox (you've probably heard of it as a wrinkle-cure-all) is the main name for the purified treatment form of Botulinum Toxin A.
Without getting into too much medical jargon, this prescription medication causes paralysis in nerve endings.
When injected into the skin by a trained expert doctor, the neurotoxins paralyse the nerve endings, stopping them from sending the chemical signal that stimulates the sweat glands.
If the sweat glands aren't told what to do, then they don't do it.
Many individuals need only a single treatment of Botox to see a significant reduction in sweat output - often reduced by a half over the course of about a month.
Additional injections may be needed if all of the nerve endings have not been paralysed.
There may be some discomfort; after all, you are getting an injection.
But the needle used is one of the thinnest available, it's only inserted a few millimetres beneath your skin, and the number of "jabs" you get will depend upon how much area needs to be treated, but this will be evaluated at your consultation with your doctor.
This treatment usually lasts about 4 to 6 months, and has given many people who suffer with excessive underarm sweating great relief.
Permanent Cures for Excessive Underarm Sweating: Surgery.
Surgical removal of the sweat glands is another treatment option, and it provides a permanent solution.
But, as with any surgery, there are a lot of risks involved, including the risk of infection, complications from anaesthesia, and required overnight stays in the hospital.
And, of course, you're left with some interesting scar tissue, which unless hidden by underarm hair, may also cause you embarrassment.
One problem solved, another created - you're in the same bad spot.
However, there is now a permanent alternative.
It's called Vaser Lipo and it is available from specially trained doctors and surgeons.
This procedure is similar to having liposuction done under your arms, only this time instead of fat being suctioned out; it's the sweat glands that are removed.
There is very little down-time with this procedure, it usually takes less than an hour and it only requires local anaesthesia.