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Antiperspirant (Aluminium Salt) Pregnancy: UK SPC section 4.6 (Pregnancy and lactation) states in full: 'No special precautions.'

Aluminium Chloride Hexahydrate

Brand names: Driclor, Anhydrol Forte

Aluminium chloride hexahydrate is a topical antiperspirant used to treat hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) of the axillae, palms and soles.

Adult dose

Dose: Topical antiperspirant use (aluminium chloride hexahydrate 20% w/v cutaneous solution): apply to the affected sites at night, as required, and allow to dry; wash off in the morning
Route: topical (cutaneous solution, applied to the affected sites only)
Frequency: at night, as required; washed off the following morning
VERBATIM UK SPC 4.2, complete section: 'For adults, children and the elderly: Apply to the affected sites at night, as required, and allow to dry. Wash off in the morning.' The SPC states no numeric maximum and no maximum treatment duration — application frequency is 'as required', with over-frequent application listed in section 4.8 as the cause of irritation. Practical directions from the same label: 'Care should be taken to restrict the application to the affected sites only. Keep away from the eyes. Care should be taken to avoid Anhydrol Forte coming into direct contact with clothing, polished surfaces, jewellery or metal. Replace cap tightly after use.' Timing around washing and hair removal (SPC 4.5): 'Do not bathe immediately before use and, if the axillae are treated, do not shave or use depilatories on this area within 12 hours before or after use.' The strength quoted (20% w/v) is that of the product named in the source; other aluminium chloride hexahydrate strengths are not covered by this bundle.

Paediatric dose

Route: topical (cutaneous solution, applied to the affected sites only)
Frequency: at night, as required; washed off the following morning
Max: No maximum is stated in this SPC; the label directs application 'as required' and warns that too-frequent application may cause irritation
NOT A PER-KG DOSE — dosePerKg is deliberately null; this is a topical application, not a weight-based dose. The SPC gives one regimen for all ages: 'For adults, children and the elderly: Apply to the affected sites at night, as required, and allow to dry. Wash off in the morning.' No separate paediatric figure, no minimum age and no paediatric restriction is stated in the fetched sections. Verify any paediatric use against a children's formulary.

Dose independently re-sourced from UK Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) via the eMC; US FDA prescribing information (openFDA / DailyMed) — cross-check; US labelling may differ from UK — clinician-reviewed. Always confirm against the product SmPC and your local formulary before prescribing.

Contraindications

  • Not to be used in cases of sensitivity to any of the ingredients

Side effects

  • Skin irritation if applied too frequently — the SPC states this 'should be treated with a mild topical hydrocortisone cream'

Monitoring

  • SPC 4.4: 'Care should be taken to restrict the application to the affected sites only. Keep away from the eyes.'
  • SPC 4.4: avoid direct contact with clothing, polished surfaces, jewellery or metal; replace the cap tightly after use.
  • SPC 4.5: 'Do not bathe immediately before use and, if the axillae are treated, do not shave or use depilatories on this area within 12 hours before or after use.'
  • Watch for local irritation, which indicates the product is being applied too frequently.

Clinical monograph

How it works

It forms an obstructive precipitate within the sweat duct that physically blocks eccrine sweat secretion, reducing localised sweating.

Prescribing in practice

  • Skin irritation is common; it should be applied to dry, intact skin and not to broken, recently shaved or inflamed skin to reduce stinging and irritation.
  • Apply at night to clean dry skin and wash off in the morning, reducing application frequency once sweating improves.
  • Avoid contact with the eyes and mucous membranes.

Monitoring

Monitoring is clinical, reviewing the response and any local skin irritation.

Counselling the patient

  • Apply at night to thoroughly dry skin and wash off the next morning.
  • Do not shave the area immediately before applying to avoid stinging.
  • Reduce how often you apply it once sweating is better controlled.

Evidence & guidelines

Topical aluminium salts are recommended as first-line treatment for primary focal hyperhidrosis in current prescribing references.

Reference: NICE CKS Hyperhidrosis (2023); International Hyperhidrosis Society guidelines; BAD patient information on hyperhidrosis; Drug verified in RxNorm (NLM); confirm dosing against the manufacturer SPC (eMC). Verify against your local formulary and current prescribing references before prescribing. The structured dose values shown have been reviewed by a clinician. Monograph status: clinician-reviewed (2026-07-04).

Related

Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.

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