Drysol Review: Uses, Side Effects and 2026 Shortage

Drysol at a Glance

• Active ingredient: aluminium chloride hexahydrate 20%
• Base: alcohol (the safety data sheet lists SD Alcohol 40 as the main component, and the International Hyperhidrosis Society describes Drysol as the 20% salt "in anhydrous ethanol")
• US legal status: prescription antiperspirant, per the American Academy of Dermatology
• Maker: Persōn & Covey, Inc., Glendale, California
• US packs: Drysol Dab-O-Matic 35ml and 60ml, and Drysol solution 37.5ml
• Supply in September 2026: all three packs on supplier backorder
• Price: not printed here (see the cost section below)

The safety data sheet classes the solution as a highly flammable liquid that may be corrosive to metals. That explains two warnings you will see on every Drysol leaflet: keep it away from flames, and keep it off jewellery and metal surfaces.

Is Drysol Discontinued? The Autumn 2026 Picture

This is the question most people searching for Drysol want answered, and the answer has two parts.

It is on backorder, not discontinued. A US wholesaler shortage list dated 29 September 2026 shows:

Full recovery is listed as "TBD" for all three. Expected release dates on shortage lists often slip, so treat them as estimates.

The FDA has raised questions about it. On 23 September 2025 the FDA sent Persōn & Covey a warning letter. Most of it concerns manufacturing and quality control at the Glendale plant, but it also names Drysol and Xerac AC as "unapproved new drugs", saying they are not generally recognised as safe and effective for their stated uses. A warning letter is not a recall or a ban.

It asks the company to correct the problems and warns of possible enforcement if it does not. We found no public update on how the matter was resolved, so we can't tell you whether it is connected to the current shortage.

What this means for you: if you already use Drysol, ask your pharmacist what they can order before your bottle runs out, and ask your prescriber now what they would switch you to.

How Drysol Works

Aluminium salts block the sweat ducts close to the skin surface. The International Hyperhidrosis Society explains that the metal ions react inside the duct to form plugs that stop sweat reaching the surface, and that longer-term use damages the sweat-producing cells, which is why results tend to improve over time. The alcohol base evaporates after application and leaves the salt behind on dry skin.

This is also why timing matters. The salt gets into the ducts best when sweat output is low, which for most people is overnight.

How to Use Drysol (What the Label Says)

Your prescriber's instructions and the pharmacy label come first. The consumer drug information for Drysol Dab-O-Matic says:

1. Make sure the area is completely dry before applying.
2. Apply a thin layer at bedtime, usually once daily for two to three days until sweating is controlled.
3. Let it dry fully before covering the area.
4. Leave it on for six to eight hours, then wash it off with soap and water.
5. Drop to once or twice a week once sweating is under control.
6. Do not use other antiperspirants or deodorants on the area at the same time.
7. Do not apply it to broken, irritated or recently shaved skin, and keep it out of the eyes.

The Dab-O-Matic is the bottle with a built-in dabbing top, so you press the solution onto the skin rather than pouring it. The 37.5ml pack is the plain solution.

The International Hyperhidrosis Society adds some practical detail. Dry the skin with a cool hairdryer or towel rather than showering just before bed, since washing beforehand can increase irritation. Wait 24 to 48 hours after shaving your underarms. It also says there is no evidence that covering the treated skin with plastic improves results, and that doing so often causes severe irritation. Some drug leaflets describe wrapping hands or feet, so if you get conflicting advice, ask the person who prescribed it.

Drysol Side Effects

The drug information lists tingling, mild itching or irritation when Drysol is first applied as the common effects. The International Hyperhidrosis Society cites a study of 691 patients in which itching was slight in 70%, moderate in 21% and severe in 9%, and it warns of post-inflammatory darkening of the skin, particularly in darker skin tones.

To keep irritation down, the IHS and AAD suggest:

• Applying only to skin that is completely dry
• Leaving more time between applications
• Treating irritated skin with a topical hydrocortisone cream and telling your provider

Stop and get urgent help if you notice signs of an allergic reaction: a rash, swelling of the face, tongue or throat, severe dizziness or trouble breathing. The drug information also says to use it in pregnancy only when clearly needed and after talking to your doctor, and that it is not known whether it passes into breast milk.

Two housekeeping points: it can stain clothing and bed linen and harm metals, and it is flammable until dry.

Drysol for Hands and Feet

Drysol's product information covers underarms, palms and soles. The catch is concentration. The IHS notes that 10% to 15% is often enough for underarms, while palms and soles may need up to 30% for an adequate response. So a 20% solution that works well under the arms may disappoint on the hands. If that happens, the usual next step is iontophoresis, which a dermatologist can discuss with you.

For an over-the-counter option made for hands and feet, Carpe is a lotion. Its manufacturer lists aluminium sesquichlorohydrate 15%, which is a different aluminium salt from Drysol's.

Cost, Prescriptions and Insurance

We're not printing a US price for Drysol. We couldn't open a current, dated cash price from a named pharmacy, and with the product on backorder, any figure could be misleading. Your pharmacist can tell you the cash price and whether your insurance plan covers it. You will need a prescription from a doctor, dermatologist or other licensed prescriber either way.

Can't Get Drysol? Over-the-Counter Alternatives

If you can't get a prescription, or your pharmacy can't get stock, these are the closest US products you can buy without one. Each is a published 15% formula, lower on the label than Drysol's 20%. The labels also name the aluminium salt in different ways, so do not read the numbers as a precise strength ranking. Use them the same way: at night, on dry skin, washed off in the morning.

Certain Dri Prescription Strength. Its manufacturer lists aluminium chloride 15% in a roll-on, applied at night to dry underarms. It is the most direct swap for a Drysol user. Read our Certain Dri review.

SweatBlock wipes. Aluminium chloride 15% on a single-use wipe, pressed onto dry skin at bedtime. Useful if you travel or dislike liquids. Read our SweatBlock review.

ZeroSweat. The Original formula is listed as 15% aluminium chloride, and there is a milder 12% aloe version for sensitive skin. Read our ZeroSweat review.

Carpe Hand and Foot. A lotion rather than a solution, listed as 15% aluminium sesquichlorohydrate, for palms and soles. Read our Carpe review.

For the fuller comparison, see OTC vs prescription antiperspirants, our guide to clinical antiperspirants, and the strongest antiperspirants list.

Drysol vs Certain Dri

If a correctly used 15% product isn't controlling your sweating after a few weeks, go back to your doctor rather than stacking products.

Drysol in the UK: Anhydrol Forte and Driclor

Drysol is a US product. The UK equivalents are Anhydrol Forte and Driclor, both 20% aluminium chloride hexahydrate solutions. They are pharmacy (P) medicines, so a pharmacist can sell them to you without a prescription after a few questions, and a GP can also prescribe them. The Anhydrol Forte product information gives the same basic routine: apply at night to dry skin and wash off in the morning.

That makes the UK position simpler than the US one. There's no need to import Drysol. Our Anhydrol Forte vs Driclor comparison covers the differences between the two, and a pharmacist or GP can advise on which suits you.

When to See a Dermatologist

Book an appointment (or see your GP in the UK) if:

• A 15% or 20% aluminium product used correctly for several weeks has not helped
• Irritation is severe, or does not settle when you space out applications
• Sweating happens at night, has lasted six months or more, stops you getting on with daily life, or started after a new medicine (the NHS lists these as reasons to see a GP)
• You want to discuss the next options, such as iontophoresis, prescription wipes or injections

Our guide on when to see a doctor about sweating covers the warning signs in more detail.

Verdict

Drysol is the best-known prescription antiperspirant in the US, and the IHS describes the 20% aluminium chloride hexahydrate in alcohol formula as the one most often prescribed. Right now it is also hard to get: every pack was on supplier backorder at the end of September 2026, and the FDA has called it an unapproved new drug. If you have a prescription and your pharmacy has stock, use it as labelled.

If not, a 15% product such as Certain Dri or SweatBlock is a reasonable stopgap while you talk to your doctor. UK readers should skip the import question entirely and ask a pharmacist for Anhydrol Forte or Driclor.