Botox for Sweating

Another use for Botox- excessive Sweating

If there is a skin problem worse than acne, than it has to be excess sweating (hyperhidrosis). Severe sweating is a troublesome cosmetic disorder which can lead to difficulty in social and professional life. Hyperhidrosis is an embarrassing complaint and significantly interferes with many daily activities. Clothes become damp and unsightly and must be changed several times a day. Wet skin folds are prone to irritating rashes. It is embarrassing to shake hands and it is difficult to write neatly. Sweaty feet develop an unpleasant smell, ruin footwear and are prone to rashes or secondary infection. Those with foot involvement often have to change socks several times a day.

What causes sweating?

There are numerous causes of excess sweating but in most individuals the cause is never found. Over the past 50 years, many drugs and chemicals have been developed to treat sweating- but all have failed. Recently Botox was approved by the FDA for use in the treatment of sweating- and this has been a Godsend.



How does Botox work?

Botox is unique among treatments for excessive sweating because it acts directly at the origin of the sweat glands. It blocks the release of chemicals which stimulate sweat secretion. Numerous studies have shown that Botox is very effective for the treatment of excess sweating. Generally, most patients are free of excessive sweating for about 6-8 months after a single Botox treatment. As many as one third of individuals are free of excessive sweating for at least one year.

How is the Botox procedure done?

The procedure is done in the doctor's office. Prior to injection of the Botox, the area of excess sweating is identified by staining with some starch iodine- which appear dark blue. The procedure does not require any anesthesia and both arm pits can be treated in a single sitting. For those who are afraid of needles, the area can be numbed with some local anesthetic.

What happens afterwards?

After treatment the individual goes home and should refrain from resuming normal activities for 2-3 days. Most individuals will have mild weakness in the arm which was treated. This weakness may persist for 1-2 weeks and it is for this reason, most physicians only treat one arm at a time. The decrease in sweating is noticeable within a few days after the injection but the maximum effect is not seen for 2-3 weeks.

The cost of Botox ranges from $ 700-2000 and is now available at most cosmetic and spa clinics. The procedure is considered cosmetic in nature and not covered by most medical insurance. Because of the lure of easy money, there is a bandwagon of people who do this procedure.

For safety, select a cosmetic surgeon who is credentialed to perform the procedure. Botox, when used by an experienced physician, is a safe and effective way to eliminate the embarrassing problem of excessive sweating of the underarms, hands and feet.