What is/causes Hyperhidrosis?
Hyperhydrosis is better known as excessive sweating which impacts the lives of one out of every 5 people and can be embarrassing and uncomfortable. For some however (1 in every 100) hyperhidrosis is socially and professionally debilitating as sweating and body odour can become a problem especially when it is excessive or abnormal. Excessive sweat can be noticeable on clothes, causing discomfort or skin irritation, and can make you feel uncomfortable in public or social situations. It is a disorder rarely talked about because it’s embarrassing. It can also be quite costly if you are constantly looking to replace your wardrobe due to staining.
Sweating is a natural body process that keeps us from overheating and damaging our bodies. However, the glands that regulate and trigger sweating can become overactive, causing some people to suffer from excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis). Typically, hyperhidrosis affects the face, feet, palms of the hands, armpits and trunk of the body. Sufferers usually begin to develop symptoms when young and, without treatment, are forced to deal with the condition throughout their entire lives.
The specific cause of this condition is unknown, but medical research has found that many hyperhidrosis sufferers have unusual sweat glands that cause sweat to secrete at a rate of up to ten times higher than the average person. This has led most physicians to identify overactive sweat glands as the primary cause.
How does BOTOX® Treat Hyperhidrosis?
BOTOX Cosmetic helps control the symptoms of severe underarm sweating when topical medicines do not work well enough by temporarily blocking the chemical signals from the nerves that stimulate the sweat glands. When the sweat glands don’t receive chemical signals, the severe sweating stops. BOTOX® injections are expected to temporarily stop the production of excessive sweat in the treated areas only. If the sweat glands are rendered dysfunctional, you may be concerned that your body will be unable to perform its temperature regulation function. This is not a concern. The body is easily able to adapt by releasing excess heat from the rest of the surface area of the body. Sweat continues to be produced elsewhere
What is a BOTOX treatment for Hyperhidrosis like?
Botox when injected superficially into the skin of the armpits, hands, or feet, it can reduce excessive sweating in these areas. It requires a starch-iodine test first, which basically highlights the sweaty areas. The area is swabbed with iodine, and then starch is put on top. The sweaty areas become darker.
Fine needles are used to inject Botox into the sweat glands in the highlighted dark areas. Little pain, if any, is experienced by the patient. The procedure takes only a few minutes and the benefits of the procedure last for approximately six months. Sweating gradually returns after this time.
More than 1% of Americans have this condition which is called hyperhidrosis, and finally there is an extremely effective solution to the problem! Treating the production of excessive sweat has now been made easy by Botox which has been FDA approved for this treatment. Say goodbye to embarrassing moments and feel comfortable in your own skin with Botox.
How Can Botox Benefit You?
- You will no longer have to wear dark clothing all the time
- You can feel confident when raising your hand in class or seminar
- You can enjoy clean, dry clothes that you can comfortably wear throughout the day
- You will look neat and clean by preventing sweat from dampening and displacing your hairstyle or causing makeup to run and smear
- You can shake hands with others without having to worry about sweaty palms
- You will successfully be able to write, draw or play sports without palm sweat interfering with your hand’s grasp
- You can experience the freedom from the body odors that come from clothes and skin that have accumulated dry sweat throughout the day
Are there other Alternatives to Treat Hyperhydrosis?
There are a number of treatments for hyperhidrosis;
- Aluminium chloride (topical medication)
- Iontophoresis – regular treatments, placing affected area in electrically charged water/sodium glycopyrrolate
- Medication – suited to those who sweat in several areas
- Anti-wrinkle BOTOX injections – injections used normally for facial wrinkles can be injected in areas such as the underarms/hands/feet. The average duration of effect is 8 months
- Endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (surgery) – but this can have the effect of compensatory sweating elsewhere after the surgery is performed.
