Hyperhidrosis, a medical condition involving overactive sweat glands, is a common disorder that causes a lot of unhappiness. Its main symptoms include excessively sweaty palms, hands, armpits, or feet, and facial blushing. Extreme underarm sweating (Primary Axillary Hyperhidrosis) is the most socially embarrassing condition because of highly visible wet spots and stained clothes.
Sweat is the body’s temperature regulator, and in primary Hyperhidrosis sweating significantly exceeds the body’s normal cooling requirements. This excess sweat causes their armpits to be constantly moist and damp. Underarm wet spots are not only embarrassing, but they also stain clothes, complicate business and social interactions, and make everyday activities a lot more difficult to carry out.
Contrary to popular belief Hyperhydrosis does not cause body odor. The smell that many believe is due to sweating is in fact caused by a bacterium that grows on the skin if wet sweat is present. How long it takes for the odor to appear depends on the environment and varies considerably from person to person.
An estimated 2% to 3% of Americans suffer from excessive sweating of the underarms (axillary Hyperhidrosis) or of the palms and soles of the feet (palmoplantar Hyperhidrosis). Underarm problems tend to start around puberty, while palm and sole sweating may begin earlier, often during childhood. If left untreated these problems may continue throughout life, but fortunately, the majority of these symptoms can now be successfully treated.
BOTOX treatment of excessive sweating (Hyperhidrosis)
Main BOTOX® treatment areas:
- Sweaty armpits
- Sweaty hands
- Sweaty feet
- Sweaty face
- Sweaty genital
What causes of BOTOX Treatment Hyperhidrosis?
Primary Axillary Hyperhidrosis is caused by overly active sweat glands. Sweat production in patients with PAH greatly exceeds the body’s normal cooling requirements. PAH patients’ armpits are constantly wet, making everyday activities more difficult to carry out.
Hyperhidrosis itself does not cause a body odor, which is caused by the bacteria on the skin that grows if sweat remains on the skin. Though neurologic, metabolic, and other systemic diseases can sometimes cause excessive sweating, most cases occur in otherwise healthy patients.
Heat and emotions also trigger Hyperhidrosis in some people, but most people suffering from Hyperhidrosis sweat nearly all the time, regardless of their mood or the weather.
What can I do about Hyperhydrosis?
Always wear clothes that keep you cool. Avoid stress, tension, and anxiety which are extra difficult problems for Hyperhidrosis patients. Prevent unpleasant odor by maintaining impeccable personal hygiene, including frequently changing your socks and clothes, taking frequent showers, repeated hand washing, etc.
BOTOX treatment for Hyperhidrosis
In addition to cosmetic treatment for wrinkles, BOTOX (botulinum toxin) has been approved in the U.S. by the FDA for the treatment of excessive underarm sweating. BOTOX has also been used in many areas of medicine for some time, including the treatment of muscle spasms and certain types of headaches. Fifty (50) BOTOX units are injected into approximately twenty spots in each armpit.
This may produce approximately six months of relief from sweating. While injections are uncomfortable, the use of very small injection needles and use of skin-numbing creams minimizes any discomfort. The FDA has not yet approved Botox treatment for sweating of the palms and soles of the feet, though many physicians have used BOTOX off-label with good results.
The drawbacks of using this treatment for the palms and soles are the pain and the potential of side effects including temporary muscle weakness.
How does BOTOX work?
When BOTOX (a neurotoxin approved for the treatment of Hyperhidrosis) is injected into the armpits, it reduces or stops sweat production by temporarily blocking the chemical signals from the nerves that stimulate and control the function of these glands.
When the sweat glands don’t receive these chemical signals the severe sweating stops for a period of time. While the effects of the treatment last for several months, they will gradually wear off in time a repeated treatment is required.
How is BOTOX applied?
Using an ultra-fine needle physician carefully injects small doses of BOTOX solution in twelve to fifteen specific places spread evenly about 1 cm apart in each armpit. The iodine and starch method is used to reveal the areas with the greatest sweating to precisely position the injections
How fast does BOTOX work?
You will notice improvement within the first week after your treatment, while the full effect will take between two and three weeks.
How effectively does BOTOX reduce sweating?
Each person responds differently to BOTOX treatment. Recent clinical trials showed that one week after treatment the average sweat reduction was about 87% and sweating was significantly reduced in 95% of patients.
How safe is BOTOX treatment?
BOTOX is approved in more than 80 countries worldwide and has been used therapeutically for 20 years to treat a variety of medical conditions. BOTOX is approved by the FDA to treat the symptoms of severe Hyperhidrosis (underarm sweating) when topical medicines do not produce sufficient results.
BOTOX is also one of the most widely researched medicines in the world. Dosing specific to the treatment of excessive underarm sweating was approved as safe by the FDA.
What if I stop the BOTOX treatment?
BOTOX effects usually last for several months. If you do the treatments you can expect no permanent changes in the treated areas, and sweating will gradually return to the level before the treatment. Most of our patients come for annual treatments and are very happy for up to twelve months.
What happens to excessive sweat after BOTOX treatment?
Patients requiring BOTOX for the treatment of overactive underarm sweat glands can also be experiencing excessive sweat on their feet, hands, face, or genital area. BOTOX neurotoxin injections temporarily stop sweat production solely in the treated areas.
Sweat continues to be produced elsewhere and your body’s health is unaffected by treatment. BOTOX treatment only affects the treated areas and its effects are completely reversed within a few months.
Patient Preparation:
- Stop using deodorants and antiperspirants 24 hours prior to treatment
- Shave the armpits the morning of the procedure using a new sharp razor for a very close shave
BOTOX patient’s success stories
Here is what some of our patients treated with BOTOX say:
“My sweating is under control, and don’t have to change shirts several times a day.”
– Jonathan M.
“I don’t think about what to wear or if I have enough clothes to cover up.”
– Patricia K.
“Sweating is not something that’s controlling my daily routine anymore. Now I can do things like standing up in front of a group of people at work without having to look down to see if I’m sweating under my arms. Thankfully, BOTOX treatment has helped me control my underarm sweating.”
– Simona R.
“I used to spend $120 each month replacing ruined clothes, dry cleaning my stained clothes, and buying antiperspirants that didn’t control my sweating. Now it’s under control and I am saving all that money.”
– Denise L.
“I wouldn’t go out with my friends because I was worried I will sweat and stink. Now all the sweating is gone and I can’t wait to go out every week.”
– Frank T.
Does Botox have side effects?
You can find a list of BOTOX side effects listed below or by visiting: WebMD: BOTOX
The following side effects are associated with Botox:
IMPORTANT NOTE: Dr. Harwer has been using Botox for 20 years and we never had a single patient with the Botox complications listed below. However, small pinpoint bruising immediately after the treatment is quite common.
Common side effects of Botox Cosmetic IM:
| Poor Eyelid Closure | Severe |
| Drying and Inflammation of Cornea and Conjunctiva of Eyes | Severe |
| Sensitive to Light | Less Severe |
| Drooping of the Upper Eyelid | Less Severe |
| Excessive Watery Eyes | Less Severe |
| Deviation of the Eyes Upward or Downward | Less Severe |
| Eye Irritation | Less Severe |
| Hemorrhage of Blood Under the Skin | Less Severe |
| Signs and Symptoms at the Injection Site | Less Severe |
Infrequent side effects of Botox Cosmetic IM:
| Double Vision | Severe |
| Fever | Severe |
| Infection | Severe |
| Problems with Eyesight | Less Severe |
| Accumulation of Fluid in the Tissues of the Eyelid | Less Severe |
| Throat Irritation | Less Severe |
| Itching | Less Severe |
| Neck Pain | Less Severe |
| Backache | Less Severe |
| Flu-Like Symptoms | Less Severe |
| Rash | Less Severe |
| Head Pain | Less Severe |
| Anxious | Less Severe |
Rare side effects of Botox Cosmetic IM
| Inflammation of the Cornea of the Eye | Severe |
| Food Poisoning due to improperly canned or preserved food | Severe |
| Eyelid is Turned In | Severe |
| Eyelid is Turned Out | Severe |
| Infrequent Blinking of the Eyelids | Severe |
| Infection of the Lung from Inhaling Stomach Contents | Severe |
| Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome | Severe |
| Muscle Weakness | Severe |
| Voice Disorder | Severe |
| Difficulty Speaking | Severe |
| Trouble Breathing | Severe |
| Difficulty Swallowing | Severe |
| Problems with Bladder Control | Severe |
| Collection of Clotted Blood in an Organ, Space or Tissue | Severe |
| Chest Pain | Less Severe |
| Not Feeling Well | Less Severe |
BOTOX® is the answer to many problems – but only in skilled hands!
To learn more about BOTOX® visit: Allergan.com – BOTOX®
You can find more information about Hyperhidrosis at: SweatHelp.com
Will Insurance Cover BOTOX® Treatment?
Some medically related BOTOX treatments are usually covered by insurance, including treatment for blepharospasm (uncontrollable eye twitching), excessive sweating, constant pain, and others.
Insurance coverage for BOTOX injections is much less common, but you should consult your insurance provider to find out if you have coverage for BOTOX® treatment. Call the Allergan BOTOX® reimbursement hotline at 1-800-530-6680 and ask an Allergan representative to help you determine whether your procedure is covered by insurance.