Hyperhydrosis Treatment Information

Do you suffer from embarrassing excessive sweating?

The medical name for excessive sweating is Hyperhydrosis.

In 2004, the FDA (U.S. Food & Drug Administration) approved BOTOX (Botulinum Toxin Type A) for the treatment of severe primary axillary Hyperhydrosis (excessive sweating of the underarms) in patients unable to obtain relief using antiperspirants.

BOTOX is produced by Allergan, and it is the most studied brand of Botulinum Toxin in the world. BOTOX has been available for over a decade and has been used to treat more than 1 million patients with various conditions, including spasticity and movement disorders. With FDA approval, the United States joined more than 20 other countries that have already approved the use of BOTOX for excessive sweating.

Local injections of Botulinum Toxin alleviate the symptoms of Hyperhydrosis.

Research has shown that treating the armpits, hands, feet, and face with Botulinum Toxin is safe and effective.

In one clinical study involving 322 patients with severe underarm sweating, 81% of the patients receiving Botulinum Toxin injections achieved a greater than 50% reduction in sweating. 50% of the patients had their excessive sweating relieved for at least 201 days (nearly 7 months).

How does Botox stop Hyperhydrosis?

Botulinum Toxin is a natural, purified protein with the ability to temporarily block the secretion of the chemical in the nervous system that is responsible for “turning on” the body’s sweat glands. Botulinum Toxin blocks/interrupts, this chemical messenger and therefore “turns off” sweating in the treatment area.

Whats does a Hyperhydrosis treatment involve?

The sweat glands responsible for excessive perspiration are identified.

Then a very fine needle is used to inject small amounts of Botulinum Toxin just under the skin in the effect areas. Multiple injections 1 to 2 cm apart are needed to treat one area.

How long does Botox for Hyperhydrosis last?

Botulinum Toxin injections do not cure Hyperhydrosis; your symptoms will return gradually. To maintain dryness you will require follow-up injections. These repeat injections may be necessary at intervals varying from 7-16 months.

Client Testimonial after a Botox Treatment for Hyperhydrosis at Cheshire Lasers Clinic.

I have been suffering with Hyperhydrosis for many years. It seems to have got worse over the last five or six years and would appear at the most inconvenient times and often at the most surprising. I could be out on a freezing day and suddenly my armpits would be soaked.

The most embarrassing times were at work though. I have to hold presentations on a regular basis to customers, colleagues and my board members. Obviously, nerves can be attributed to some sweating but more often than not my shirt would be soaked at the armpits and it would even come through my jacket. I have ruined many suits and shirts because of this. Add to this the washing when wearing two or three shirts per day and the dry cleaning bill for my suits.

I had tried the deodorants, not drinking so much water, doing more exercise although I wouldn’t consider myself to be particularly overweight. Let’s call it comfortable! I found that I was highly allergic to the deodorants so that was the end of that.

My wife then suggested Botox. My first reaction was extremely negative. Comments made such as ‘I’m not having anything like that injected into my body’. I think I was very wary having seen the cosmetic surgery gone wrong programmes on the TV. My wife persuaded me to read a bit more about it and consider it as an option.

I then had to make a business trip and make a major presentation. As usual, I chose my shirts carefully knowing that I would be soaked. I thought that I had got away with people not being able to see, although I was very conscious of it and that really did not help my presentation. I met a colleague who had been at the presentation a few weeks later at an exhibition. I was showing him my shirt which as usual was soaked at the armpits. He said he had noticed how bad they were at the previous presentation. We also had another major exhibition coming up with very important meetings.

This made my mind up. As soon as got home I went on the internet and looked for a local clinic that used the procedure to help people with Hyperhydrosis.

Dr Teri Johnson completely put my mind at rest even after saying that I would have fifty injections in each armpit. The needle is so fine that you hardly feel it! It takes a couple of weeks to fully stop the sweating but it was dramatically reduced within a couple of days.

The result though! Absolutely fantastic! I cannot recommend it enough. The exhibition went well. My shirts and suit were completely dry. I felt confident in my meetings that people were listening to what I was saying not looking at my armpits.

I also now feel more inclined to wear nice clothes. Before the treatment, I would never buy dry clean only if I could help it otherwise after every wear they would be at the cleaners. Not only is it not good for your clothes it is also very expensive. I now enjoy wearing jumpers again too. It has been many years! Sometimes the small things are important.

I will definitely be having the treatment again when this one wears off.

J. B Cheshire. 2009