Hyperhidrosis, or excessive sweating, is a common disorder that can produce unhappiness among sufferers. Sweating can be embarrassing, uncomfortable and anxiety-inducing. It affects all aspects of a person's life, staining clothes, complicating professional and social relationships, and negatively impacting emotional well-being and self-image.
The use of local injections of botulinum toxin has proven effective in alleviating the symptoms of axillary hyperhidrosis. In a 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. And, 50% of the patients had their excessive sweating relieved for at least 201 days (nearly 7 months).
Botulinum toxin is a natural, purified protein which temporarily blocks the secretion of acetylcholine, the chemical responsible for "turning on" the body's sweat glands. By blocking this chemical messenger, botulinum toxin "turns off" sweating at the area where it has been injected. During the procedure, a very fine needle is used to inject small amounts of botulinum toxin just under the skin near the sweat glands responsible for excessive perspiration. Multiple injections are given based on the physician’s assessment of the treatment area. A few sweat glands may be missed during the initial treatment and you may experience some sweating from these untreated areas. If this happens, we will reevaluate the area and "fill in" the gaps with additional injections if indicated.
Botulinum toxin injections do not cure hyperhidrosis. Symptoms will return gradually and follow-up injections are required to maintain dryness. Typically injections are repeated every six to sixteen months.