Excessive Sweating injections

There are two main types of hyperhidrosis:

• Focal hyperhidrosis is the more common type involving excessive sweating on the feet, hands and in about 30 - 40% of cases, the armpits. Botox is recommended for the treatment of focal hyperhidrosis affecting the armpits (axillary hyperhidrosis) when other treatments have not worked.
• Generalised hyperhidrosis affects the whole body. It is much less common and is usually caused by another illness such as an infection, diabetes or when the thyroid gland is overactive. The excessive sweating usually stops when the illness is treated. 

How common is Hyperhidrosis?

It has been estimated that up to 1% of the population has some form of hyperhidrosis. It usually starts during the teens and twenties.

What are the causes of hyperhidrosis?

It's not known why some people are affected and others are not. About 1/3 to ½ of people with hyperhidrosis have a relative with a similar problem, suggesting that there maybe a genetic cause.

Hyperhidrosis is caused by over activity of one type of sweat gland, the eccrine gland. These glands are found virtually all over the body surface but they are concentrated on the palms of the hands, the soles of the feet and in the armpits.

Many things can trigger normal sweating and this is also true for hyperhidrosis - it's just the amount of sweating that varies.

Examples of triggers include:

• exercise
• heat or cold
• alcohol, coffee or tea, smoking, hot or spicy food
• stress, anxiety or strong emotions
• certain times of the day

People with hyperhidrosis can produce a large volume of sweat. This means that the hands, feet, chest or armpits (depending on which part of the body is affected) may be constantly damp. This may make normal everyday activities more difficult to carry out and it can cause embarrassment at work or socially. However, it is not true that hyperhidrosis cause's body odour the smell that some people think is due to sweating is in fact caused by bacteria if sweat remains there for a long time.

What can I do about hyperhidrosis?

Simple self help measures you can take include:

• Choose clothing that will keep you cool. Natural fibres are cool but they absorb sweat and can remain damp, some synthetic fibres are warm but they draw sweat away from the body and feel dry. Consider having a change of clothing available during the day.
• Keep your work environment cool and well aired.
• Avoid the food and drinks that trigger sweating. These will be different for everyone but you will probably know what causes problems for you.
• Reduce stress, tension and anxiety. These are common problems for everyone, though people with hyperhidrosis have the extra difficulties of coping with sweating. Think abut how you can reduce stress during the day, plan your activities carefully and make time to relax.
• Pay attention to your personal hygiene. Odour can be reduced by taking frequent showers. Although this will not be convenient for people who constantly sweat it is an effective and simple measure to take.

What is Botox and how does it work?

Botox is a treatment given by injection into the skin. It is recommended for the treatment of axiliary hyperhidrosis and it has been used for many years to treat muscle spasm affecting the eyes, face and neck. Botox is also used to relieve muscle spasm in children with cerebral palsy.

Botox is a very pure preparation of a protein, botulinum toxin type A. When small doses are injected into the skin, Botox blocks the actions of the nerves that supply the eccrine glands, this prevents the glands from producing sweat. Botox blocks the nerve endings but over about 6-12 weeks new nerve endings grow to replace them. This means that the effects of treatment last for several months but eventually they will wear off.

What happens during treatment?

Using a very fine needle  Doctor Eve will inject a small amount of a solution of Botox into 10 to 15 places about 1cm apart and spread evenly in each armpit. Sometimes a dye is used to show up the areas where sweating is greatest and where the injections should be placed. A course of treatment takes about 30-60  minutes. A local anaesthetic cream may be used to minimise any discomfort.

How quickly does it work and how long will the effects last?

You should notice some change for the better within a week of your treatment.

Different people have different responses to treatment. In a clinical trial, sweat production was reduced by 83% one week after treatment. Furthermore, sweating was reduced by at least half in 95% of patients. Your next treatment can be given when the effects of the first course wear off, this usually happens after 4 to 7 months.

Doctor Eve will advise you about when to return for a further treatment