Need to find out if botox can treat your hyperhidrosis? I’m here to tell you that, yes, it can! Not only can it help, but it also has many benefits. In fact, there are studies that support its positive effects on hyperhidrosis sufferers. Plus, many people have had great results when using botox for excessive sweating both underarms and palms. Let’s find out how you can benefit from botox for sweaty hands and feet.
Hyperhidrosis is a condition that causes excessive perspiration. It can be found in the hands, feet and armpits. In severe cases, those who suffer from it are left with no choice but to wear gloves or socks to hide their hands and feet from public view, which can be embarrassing and socially limiting.
Read on to learn more about Is Botox For Hyperhidrosis Cosmetic, What to Expect During Treatment and Pros and Cons Of Botox For Sweating
Is Botox For Hyperhidrosis Cosmetic
When temperatures rise, most of us sweat more, as it’s the body’s way of seeking relief from the heat and cooling down. But sometimes, sweating can become excessive, a condition that can range from “mild dampness to severe dripping and can result in substantial impairment in quality of life,” according to a 2016 study published by the National Institutes of Health. People who experience excessive sweating, according to cosmetic dermatologist Michele Green, most likely “suffer from a condition called hyperhidrosis. In these patients, the nerves which signal the sweat glands to function are hyperactive and cause an excessive amount of sweat.” Hyperhidrosis is classified as a skin condition resulting from overactivity of sympathetic nerves.
The aforementioned study estimates that over 15 million people in the U.S. experience excessive sweating and notes that there are probably even more people who suffer from the condition but do not report it. Current findings indicate that people with excessive sweating might not know the condition is indeed a medical concern nor that there are treatment options available. One such treatment is the injection of Botox, which garners temporary relief from excessive sweating. “By injecting Botox directly into the areas which cause sweating, such as your underarm or palms,” explains Green, “these overactive nerves are [rendered unable to] signal the nerves in your sweat glands to fire, and hence block the release of sweat in the injected areas.”
What Is Botox for Sweating?
“Patients who suffer from excessive sweating suffer from a condition called hyperhidrosis,” explains Green. Because Botox is a neurotoxin, its “mechanism of action,” according to Green, is that it “blocks the nerves which are responsible to activating sweat glands.” Botox contains a protein called onabotulinumtoxinA, which effectively prevents the sweat glands from excreting sweat.
People who are best suited for this procedure are, according to Green, “healthy individuals who have used prescription antiperspirants without success and are looking for a better way to have long-term relief from sweating.” According to Dillenberg, contraindications for the procedure include but are not limited to “pregnant and breastfeeding people, people with allergies to neurotoxins, hemorrhagic conditions, autoimmune disease, and neuromuscular disorders.”
What to Expect During Treatment
During the treatment, a fine needle is used to inject Botox into the treatment area. Your physician or nurse will use multiple small injections, performed in a grid-like pattern. In order to determine the pattern, your physician or nurse will first need to determine the exact location of the overactive sweat glands.
“We start by properly cleaning the underarms,” explains Dillenberg, “and then apply iodine solution (a topical antiseptic). After the solution dries, we then dust on baby powder and have the patient hold their arms tightly to their body to stimulate sweating in the area. Sometimes we even ask the patient to jump up and down, anything to get the sweating going! After about 10 minutes, we then look at the underarms to see where the darkest spots from the iodine solution are.” She explains the darkest spots denote the exact target of the overactive sweat glands. Once the target spots are properly cleaned off, your physician or nurse will begin the injections.
According to Dillenberg, “there are a few small injections that feel like little pinches during the procedure.” Post procedure, she says, there should be no lingering pain, although “there can be some injection site redness or bruising.”
Pros and Cons Of Botox For Sweating
Studies indicate that Botox is highly effective for reducing excessive sweating, and as such, the treatment is usually at least partially covered by insurance. You may have to undergo previous treatments (like the use of prescription-strength antiperspirants) in order for your insurance to deem the treatment a necessary medical option.
When injected into a patient’s underarm, Botox can offer relief from sweating for up to five months. “Botox also helps considerably in treating sweaty palms, soles of feet, and foreheads,” says Green. Studies indicate that Botox can be effectively used to treat excessive sweaty palms as well as excessive forehead sweat. Currently, Botox is most prevalently used to treat excessive underarm perspiration
Botox for sweating pros
- less invasive than surgical treatment
- minimal pain when injected in the armpits
- generally safe
- can be an effective treatment, with one study finding a 90 percentTrusted Source decrease in sweat production 2 weeks after the procedure
Botox for sweating cons
- expensive, with Botox for both underarms costing about $1,000
- considered painful if injected in the palms or soles of the feet
- follow up injections are needed roughly every 7 to 16 months
- only FDA-approved to treat armpits
- pain and other side effects are possible, but generally mild
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