Excessive sweating (Hyperhidrosis) in the armpits, hand or feet is a vexing problem for those who suffer this condition. Until recently the only options were daily Aluminum salt anti-perspirants or surgical removal in the armpit. Today though we have the option of long lasting non-surgical Botox to reduce or eliminate excessive sweating.
Hyperhidrosis or excessive sweating is a medical condition characterized by abnormally increased perspiration. The hands, feet, groin and underarm areas are among the most common regions of perspiration.
Botox® injections are used to treat the area by disabling the sweat glands that cause excessive sweating. The treatment is nearly painless and lasts anywhere from 4-7 months. For more details on this Hyperhidrosis procedure, please visit www.sweatmanagement.ca.
Botox® is a purified natural protein obtained from a bacterium. It is the only prescription medicine approved by Health Canada for the treatment of axillary (underarm), palmar (hands) and plantar (feet) hyperhidrosis.
Botox® blocks the chemical signal from the nerve to the sweat glands, stopping the sweat. Since the drug only works in the area where it is injected, sweat glands in other parts of the body function normally.
Botox® is very effective. In a clinical study that involved 242 patients with excessive sweating, 95% responded to the treatment, with an average reduction in sweating of 83% in 1 week. On average, each treatment will effectively reduce sweating for 7 months.
The procedure is very simple. A small volume of the drug is injected under the skin by a very fine needle in the affected area. The discomfort is quite minimal, although patients can opt for some local anaesthetic cream if they are really concerned about needles.
There is an office injection fee and Botox® treatment for excessive sweating is often covered by private health plans.
There should be a noticeable reduction of sweating from the treated areas within a week of treatment. Excessive sweating will slowly return over a number of months. Each patient is different, but on average, patients require more treatment in about 7 months.
