Anti-Sweat Injections

Hyperhidrosis is excessive sweating. Sweating is one of the most important ways in which the body loses heat, however, people with hyperhidrosis produce sweat in amounts far greater than needed to control their temperature. It is thought that about 0.5% of the population (or about one person in 200) has some form of hyperhidrosis.

There are two main types of hyperhidrosis. The more common type is focal hyperhidrosis which can affect the armpits (Axillary Hyperhidrosis), hands, feet or face. Generalised hyperhidrosis is less common, affecting the whole body and usually caused by another illness such as infection, diabetes or hyperthyroidism. When the illness is treated, the excessive sweating usually stops.

Botox is a treatment given by injection into the Skin. It is licensed for the treatment of under-arm sweating (axillary hyperhidrosis). Small doses are injected into the skin which blocks the action of the nerves that supply the eccrine glands; this prevents the glands from producing sweat.

The procedure takes about 30 minutes. An extremely fine needle is used to inject Botox into 10-15 places about 1cm apart and spread evenly in each armpit. This may cause slight discomfort during some injections but on the whole the procedure is relatively painless.

You may notice some redness and swelling under the underarm region but this normally subsides in a few hours. There should be no pain experienced after the treatment. You should start to see some changes within a week but the best results will be apparent between 10-14 days after the treatment.

Different people have different response to treatment, however a clinical trial showed sweating was reduced by at least half in 95% of patients.

The effects will normally last between 4 and 7 months. In some patients the effects may last up to 12 months or longer.