Botox to stop sweating?

[genevieved]

Hi everyone,

I read something very interesting today. Apparently all of the big fashion houses make it compulsory for the big stars to get a medical procedure to stop underarm sweating before "lending" them their latest and greatest creations.

According to this article they get Botox (??!) injections underneath the arms so they don't make the dress look all unsightly in the hot californian sun. Is this correct? I only read it in a trashy magazine so I'm not sure.

Can Botox actually stop underarm sweating? The article said botox is the latest treatment for hyperhodrosis (sp?) or something like that. How does it work? And more importantly does it actually work?

[jomol31]

Hi everyone,

I read something very interesting today. Apparently all of the big fashion houses make it compulsory for the big stars to get a medical procedure to stop underarm sweating before "lending" them their latest and greatest creations.

According to this article they get Botox (??!) injections underneath the arms so they don't make the dress look all unsightly in the hot californian sun. Is this correct? I only read it in a trashy magazine so I'm not sure.

Can Botox actually stop underarm sweating? The article said botox is the latest treatment for hyperhodrosis (sp?) or something like that. How does it work? And more importantly does it actually work?


Hi genevieved. Its called hyperhidrosis which is the excessive sweating beneath the arms. Do a google search on "hyperhidrosis" and "botox" and it will bring up all the information you need. Apparently it does work really well. Never tried it myself though

[Dr.Grace]

Hi Genevieve,

Jomol is correct - Hyperhidrosis is the medical term for the excessive production of sweat. Hyperhidrosis most frequently affects the underarms, hands and feet. It is estimated that as many as 1 in 10 people may be suffering from this condition and coping in silence!

So what can we do to treat hyperhidrosis? In medicine we always advise simple things first. Topical treatments such as frequent showering and drying of the affected area and using anti-perspirants with high aluminium content are the first-line. Oral medication is rarely sufficient, as patients usually cannot tolerate dosages high enough to control the sweating (due to the side effects of dry mouth and blurred vision). Iontophoresis, although time consuming, has been shown to be effective for palmar hyperhidrosis.

In the past, the last available option was surgery to destroy the sympathetic nerve ganglia supplying the affected area.

Botox works by blocking the communication between the sympathetic nerves (which innervate the apocrine glands) and the sweat glands. The effect mimics surgery without the risks of nerve damage, scarring, and compensatory hyperhidrosis elsewhere in the body. Clinical studies show that Botox injections produce a 90% reduction in sweat production. This drops the sweat level to easily managed levels for most patients so that sweating rarely if ever interferes with their daily activities.

The effects of Botox treatment for hyperhidrosis last up to 12 months. I usually advise patients Spring/Summer is the best time for Botox treatment. They get maximum coverage during the hot months and the effects start to weaken in Winter when it's cold. Most patients just love botox once they've had their first treatment though, and insist on getting "top-ups" as soon as they notice the coverage dropping (at around the 9 month mark). Case studies show that with repeated injections the sweat control gets better (patients become more confident in Botox, and the emotional component of sweating is lessened) and tends to last longer.

Take Care. Hope this helps.

Warm Regards,
Dr. Grace
Clinical Director
Kiora Medical Spas
T1300 55 98 96
www.kiora.com.au

[user5555]

Botox does not last up to 12 months -.- its only about 3-4 months and Botox does not even work very well.

On the 10th day of getting botox I noticed my sweating go down a little but now it has been 2 weeks and its back to what it was before the botox.

I can sweat through a sweatshirt and the shirt underneath. Underarm sweating is a horrible thing and I would know -.- I have to go to school trying to hide the fact that I have underarm sweating. It affects my grades and social life. I even have thoughts of dropping out of school just so I dont have to go through all the stress at school. But I know I cant. I just wish all of it could go away and have things get back to normal.

So to anyone that thinks this is funny its NOT. I have tried everything to stop my sweating and I have run out of things to try.

[Gabby]

Hi user5555,

Love the username.


I've actually got a very similar problem to yourself. Although I'm finally working full-time now. Its nice to finally have some money. Summer is a nightmare though and I spend a lot of time reapplying deodorent and "freshening up."

I've tried everything for my hyperhidrosis and done a lot of research into it and had a long chat to my GP. Type in "Hyperhidrosis and botox" into google or wikipedia. Most of the sites say botox works a lot longer than it does for the face. About 6-12 months seems to be the range for hyperhidrosis whereas botox for the face is about 3-5 months. They also all almost universally claim a 90% reduction in sweat if its done correctly, in the correct dosage.

My GP was very convincing and is a big believer in botox for hyperhidrosis. He claims all of his patients have had great results.

After next months paycheck I'm going to bite the bullet and give botox a go. I'll keep you all posted.

[Dr.Grace]

Hi User5555,

For Botox treatment of Hyperhidrosis to be effective, both the dosage and placement have to be correct. Studies show that you need a minimum of 0.5-1.0 unit of botox per cm2 of skin area to achieve good coverage. This equates to a minimum starting dose of 50 units per armpit for both men and women. An iodine starch test has to be conducted to mark out the affected skin, so you don't miss any areas.

Where the result might differ between practitioners is in the injection technique. For hyperhidrosis treatment, botox has to be injected very superficially into the dermis - so that the liquid tents up the skin to forms little "blebs". If the botox is deposited too deeply (into fat or muscle), then it's no where near the apocrine glands where it's supposed to be to produce effects.

Two weeks duration definitely sounds very strange. The average duration is around 6 to 9 months, with a lucky small group still feeling residual effects at 12 months (part of this would be due to the psychological improvement - where the vicious cycle of sweating and anxiety is broken). Did your practitioner offer you a review 2 weeks after the procedure to check on your progress? We do this at our clinic and so do all the doctors that I know of.

You might like to take a look at:
http://www.botoxseveresweating.com/info_physicians/duration.aspx

A very comprehensive site with a lot of information.

Lastly (of course this is easier said than done) anyone who makes fun of your physical condition is not worth your time. They are merely exposing their own ignorance and bigotry and it's them, not you, who should be embarrassed!

Take Care.

Dr. Grace
Clinical Director
Kiora Medical Spas
T1300 55 98 96
www.kiora.com.au

[user5555]

Alright thank you for the help ;p Yes my doctor did offer a check up..I'll post later to let ya know what he says. Might be awhile..

[princemkhan]

The Botox neurotoxin helps control sweating by temporarily blocking the chemical signals from the nerves that stimulate the sweat glands.