Hyperhidrosis Treatment (Botox®)

What is Hyperhidrosis?

Every day, the human body perspires to maintain constant internal body temperature. Perspiration is regulated by the sympathetic nervous system, which controls about 5 million sweat glands in the body. Your body naturally secretes sweat to cool down the body. However, up to 3% of the population has excessive sweating where the body has to overwork to cool down the internal body temperature. This condition is known as Hyperhidrosis.

Hyperhidrosis can occur in 4 major areas:

hands (palmer hyperhidrosis)
armpits (axillary hyperhidrosis)
feet (plantar hyperhidrosis)
face (facial hyperhidrosis)

Symptoms of Hyperhidrosis

Having hyperhidrosis can be a profound and dramatic experience. It affects all aspects of life, including work and related professional activities, the activities of daily living and normal, interpersonal social actions.

Hyperhidrosis (armpit sweating) treatment Newcastle

There are 2 types of sweat glands in the armpit area that cause excessive sweating:

Eccrine: Located deep in the skin and produce the watery sweat solution.
Apocrine: Located near the surface of the skin and produce a protein like chemical. These Apocrine glands respond well to antiperspirants.

Treatment of Hyperhidrosis

When regular antiperspirants fail, most doctors start to recommend aluminium salt preparations. These collect in the sweat ducts and block them. The main side effect is irritation, which can sometimes be overcome by reducing the frequency of use or applying anti-inflammatory medications such as lotions containing hydrocortisone.

Iontophoresis was introduced over 50 years ago as a treatment. It's exact mechanism of action is still unclear. The procedure uses water to conduct an electric current into the skin which combats production of sweat.

When other treatments fail, surgical intervention is possible but the risk of compensatory sweating in other areas exists.

Another possibility is to use botulinum toxin. Muscle relaxant injections have a blocking effect on the nerves which supply the sweat glands, and have positive outcomes for hyperhidrosis. The muscle relaxant is injected directly into the treatment area in a series of evenly placed small injections.

When and how long does Botulinum Toxin work?

Botox® injections may produce approximately 3 - 6 months relief from sweating. The nerves will eventually recover with return of previous sweat production; however follow up treatment can be repeated when necessary. Botox® has received FDA approval for axillary hyperhidrosis.

Risks and Side Effects

Although allergy and side effects to Botox® treatment are extremely rare, there are some risks of which you need to be aware if considering treatment:

The results of treatment cannot be guaranteed. Individuals can have varying responses.
Most people find injections cause only mild discomfort. Immediately after treatment there may be some mild swelling which usually subsides in 24 - 48 hours.
Afterwards the injection site is slightly red for about 1 hour. Occasionally a bruise may occur.

Rare side effects include (reported in 3% - 10% of patients treated with Botox® for severe primary axillary hyperhidrosis):

injection-site pain
bleeding
non-axillary sweating
infection
pharyngitis
headache
fever
neck or back pain
flu-like symptoms
neck or back pain
pruritis
anxiety
patients can also develop antibodies or allergies to the toxin
double vision and watering eyes

If you are pregnant or a nursing mother, treatment is not recommended.

Aftercare

Your treatment with Botulinum Toxin will gradually take effect over the next few days and will have achieved full effect within 2 weeks.

For you to achieve maximum benefit from treatment, and to ensure your safety, there are a few instructions for you to follow after treatment:

DO NOT rub or touch the treated area for 4 hours.
Try to remain upright for 4 hours.
DO NOT take vitamin E, aspirin or consume alcohol.

You may wish to cool the area with an ice pack to minimize discomfort and swelling. You may experience mild redness of the skin lasting 1 - 2 hours. Soothing cream e.g. Arnica, Auriderm may be applied to the treated area up to 3 times a day.

For the next 24 hours:

DO NOT use deodorant in the area
DO NOT rub or massage the area
Avoid exercise
It is not advisable to fly

For 1 week following treatment DO NOT have any of the following treatments:

Electrolysis
Laser treatment or any beauty treatments

Notify us immediately if you notice an area of infection.

If you have any concerns following treatment please do not hesitate to contact the practice on 0191 286 3398 for advice. If out of hours, please call the emergency phone on 0759 615 4619.