Excessive Sweating (hyperhidrosis)? There's Botox for That
The embarrassment you may feel about your overactive armpit sweating is real. While sweating is the body’s natural way to regulate your temperature, no one likes to experience those wet sweat stained underarms on your favorite shirt that can come as a result of living with hyperhidrosis. But did you know there is a way to reduce your excessive underarm sweating, with the use of Botox?
Save your clothes and live life more confidently with this safe and effective injectable. Don’t sweat it, today our newest injectables expert Courtney English is answering your most burning questions about how to use Botox to treat Hyperhidrosis, which is one of our specialties here at The Look.
Her previous blog post about common questions about Botox was so well-received, we thought we’d dive deeper into this topic to give you all the info you need to know.
What is considered excessive sweating or Hyperhidrosis?
Sweating is a normal response that our body has to increased temperatures. Hyperhidrosis is excessive sweating (more than necessary) for the body’s natural temperature regulation. Excess sweating has been hard to define as it varies from person to person, but some symptoms can be visible excessive sweating for at least 6 months, especially in the armpit area. Most people are embarrassed due to the amount of sweating as it will leave wet stains on their clothes. Young girls may often feel ashamed during warm summer days, unable to wear dresses because of their overactive armpits, and professional men may feel embarrassed when meeting clients due to their white shirts being stained by sweat.
What is the treatment?
Botox has been proven as a safe and effective hyperhidrosis treatment. Botox is placed in the area of excess sweating (most commonly the axillary, or armpit). Unlike the typical Botox injections that go in the forehead, the armpit area typically takes a larger, but safe dose to treat the excess sweating.
How do I know if mine is "bad enough" to warrant treatment?
If your sweating is interfering with the normal activities of your daily life, if you are having to change shirts throughout the day due to sweating, if you have tried multiple deodorants and antiperspirants that have little to no effect on your sweating, or if it is just something that is bothering you, then you would be a great candidate for Botox treatment for hyperhidrosis.
How long does it last?
The typical duration of Botox effectiveness for hyperhidrosis is about 6 months, but this can vary from person to person based on the severity of their sweating.
Are injections painful?
The injections are very similar to Botox injections in the forehead. If you have never had Botox before they are typically described as tiny pin pricks. The needle used for Botox injections is extremely small and does not usually require any sort of topical anesthetic.
Do you treat areas other than arm pits?
Yes! Areas used for treatment of hyperhidrosis include the axillary, upper lip, palms of the hand and forehead.
Will I still use deodorant or antiperspirant after treatment?
You can resume all normal activities after the treatment of Botox for hyperhidrosis. Wait 2-3 hours before using deodorant or antiperspirant. Some patients have said they ended up either decreasing or stopping the use of deodorant and antiperspirant after treatment.
Often people will ask if treating their excess sweating with Botox will interfere with their body’s normal response to sweating, and the simple answer is no. Your body will continue to sweat, as we have sweat glands throughout our skin; however you should see noticeably less sweat in the area Botox was used.
Still have questions about how Botox can be used to help treat your hyperhidrosis? We can help! Call us to schedule a consultation today at (615) 814-2150.