Hyperhidrosis
About the treatment
Botox for Excessive Sweating (Hyperhidrosis)
Hyperhidrosis is the medical term used to describe excessive sweating. It can affect the palms of your hands, soles of your feet, armpits and face. Hyperhidrosis is caused by overactivity of sweat glands.
Botulinum toxin type A injectables, such as Botox®, Dysport® and Xeomin® are approved treatment options for treating hyperhidrosis. They work by temporarily blocking the nerve signals responsible for sweating.
There are two types of hyperhidrosis. Primary hyperhidrosis is excessive sweating not caused by another medical condition or medications. It usually begins in childhood and is often hereditary. Secondary hyperhidrosis is caused by another medical condition, such as diabetes, cardiovascular conditions or nerve damage, or is a medication side effect.
Treatment for hyperhidrosis depends on the impact it has on your daily life. Topical antiperspirants, iontophoresis and oral medications can help.
Botox injectables are an approved and effective treatment option for underarm (axillary) hyperhidrosis. Off-licence it may be used to treat hyperhidrosis in other areas of your body.
During your initial consultation, we'll complete a comprehensive medical history to ensure a Botox injectable is the right hyperhidrosis treatment for you. We'll explain what to expect and any potential side effects.
Botox injectable treatment is relatively quick. We use numbing cream to make the experience more pleasant. You may experience mild swelling/redness around the armpits, which will settle quickly.
Each injectable session for hyperhidrosis takes between 15–30 minutes.
Botox injectables help to reduce or stop excessive sweating for 3–6 months. After your first treatment we’ll monitor when symptoms start to return and schedule your next appointment based on your individual needs.
At Precision Skin, we’ve treated a number of people with axillary hyperhidrosis with Botulinum toxin type A injectables with great results.
We recommend having a clinical diagnosis of hyperhidrosis before beginning treatment. The underlying cause of secondary hyperhidrosis should be managed before trying injectables.
For ongoing results, regular treatments are needed.
Botox is the most well-known Botulinum toxin preparation used cosmetically. However, there are alternatives, such as Xeomin and Dysport.
Botox, Xeomin and Dysport all contain the same active ingredient, Botulinum toxin type A. Botox and Dysport contain proteins that surround the toxin; Xeomin contains no additional proteins and is the ‘purest’ form of Botulinum toxin type A. Xeomin is preferred for use in people with autoimmune conditions.
There is some emerging evidence of ‘Botox resistance’ from repeated use of higher doses of Botox, causing the immune system to produce neutralising antibodies, making Botox treatments less effective. Dysport and Xeomin offer alternatives to Botox.
During your consultation, we’ll discuss the different options with you and decide together what Botulinum toxin type A injectable is right for you.
