Excessive sweating of
the palms, feet or
underarms
Treatment option:
Botulinum Toxin A
Injections (Botox ®)
Botulinum toxin (most
commonly known in the US
as Botox®) is a natural,
purified protein with
the ability to interrupt
the chemical messages
released by nerve
endings.
For hyperhidrosis,
botulinum toxin works by
blocking the nerves that
stimulate the sweat
glands. Botulinum toxin
is derived from bacteria
in much the same way
penicillin is derived
from mold. Botulinum
toxin has been safely
used to treat millions
of people for more than
10 years for several
therapeutic conditions.
Using botulinum toxin to
alleviate the symptoms
of hyperhidrosis is a
promising new approach.
Research has shown that
treating armpit, hand,
facial, and gustatory
(related to salivation
or eating) hyperhidrosis
with botulinum toxin is
safe and effective. In
recent studies, when
botulinum toxin was
injected into under arm
areas affected by
hyperhidrosis, excessive
sweating was relieved
for an average of seven
months. And 28% of those
studied, the anhidrosis
(or lack of sweating)
lasted sixteen months.
When treatment of
underarm hyperhidrosis
with topical
antiperspirants has been
unsuccessful, botulinum
toxin is a highly
effective and convenient
alternative. The
injections can be
performed in a
physicians office,
require little time, and
do not demand any
restrictions in work or
leisure activity (aside
from refraining from
intensive exercise or
the use of a sauna on
the day of the
injections).
It's important to note
that the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration
(FDA) approved botulinum
toxin for axillary
hyperhidrosis on July
19th, 2004. It should
also be noted that
botulinum toxin has been
approved for use in
hyperhidrosis by
regulatory authorities
in over half a dozen
other countries,
including Canada and
certain countries in
Europe and South America
. Keep in mind, also,
that it may take several
injection sessions to
achieve desired results
and that during each
injection session
multiple injections are
given in an attempt to
cover the entire
affected area. These
injections can be
painful especially in
the palms and soles of
the feet. In addition,
although botulinum toxin
stops sweating, it
doesn't prevent body
odor.
Regimen
Treatment with botulinum
toxin for hyperhidrosis
requires that small
amounts of the protein
be injected into or near
the sweat glands
responsible for
excessive perspiration.
One of the botulinum
toxin products used by
doctors in the U.S. is
called Botox®.
Follow-up injections to
maintain the
antiperspirant effect
are necessary. These
repeat
injections may be
required at intervals
varying from seven to
sixteen months.
Injections into the
palms or soles may be
painful, so a local
anesthetic (painkilling)
cream or other pain
relief methods may be
used during the
procedure. Following the
injections, full effect
is normally achieved
within 24 to 72 hours.
Side effects
Side effects of
botulinum toxin
injections can include
small amounts of
bleeding into the skin
at the injection site
and mild temporary
weakness of muscles near
the injection sites,
particularly small hand
muscles. Minor
discomfort such as a
stinging sensation may
be felt during the
injections. Temporary
skin rashes, flu-like
symptoms, or fatigue may
occur within days after
treatment. Temporary
bruising is also
possible. These side
effects, if experienced,
usually go away quickly.
Underarm injections are
easier to give and less
painful than injections
into the palm due, in
part, to softer skin in
the armpits.
Additionally, armpit
injections are less
likely to cause muscle
weakness.
You should not receive
botulinum toxin
treatment if you have
generalized muscular
weakness, a
neuromuscular disorder,
progressive myopathies,
or profound atrophy of
the targeted area, or if
you have been on certain
types of antibiotic
therapy. Additionally,
pregnant or
breastfeeding women
should not use botulinum
toxin, and the
injections should not be
given if the proposed
injection site is
infected in any way.
