POSTED: 19 Jul 2016

BOTOX: THE NEW MIRACLE CURE FOR HYPERHIDROSIS?

Hyperhidrosis, or quite simply excess sweating, is an embarrassing problem for anyone. It’s visible, uncomfortable, a real mood killer, and requires constant washing and changing of clothes to avoid body odour from developing. When left untreated, hyperhidrosis can be a very limiting condition; it causes long term discomfort as well as overall enjoyment of life, and can be a real knock to the sufferer’s self confidence. Whilst there are certain medications available for Hyperhidrosis, as well as holistic and common sense workarounds, the most popular, quick and more permanent course of action for treatment in recent years is the use of Botox®.

The use of that word, for many, conjures up images of cosmetic facial surgery and horror stories of bacterial infections from improper use. In more modern times, though, this really could not be further from the truth, for several reasons. Firstly, the use of Botox® has advanced dramatically in the last decade. The age-old assumption that it is only used by untrained women at parties to inject into their friends’ foreheads is all but a distant memory. It is now something that, in an official medical setting, is injected by trained, accredited and knowledgeable professionals, and is actually licensed for medical use in the UK to treat excess sweating.

Secondly, unlike in cosmetic treatment, the injection of Botulinum toxin type A, as it is commonly known, is only permitted once other, non-invasive measures such as deodorant and medication have failed. It is important to remember, though, that it is not a permanent solution. As a treatment, the protein is injected into a concentrated area of the skin to block off the nerves that control the eccrine glands. The procedure then effectively stops the brain from telling the glands to produce sweat. This process, however, does wear off over time, so the treatment is suggested as a recurring course, to be repeated every three to six months if maximum effect is to be achieved. Anyone who sweats excessively is likely to not want it to be any more often than this, as the skin around the injection area is incredibly sensitive, so even with anaesthetic it can be uncomfortable and painful. That said, as this is a different course of treatment to ‘the norm’, the needle is only required to inject under the skin, so it is less painful than traditional Botox® treatments.

Although this whole procedure may sound daunting, it really is a much more successful process than medication. It has a 90% success rate, and can in fact last longer than the typical three to six months. After a short period of time, any excess sweater will be able to see the benefits and regain their confidence. For more information, please visit our treatment page for Hyperhidrosis and the Hyperhidrosis support group. If you have any questions or would like to book a consultation please contact us.

Authored by:

Dr Amel Ibrahim
Aesthetic Doctor & Medical Director
BSC (HONS) MBBS MRCS PHD
Founder City Skin Clinic
Member of the Royal College of Surgeons of England
Associate Member of British Association of Body Sculpting GMC Registered - 7049611

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