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Hyperhidrosis - excessive sweating is a common condition that can affect the whole body or just some specific areas. Sometimes excess sweating gets better as you age but there are many things you can do and treatments that can help which are generally explored with your own GP. Excessive sweating can happen for no obvious reason, due to another condition you may have or as a side effect of a drug you are taking.
If you have tried other methods such as: stronger antiperspirants instead of deodorant, armpit or sweat shields, foot powders and soap substitutes and your condition is not getting any better then BOTOX® injections can help and may not be available on the NHS.
Botox works by blocking the nerves responsible for activating your sweat glands. Normally, your nervous system activates your sweat glands when your body temperature rises. This is how your body automatically cools itself. In people who suffer with hyperhidrosis the nerves that signal the sweat glands are overactive.
Botox injections are given directly into the area of your body that commonly sweats, your overactive nerves are essentially paralyzed in this area so that when your nerves can’t signal your sweat glands, you don’t sweat. However, Botox only prevents sweating in the specific area where it’s injected.
Studies have found that Botox successfully treats sweaty palms in 80 to 90 percent of cases. However, the treatments don’t last quite as long as the underarm treatments. Studies also show that Botox works to treat forehead sweat where it can reduce sweating by 75 percent for about five months.
Researchers believe that Botox could help with sweating on the soles of the feet, however few studies have been done. Of particular concern is that injections in the feet are considerably more painful than other areas.
