Article: Reducing Excessive Sweating with Botulinum Toxin
Reducing Excessive Sweating with Botulinum Toxin
Excessive sweating can be embarrassing, uncomfortable and interfere with work. The cost and hassle of buying and cleaning extra clothes can be expensive. Sweat patches on work clothes distract from the good impression you are trying to give. And the associated anxiety can impair performance. More severe sufferers may be unwilling to leave the house or suffer social withdrawal and depression.
Excessive sweating did not really matter back in the days when we all lived on the farm but interpersonal relationships and presentation are important for the modern business career. And quality of life is important for us and our loved ones.
The average person manages well with over the counter antiperspirants. Those whose sweating is a little more severe need “Clinical Strength” antiperspirants containing a higher concentration of aluminium hydroxide (although they may get skin rashes) or clothes made of high tech material. Those who find even this is not enough are the ones we say suffer from hyperhidrosis.
There are few really effective treatment options for hyperhidrosis. Surgery is one but there is downtime, risk of complications and, not uncommonly, an increase in sweating elsewhere on the body. Botulinum toxin (Botox® or Dysport®) is one option that is clinically proven to work. It stops the sweat gland from functioning and reduces sweating to “normal” for up to nine months. But it’s not a treatment that people typically associate with sweating. In fact, it’s a treatment most associate with wrinkles! What have wrinkles and sweating got in common you might ask?
OnabotulinumtoxinA (Botox®) is a purified natural protein with the ability to temporarily block nerve signal that is responsible for "turning on" the body's sweat glands. By blocking, or interrupting, this chemical messenger, botulinum toxin "turns off" sweating at the area where it has been injected. Botox® injections are very shallow, meaning that the medicine is injected just below the surface of the skin, where it remains. A numbing cream helps make treatment more comfortable. The cost of treatment is $1100 and results last anywhere from 4-9 months (individual results vary). Most people still sweat “normally” with exercise and on hot days but it’s that stress related excessive sweating that is reduced. Many people find October the best time to have their Hyperhidrosis treatment. Depending on individual severity a treatment in October could start to wear off during the following winter where it is less of an issue. That can mean once a year treatment!
The treatment is not for everyone and treatment results vary from person to person. So it is important you make a consultation to discuss if this treatment is right for you. If you are ready to consider the next level of treatment beyond specialised clothing and deodorants call 093604078 for a free consultation. You’ll wonder how you ever went without it!
Botox® is a prescription medicine for the treatment of frown lines, horizontal forehead lines and crow’s feet around the eyes and excessive sweating under the arms.
Botox® has risks and benefits.
Ask your specialist if Botox is right for you. If you have side effects see your doctor. You will need to pay for Botox® and clinic fees will apply.
For details on precautions & side effects consult your healthcare professional or the Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) at www.medsafe.govt.nz .
Botox® treatment lasts about 4 months and further courses of treatment may be necessary. (contains botulinum toxin A 50,100 & 200 units)
Allergan (NZ) Limited, Auckland.
Excessive sweating did not really matter back in the days when we all lived on the farm but interpersonal relationships and presentation are important for the modern business career. And quality of life is important for us and our loved ones.
The average person manages well with over the counter antiperspirants. Those whose sweating is a little more severe need “Clinical Strength” antiperspirants containing a higher concentration of aluminium hydroxide (although they may get skin rashes) or clothes made of high tech material. Those who find even this is not enough are the ones we say suffer from hyperhidrosis.
There are few really effective treatment options for hyperhidrosis. Surgery is one but there is downtime, risk of complications and, not uncommonly, an increase in sweating elsewhere on the body. Botulinum toxin (Botox® or Dysport®) is one option that is clinically proven to work. It stops the sweat gland from functioning and reduces sweating to “normal” for up to nine months. But it’s not a treatment that people typically associate with sweating. In fact, it’s a treatment most associate with wrinkles! What have wrinkles and sweating got in common you might ask?
OnabotulinumtoxinA (Botox®) is a purified natural protein with the ability to temporarily block nerve signal that is responsible for "turning on" the body's sweat glands. By blocking, or interrupting, this chemical messenger, botulinum toxin "turns off" sweating at the area where it has been injected. Botox® injections are very shallow, meaning that the medicine is injected just below the surface of the skin, where it remains. A numbing cream helps make treatment more comfortable. The cost of treatment is $1100 and results last anywhere from 4-9 months (individual results vary). Most people still sweat “normally” with exercise and on hot days but it’s that stress related excessive sweating that is reduced. Many people find October the best time to have their Hyperhidrosis treatment. Depending on individual severity a treatment in October could start to wear off during the following winter where it is less of an issue. That can mean once a year treatment!
The treatment is not for everyone and treatment results vary from person to person. So it is important you make a consultation to discuss if this treatment is right for you. If you are ready to consider the next level of treatment beyond specialised clothing and deodorants call 093604078 for a free consultation. You’ll wonder how you ever went without it!
Botox® is a prescription medicine for the treatment of frown lines, horizontal forehead lines and crow’s feet around the eyes and excessive sweating under the arms.
Botox® has risks and benefits.
Ask your specialist if Botox is right for you. If you have side effects see your doctor. You will need to pay for Botox® and clinic fees will apply.
For details on precautions & side effects consult your healthcare professional or the Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) at www.medsafe.govt.nz .
Botox® treatment lasts about 4 months and further courses of treatment may be necessary. (contains botulinum toxin A 50,100 & 200 units)
Allergan (NZ) Limited, Auckland.
