Excessive Sweating (Hyperhidrosis) Reduction

At Sloane Clinics, we can treat the following conditions:

• sweaty armpits
• excessive perspiration.

Sweat production needs acetylcholine (a neurotransmitter) to activate the eccrine sweat glands. BOTOX^® is a strictly controlled prescription-only, highly purified protein produced by a very complex biotechnical process. It acts as a neuromuscular inhibitor temporarily blocking the nerves supplying the sweat glands so that they don’t produce sweat. It is injected just below the surface of the skin, where it remains.

BOTOX^® is the brand name for a specific type of botulinum toxin type A manufactured by Allergan PLC. It is the most commonly used type of botulinum neurotoxin (used in 70+ countries) and has the longest safety record. Consequently, it is the product of choice at Sloane Clinics. Another type of botulinum toxin called Dysport^® has been shown in clinical studies to have a greater area of diffusion than BOTOX^®, which may be an advantage when treating hyperhidrosis. However, this has yet to be proven in comparative studies.

Patients must have no contraindications to BOTOX^® treatment. It is not recommended for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding as a precautionary measure.

They must also first be screened for possible medical causes of hyperhidrosis, such as those triggered by medications, endocrine or neurological disorders. Patients are graded by severity of the condition: grades 3 or 4 on the scale are suitable for BOTOX^®.

Problematic sweating may be limited to one area of the body, such as the underarms or feet (known as “focal hyperhidrosis”) or affect large areas of the body. Areas usually affected by hyperhidrosis are the scalp, underarms, hands, feet and delicate areas such as the inframammary fold (under the breast) and scrotum. Patients may suffer from excess perspiration with facial or axillary hyperhidrosis.

 BOTOX^® is licensed by the FDA in the U.S. to treat armpit sweating.

BOTOX^® has been used for many years to treat millions of patients with various medical conditions, such as spasticity and movement disorders. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approved BOTOX^® in 2004 as a treatment for severe primary axillary hyperhidrosis in patients unable to obtain relief using antiperspirants. At least 20 countries have approved BOTOX^® for the treatment of excessive underarm sweating.

Research demonstrates that repeatedly treating excessive sweating of the armpits, hands, feet, head and face (craniofacial), and other relatively small body areas (such as under the breasts) with BOTOX^® is safe and effective and improves a patient’s quality of life.

However, any treatment with BOTOX^® must always be conducted by a licensed medical professional with substantial experience and training.

The most common side effects are swelling, stinging, and pain in the injection site; headaches and hot flushes, and sweating in sites other than the armpits. Less common side effects include nausea, itching, temporary muscle pain and weakness, joint stiffness and pain in the armpit area.

One potential side effect of BOTOX^® injections as a treatment for excess perspiration in the face, especially the forehead, is asymmetry. This happens if some of the BOTOX^® diffuses into the facial muscles. However, any asymmetry is temporary and can be balanced out by additional BOTOX^® injections.