Hyperhidrosis is a common condition in which a person sweats excessively and refers to any abnormal sweating, such as sweating when it’s not hot. Sweating is controlled by the brain, which sends signals along nerves called “sympathetic nerves” to the small sweat glands in the skin. These nerves are part of the “autonomic nervous system” which controls many unconscious body functions.
Botulinum Toxin 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 with hyperhidrosis, however, the nerves that signal the sweat glands are overactive.
When you receive Botulinum Toxin injections directly into the area of your body that commonly sweats, your overactive nerves are essentially paralyzed. When your nerves can’t signal your sweat glands, you don’t sweat. However, Botulinum Toxin only prevents sweating in the specific area where it’s injected.
Procedure time
30 mins
Pain
Minimal
Anaesthetic
None required
Recovery time
Immediate
Longevity
6 – 12 months
Risks
Minimal
Hyperhidrosis is the medical term for excessive sweating. This occurs in approximately 1% of the population and is due to the body’s nervous system over triggering the sweat glands causing too much sweating.
Botulinum Toxin is injected into the skin that blocks the nerves supplying the sweat glands, preventing them producing sweat.
You can expect a significant reduction in under arm sweating lasting several months.
We ask that you avoid shaving your armpits for two or three days prior to your appointment.
Each armpit will be marked with a skin marker pen; this will be followed by a series of small injections into the skin. The needles are very fine and the amount injected each time is tiny. Although there is some stinging to the area, the whole procedure takes approximately 30 minutes and not too uncomfortable. The marker pen can be washed off afterwards.
Botulinum Toxin is not a permanent cure, however, it helps to stop or greatly reduce the sweating. This will usually happen within two weeks of treatment and the effects may last between 6 and 12 months.
The common side effects of Botox injections are burning sensation, stinging sensation, swelling, mild bleeding , redness of the skin of the injection site and sweating in sites other than the armpits.
