Do you suffer from excessive sweating, then you might want to read more about Botox treatment.

Most people know Botox as a treatment for wrinkles but it has several medical uses besides that. In cases of focal hyperhidrosis Botox was found to be of temporary help mainly in cases of axillary (armpit area) sweating. The treatment can last somewhere between 2 and 6 month. This treatment is approved by the FDA. Botox for excessive sweating on the hands and feet is not approved by the FDA.

What is Botox?

Botox is derived from botulism toxin but in very small doses. When injected in small doses it can be used safely. It works by blocking the neurotransmitter related to sweating.
Effectiveness of Botox against excessive sweating.

Botox works, but remember it has only a temporary effect. If used many times the body adapts to the toxin and you will experience lower effectiveness of the treatment. Another downside is the price. One treatment can cost several hundred dollars, but you might try and ask your insurance company to coder some of the costs.

Generalized hyperhidrosis is too widespread to treat with lotions, injections or surgery. But, some medicines taken as tablets can reduce the sweating. The most reliable ones are those that block the chemical signal between the nerve and sweat gland (ant cholinergic drugs). However these drugs also affect other body functions, which could cause effects including a dry mouth, blurred vision, tummy cramps, constipation, or difficulty in passing urine. They also may be harmful for people with glaucoma. To start with a small dose is used at first and then it is gradually increased.

Antiperspirants

The top anti perspirant is apparently aluminum chloride (20-25%) in 70-90% alcohol, applied later in the day 2-3 times/week. Generally, this treatment is sufficient in cases with light to moderate hyperhidrosis is although it must be repeated regularly. Note that a treatment that reduces sweating is called an antiperspirant, which is totally different from a deodorant, which reduces odor, generally via an antibacterial effect. Sides effects include sore red skin, which can be reduced by ensuring the skin is completely dry and then applying the antiperspirant, or by using hydrocortisone cream. Antiperspirants are most useful underarm but also may be somewhat useful on hands and feet also.

Sweat gland suction

This is for axillary hyperhidrosis (under arm) only. This is a recent technique which has been adapted from liposuction. On an out-patient basis with only local anesthesia, the sweat glands are permanently removed. The sweat glands and armpits are first softened and anaesthetized with a special solution. After a brief period, the sweat glands can then be removed in a manner similar to liposuction. Small incisions are made above and under the armpits to remove the sweat glands through quick suction. The whole procedure takes between 60 to 90 minutes.

Iontophoresis

This hyperhidrosis treatment is most effective for sweating of the hands and the feet. The hands or feet are placed into water, and then a gentle current of electricity (15-18A via a D/C generator) is passed through it. The electricity is gradually increased until the patient feels a light tingling sensation. The therapy lasts about 10-20 minutes. It requires constant reapplication thereafter otherwise sweating will reoccur. It was originally developed to get glycopyrrolate into the skin. Many patients who suffer from light to moderate hyperhidrosis, are content with this method, however the treatment is time consuming and can cause discomfort. It’s very difficult to apply to the armpit region and impossible in other areas. Equipment for home use can be purchased relatively inexpensively. Also some hospital may offer a trial to see if the treatment has an effect.

Botox

Another popular hyperhidrosis treatment is Botulinum toxin type A (Botox). It was authorized by the FDA in 2004 for the treating severe underarm sweating, a condition called primary axillary hyperhidrosis. Botox is one of the most lethal poisons known, as it interferes with the effect of the transmitter acetylcholine at the synapses, however in low doses it can reduce the transition of impulses and thus sweating activity. The procedure is as follows; small doses of purified Botulinum toxin injected into the underarm these temporarily block the nerves that stimulate sweating. The effect usually lasts between 2 and6 months, although some patients may continue to benefit for 12 months. The treatment must then be repeated to continue suppression of the sweating. Side effects of the injections could include injection-site pain and flu-like symptoms, mild but temporary weakness and intense pain. Also it is a costly treatment, especially given that it must be redone continuously. Botox is most commonly used for underarm sweating, in fact it is not suitable for large areas. Botulinum toxin is not so used in the palms and soles because you can get temporary weakness of the hand and foot muscles, and the procedure itself can be painful (though this is often alleviated somewhat by using anesthetic creams or injections.

Endoscopic Thoracic Sympathectomy (ETS)

Endoscopic Thoracic Sympathectomy is a hyperhidrosis treatment which involvessurgery, what happens is the nerves are cut, these are the nerves which send signals to the sweat glands to start sweating. It carries significant risks. With this procedure it is only possible to cut the nerve nodes responsible for the sweat glands of the hands and face. The procedure is as follows; the patient is placed under total anesthetic, the surgeon makes a few cuts under the arm, the lung of the patient is collapsed. An endoscope (tiny camera) is inserted so that the surgeon can see where the correct nerve is. The nerve is then removed and the lug is restored, the identical procedure is then done on the other hand, the surgery generally will take about 30 minutes. Sides effects include; sweating may be increased in other locations to compensate for the signals not being sent, inability to raise the heart rate when working out physically, inability to control body temperature, very dry hands or feet. Also in 2003 ETS was banned in its birthplace, Sweden, due to overwhelming complaints by disabled patients. In 2006 FinOHTA, the Finish Office for Health Technology Assessment, showed in a review that there were strong indications of side effects because of the surgery.

Anti cholinergic drug glycopyrrolate

These will generally have too many side-effects to be useful against hyperhidrosis. In a few cases of someone who suffers from plenty of sweating on the trunk and not extremities, a low does of the drug may alleviate the symptoms without triggering the side-effects. Also solutions of the drug may reduce sweating in localized areas. Its likely to be effective for excessive sweating of the scalp and forehead.

Formalin solution

This is potentially useful with sweating on the soles of the feet. As formalin solution hardens the skin and may block the passage from the sweat glands to the surface of your skin

Symptoms associated with Hyperhidrosis are usually visible perspiration, moist clothes or perhaps a wet handshake. Hyperhidrosis has an effect on the water-producing ("eccrine") sweat glands, and never the actual "apocrine" perspiration glands which produce the greater oily type of sweat which causes smell, especially under the arms. Which means that odor isn’t a direct result of Hyperhidrosis.

Perspiring is important to control body’s temperature, during periods when the is too warm. It’s regulated by the sympathetic nervous system. However, in some people this is functions overtime, causing perspiring to happen when it is not really required. It is the actual Thoracic Sympathetic Ganglion String, that runs across the vertebra of the back inside the chest cavity, which is main to this process. The actual string regulates the glands, known as the actual apocrine, as well as eccrine glands, responsible for sweat during your body. Depending on which part of the actual chain will become overactive, various sections of the body turn out to be impacted.

I hope you can use the information provided.