Excessive sweating, also known as hyperhidrosis, is a common ailment that can be the source of extreme stress and unhappiness. It is estimated that 3% of people in the UK suffer from hyperhidrosis.
Excessive sweating primarily affects:
- Soles of the feet and palms (palmoplantar hyperhidrosis).
- Underarms (axillary hyperhidrosis).
Less common areas affected:
- Back.
- Groin.
- Face.
- Legs.
- Buttocks.
The complications with excessive sweating
Hyperhidrosis can be embarrassing for sufferers, getting in the way of relationships, business interactions and social occasions. The practical consequences are also difficult – simple things such as shaking hands with others and holding a pen or steering wheels can become very difficult day-to-day activities. Despite being healthy and maintaining good personal hygiene, you can still develop problems with excessive sweating.
Botunlinum toxin A (Botox) to treat excessive sweating
Botox has been shown to result in an 82-87% decrease in sweating. You will start to see results within 2-4 days after treatment and the full effects of treatment will manifest within a period of 2 weeks.
A small amount of Botox is injected via a tiny needle into around 25 areas in each armpits. These injections keep excessive sweating at bay for around 6 months and subsequent treatment lays a foundation for treatment to last longer each time. Treatment is non-invasive and takes a mere 10 minutes to administer.
A common misconception surrounding Botox and hyperhidrosis is that there is a backlog of sweat after the effects of treatment have worn off. Botox simply blocks the messages that the nerves send to the sweat glands, so the sweat is not produced in the first instance.
Emotional consequences of hyperhidrosis
The emotional consequences of excessive sweating are possibly the most difficult for sufferers to deal with and the practical difficulties can bring about a great deal of day-to-day stress and emotional strife. Many of those affected find that they end up having to plan their daily activities around the condition,
If you would like more information about treating excessive sweating, please do not hesitate to contact us.