Excessive Sweating

Excessive Sweating (Hyperhidrosis)

Excessive underarm sweating or axillary hyperhidrosis is more common than you think. 4 out of 100 people suffer from this condition. The cause is genetic, however this condition is worsened with stress, drugs (such as anti depressants) but most importantly caffeine – found in coffee and energy drinks. There are only 2 questions that determine if you require treatment for excessive underarm sweating. Firstly- does this condition affect your confidence when you lift your arms up? Secondly, does sweating limit what you wear? If so, this is a medical and not a cosmetic condition that can be treated. There are options for effective management.

Before & After Photos

Frequently asked questions

Facts of excessive underarm sweating:

Axillary hyperhidrosis or excessive underarm sweating is a very common condition
The hot and humid weather can make hyperhidrosis unbearable both physically and psycholocially
You should consider treatment if it bothers you socially or restricts what you wear- most suffers wear black
There are 2 reliable treatments for underarm sweating- anti sweat injections and miraDry
Anti sweat injections last between 4-12 months
The choice of what is the best treatment will depend on your lifestyle, age and type of sweat reduction you want

How common is excessive underarm sweating?

Excessive underarm sweating or axillary hyperhidrosis is more common than you think. 4 out of 100 people suffer from this condition. The cause is genetic, however this condition is worsened with stress, drugs (such as anti depressants) but most importantly caffeine – found in coffee and energy drinks. There are only 2 questions that determine if you require treatment for excessive underarm sweating. Firstly- does this condition affect your confidence when you lift your arms up? Secondly, does sweating limit what you wear? If so, this is a MEDICAL and not a cosmetic condition that can be treated. There are options for effective management.

What is the cause of excessive sweating?

The cause of hyperhidrosis is genetic, made worse with stress, drugs and caffeine. There is a one in four chance of passing your excessively sweat genes to your children. Some drugs, such as anti-depressives also worsen underarm sweating. One of the biggest contributing factors I see, is stress.

How do I know if I need treatment?

If you are reading this sentence or doing research on sweating and sweat reduction methods, chance are you may benefit both psychologically and physically from treatment. We ask two questions only if anti-sweat treatments can help you. Firstly, does sweating limit what you wear? Most people who sweat a lot wear clothes to hide their sweating- usually black or white. Secondly, do you feel uncomfortable in public places- examples including lifting your arms above your head in public, or just thinking if people notice your sweat patches. If you do, then sweating is definitely impacting your psyche.

What is Hyperhidrosis?

For hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), botulinum toxin works by blocking the nerves that stimulate the sweat glands. Botulinum toxin is derived from bacteria in much the same way penicillin is derived from mold. Botulinum toxin has been safely used to treat millions of people for more than 10 years for several therapeutic conditions.

Using botulinum toxin to alleviate the symptoms of hyperhidrosis is a promising new approach. Research has shown that treating armpit, hand, facial, and gustatory (related to salivation or eating) hyperhidrosis with botulinum toxin is safe and effective. In recent studies, when botulinum toxin was injected into under arm areas affected by hyperhidrosis, excessive sweating was relieved for several months. And 28% of those studied, the anhidrosis (or lack of sweating) lasted over a year.

When treatment of underarm hyperhidrosis with topical antiperspirants has been unsuccessful, botulinum toxin is a highly effective and convenient alternative. The injections can be performed in office, require little time, and do not demand any restrictions in work or leisure activity (aside from refraining from intensive exercise or the use of a sauna on the day of the injections).

It’s important to note that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved botulinum toxin for axillary hyperhidrosis on July 19th, 2004. It should also be noted that botulinum toxin has been approved for use in hyperhidrosis by regulatory authorities in over half a dozen other countries, including Canada and certain countries in Europe and South America. Keep in mind, also, that it may take several injection sessions to achieve desired results and that during each injection session multiple injections are given in an attempt to cover the entire affected area. These injections can be painful especially in the palms and soles of the feet. In addition, although botulinum toxin stops sweating, it doesn’t prevent body odor.

What are the facts on anti sweat injections for underarm sweating?

Anti sweat injections are only indicated if topical solutions fail. Here are the important facts about injections and sweating-

Treatment takes 90 seconds for underarm hyperhidrosis
Each injection feels like an ant bite, and is well tolerated
Local numbing cream can reduce pain by up to 90%
Injections last between 4-8 months, the average being 6 months
The treatment can be covered by your insurance please contact your provider. The out of pocket cost is approximately $700
100 units are used to treat underarm sweating
Side effects are very, very rare. Bruising and swelling may occur in 5% of cases.
After anti sweating injections you can resume exercise 24 hours later
Sweating will start to decrease by 70-100%, within 7 to 10 days
This treatment is extremely safe
If sweating really bother you, anti sweat injections works well in over 95% of cases
The 5% that fail injections will usually have anxiety issues, these can be address with cognitive behaviour therapy
Anti sweat injections are the stepping stone to miraDry treatment for underarm sweating
Injections can also be used to treat sweaty hands and feet, however we discourage this use due to the cost- $2500+. For sweating of the hands and feet known as palmar and plantar hyperhidrosis, iontophoresis is the treatment of choice

Does treatment with anti sweat injectios hurt?

Each injection feels like an ant bite. 99% of patients tolerate the procedure very well, as it is all over within 90 seconds. Our nurse places small amounts of anti sweat injections at a very superficial level- unlike other specialists who might perform this as a ‘deep procedure’. The more superficial and slower the injection, the less pain is felt.

For patients with pain hypersensitivity, we use a special numbing cream that decreases pain by up to 90% and can be painless.

BOTOX® TREATMENTS

Treatment with botulinum toxin for hyperhidrosis requires that small amounts of the protein be injected into or near the sweat glands responsible for excessive perspiration. One of the botulinum toxin products used by doctors in the U.S. is called BOTOX®.

Follow-up injections to maintain the antiperspirant effect are necessary. These repeat injections may be required at intervals varying from seven to sixteen months. Injections into the palms or soles may be painful, so a local anesthetic (painkilling) cream or other pain relief methods may be used during the procedure. Following the injections, full effect is normally achieved within a couple of days.

SIDE EFFECTS

Side effects of botulinum toxin injections can include small amounts of bleeding into the skin at the injection site and mild temporary weakness of muscles near the injection sites, particularly small hand muscles. Minor discomfort such as a stinging sensation may be felt during the injections. Temporary skin rashes, flu-like symptoms, or fatigue may occur within days after treatment. Temporary bruising is also possible. These side effects, if experienced, usually go away quickly.

Underarm injections are easier to give and less painful than injections into the palm due, in part, to softer skin in the armpits. Additionally, armpit injections are less likely to cause muscle weakness.

You should not receive botulinum toxin treatment if you have generalized muscular weakness, a neuromuscular disorder, progressive myopathies, or profound atrophy of the targeted area, or if you have been on certain types of antibiotic therapy. Additionally, pregnant or breastfeeding women should not use botulinum toxin, and the injections should not be given if the proposed injection site is infected in any way.

Methods we use to treat

Botox for Hyperhidrosis

The condition in human beings that causes excessive sweating is called hyperhidrosis. This condition can be limited to certain areas of the body like the hands and feet, or show up all over the body. Many people find this condition to be quite upsetting and socially isolating, causing them to become withdrawn from their day-to-day lives. Luckily, Botox® is an excellent solution for treating symptoms of hyperhidrosis. The botulinum toxin in Botox® injections works to block the nerve signals that cause sweating. As these nerve signals become inhibited, it stops the sweat glands in the body from producing too much sweat. The nerves in these areas regenerate every few months, which is why frequent touch-up treatments are required to tackle the problem effectively. Once the patient has undergone enough treatments, they can go on for several months to a year without the need for re-treatments.

Vitamin Drip IV Infusion

Vitamindrip® is a scientifically formulated intravenous solution for the effective treatment of moderate to severe dehydration, and has been found to be effective against acute asthma attacks, migraines, fatigue (including chronic fatigue syndrome), fibromyalgia, acute muscle spasm, upper respiratory tract infections, chronic sinusitis, seasonal allergic rhinitis, cardiovascular disease, and other disorders. VitaminDrip treatments fo directly into the bloodstream. Hydrate, boost energy levels and release those unwanted toxins = amazing. The amount of nutrients in the blood can reach much higher, more therapeutic levels. Nutrients that enter the bloodstream immediately to help the body begin healing itself. Enjoy energy for days not hours without the crash.

Excessive Sweating