Treatment of perspiration

Treatment of sweating

Some people experience excessive sweating of the armpits, palms or soles of the feet. In these cases, Botox™ is particularly effective in reducing for one year.

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Essential hyperhidrosis of the feet, palms and underarms is a relatively common condition: 12% of the population over 15 suffers from excessive sweating. Unpleasant odour may result in significant social implications.

Hyperhidrosis begins at puberty and regresses after 40 years.
In general, women are affected by heat and by the approach of the menstrual period. Sweat crises can be triggered by emotion, pain, fatigue or psychological shock: an encounter with a stranger or a boss, concentrated attention, even fear of sweating ... In fact, axillary hyperhidrosis can cause rivulets of sweat on the chest. In extreme cases, these very embarrassing crises can cause actual physical and social disability. Sweating of the hands (palmar hyperhidrosis) can be an occupational disability (surgeons, musicians, electricians...). On the feet, it can lead to maceration – the breaking down of skin that is constantly exposed to moisture.

Treatment with Botox™ is particularly useful for hyperhidrosis of the armpits. The doctor first determines the area that sweats the most from an iodine test (iodine solution is applied under the armpit, followed by starch, resulting in blue coloration of the areas that sweat). The doctor then determines two-centimetre squares at the corners of which he injects botulinum toxin in very small quantities. The doctor usually makes 10 injections per armpit. These injections are not very painful because the needle is extremely fine and the injection is superficial. That said, sensitive patients might benefit from local anesthesia using EMLA cream.
The first effect is felt two days after the injections, and increases to its maximum after a month. The duration of action varies with each patient, the concentration of toxin and the total dose injected. The injection of 50 units of botulinum toxin for axillary (1 / 2 bottle of Botox™ or Dysport ® or Xeomin™) suspends perspiration in 96.1% of patients over a period of seven months or a year. The injections must be repeated at regular intervals because this is a temporary treatment.