Eliminating excessive sweat with a botulinum shot
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Meeting clients and creating a good impression is an important part of my job, but in this weather, I perspire a great deal and that saps my confidence. I always have underarm sweat rings on my shirt but I can’t change my shirt every few hours. What do I do?
This year has been particularly hot and the heat is continuing despite this being the beginning of the rainy season. Heat and humidity can make us sweat even when we’re not doing anything physically exhausting.
Sweating is the body’s natural way of regulating the temperature. Although it has a lot of benefits, such as cooling off the body and fighting bacteria, it can also negatively affect the way we look.
Some people sweat more than others. This is known in medical terms as axillary hyperhidrosis and people with this condition sweat up to four times more than average.
This can often interfere with their interpersonal and social situations.
You can try a prescribed topical antiperspirant, which contains aluminium chloride, usually between 20-25 per-cent in an alcohol solution. The aluminium chloride prevents the sweat from escaping the pores. However, for more severe cases, the antiperspirant may not be sufficiently effective
Botulinum injections can help treat common sweating disorders. Studies have shown that botulinum is a safe and effective therapeutic option for patients who struggle with excessive sweat.
A study in the US found that before treatment, 66 to 72 per cent of patients were somewhat or very dissatisfied with their ability to perform their current work activities because of the excessive sweat, compared with nine to 20 per cent after treatment.
To treat excessive underarm sweat, botulinum is injected into the skin to treat the symptom. The substance temporarily blocks the chemical signals from the nerves that stimulate sweat glands. When the sweat glands don’t receive chemical signals, severe sweating is reduced.
The effects are noticeable after two to five days, and can last for up to six months. After the effect wears off, sweating gradually comes back but you can always come back for a second treatment. The degree of effectiveness and the duration vary from person to person.
Botulinum injections offer an effective solution to excessive sweat, and results are usually satisfactory after the first treatment.
However, make sure you seek help from a reliable professional. The botulinum, when injected improperly, may affect areas away from the injection site and cause serious symptoms including loss of strength and all-over muscle weakness. That’s a more worrying situation than excessive sweat.
THANISORN THAMLIKITKUL MD is a |member of the American Society of Cosmetic Dermatology and Aesthetic Surgery and certified in dermatological laser surgery. Send your questions for her |to [email protected]
