Hyperhidrosis is a treatable condition in which the body sweats excessively in areas where there is a high concentration of sweat glands, such as the hands, feet, armpits and the groin.
Excessive sweating can occur when temperatures are cooler or at rest, but is typically worsened in the summer when the temperature rises slightly or by periods of activity and exercise.
Sweating is an important biological function, which enables the body to lose heat; however, people with Hyperhidrosis produce sweat in amounts far greater than needed to control their temperature.
It is estimated that 2 - 3% of the population suffers from Hyperhidrosis (roughly 1 million people), with less than 40% of those affected seeking medical advice.
Excessive sweating is a common problem that can be solved easily, leaving you with dry, soft skin regardless of the heat.
Many things can trigger normal sweating and this is also true for hyperhidrosis – it’s just the amount of sweating that varies.
The more common type involving excessive sweating on the feet, hands and, in about 30–40% of cases, the armpits. Botox® is recommended for the treatment of focal hyperhidrosis affecting the armpits (axillary hyperhidrosis) when other treatments have not worked.
This affects the whole body. This is much less common and is usually caused by another illness such as an infection, diabetes or when the thyroid gland is overactive. The excessive sweating usually stops when the illness is treated.
Exercise | Heat or cold | Alcohol | Coffee or tea | Smoking | Hot or spicy food | Stress / anxiety | Other strong emotions | Certain times of the day
If you have Hyperhidrosis, you may produce a large volume of sweat. This means that your hands, feet, chest or armpits (depending on which part of the body is affected) may be constantly damp. This can make normal everyday activities more difficult to carry out and it may be causing you embarrassment at work or socially.
It is not true that hyperhidrosis causes body odour – the smell that some people think is due to sweating is in fact caused by bacteria if sweat remains on the skin for a long time.
Self-Help Measures for Hyperhidrosis
To help manage hyperhidrosis, the first agents to try are topical products that can help to absorb the excess sweat, such as talcum powder and cornstarch powder (e.g. Zeasorb®). These are usually only helpful in mild cases.
Stronger antiperspirants containing aluminium chloride e.g. Driclor ® and AnHydrolForte® can be used for armpits, hands and feet. They are applied 2-3 times a week at night and washed off in the morning to avoid damage to clothes. Application can be effective especially for underarm sweating. However, they can cause the skin to become irritated over time.
Botulinum toxin injections
Botulinum toxin injections provide an effective treatment for hyperhidrosis in many people. Treatment involves injecting small doses of the same agents used to aid skin wrinkles into the skin of the affected areas. They work by blocking the action of nerves that supply the eccrine (sweat) glands. This stops the glands from producing sweat.
Treatment totally blocks the nerve ending for about 6-12 weeks, but then new nerve endings start to form. This means the effects of the treatment of hyperhidrosis lasts for several months but will eventually wear off.
Botox® is a treatment given by injection into the skin. It is recommended for the treatment of axillary hyperhidrosis – excessive underarm sweating – and it has been used for many years to treat muscle spasm affecting the eyes, face and neck. Botox® is also used to relieve muscle spasm in children with cerebral palsy.
Botox® is a very pure preparation of a protein called Botulinum Toxin type A. When small doses are injected into the skin, Botox® blocks the actions of the nerves that supply the eccrine glands; this prevents the glands from producing sweat. Botox® blocks the nerve endings, however after approximately 6 – 12 weeks, new nerve endings grow to replace them. This means that the effects of treatment last for several months but will eventually wear off.
Using a very fine needle, we will inject a small amount of a Botox® solution into 10 -15 places about 1cm apart and spread evenly in each armpit. The injections may cause some discomfort and your skin may be slightly red and inflamed immediately after treatment. This normally resolves within a few hours.
A course of treatment takes about 30 minutes.
You should notice some change for the better within a week of your treatment.
Different people have different responses to treatment. Your next treatment can be given when the effects of the first course wear off, this usually happens after 4 – 7 months.
We will advise you about when to return for further treatment.
The cost of your treatment will depend on the size of the area to be treated and the number of injections you will need. We would recommend that you a book a free initial consultation – this gives us an opportunity to review your case, find out how hyperhidrosis has been affecting your life, and for you to ask questions. We can then give you a breakdown of the treatment costs.
Side effects include bruising or tenderness at the injection sites and increased sweating at other sites. Rare side effects include itching, muscle aches, allergic reactions and muscle weakness.
Most patients notice some positive changes within the first week after treatment. The effects usually last between 4-7 months.
There are several simple self-help measures that may make a difference to your hyperhidrosis. These are:
If you are concerned about excessive sweating and would like a consultation with one of our experts, they will be able to guide you and work out a treatment plan that effectively suits you.