The common medical condition of hyperhidrosis causes those who have the condition to produce excessive sweat. The severity of the condition can range from causing excessive sweat only in certain affected areas to affecting the whole body. The most commonly affected areas include the armpits and palms. The primary cause of hyperhidrosis is the triggering of eccrine sweat glands due to faulty nerve signals, resulting in the sweat glands becoming overactive. It has been shown to have a genetic component and more frequently affects adults aged from 18 to 39 years of age. Hyperhidrosis typically develops soon after puberty and has also been known as a symptom of social anxiety.

While Botox is more commonly known for its effectiveness with cosmetic wrinkle reduction, it is frequently used to treat focal hyperhidrosis. Botulinum toxins are what is used in Botox injections, which when injected into the sites on the body that are affected by hyperhidrosis, block the signals produced by nerves that are responsible for the production of sweat. The nerves take a few months to regenerate, allowing patients to go as long before needing treatments to maintain the desired results.

The use of Botox to treat excessive sweating caused by hyperhidrosis has been shown to reduce the amount of sweat produced at the site of injection by 82-87%. Unfortunately, Botox is not effective for those who have full-body hyperhidrosis but is incredibly effective for those with focal hyperhidrosis. Specifically, the underarms have been shown to respond very well to Botox injections for a substantial reduction in sweat production, making underarms the most commonly injected site (as it is also the most common problem site for excessive sweating). Though injections are only slightly less effective in the palms and feet, these sites of Botox injections for hyperhidrosis are less common as those injections cause more discomfort due to the containment of more nerve endings. Possible Botox injection sites to treat hyperhidrosis can also include the back, groin, head, face, nose, chest, or under the breasts. Those who provide injections in these areas are required to have extensive knowledge on the tissues and muscles of the areas to ensure that all injections are safe and side effects are minimized.

Although Botox injections will not permanently treat hyperhidrosis, they are able to provide long-lasting effects. After treatment, the desired results will typically take a couple of weeks to take full effect, providing noticeable results often as early as 2 to 4 days after receiving injections. The longevity of the results can vary from person to person but should last anywhere from 2 to 12 months, depending on the speed at which the nerves that are being blocked regenerate. Many people will continue receiving maintenance treatments within 7 to 16 months after the original treatment to ensure that the results continue as desired. Additionally, it is common to experience being able to go longer periods of time between maintenance injections over time. The results may vary as well depending on where the Botox was injected into the body.

Please call Suburban Health Associates today to learn more. We serve patients from Naperville IL, Plainfield IL, Joliet IL, Woodridge IL, Wolfs IL, Warrenville IL, Crystal Lawns IL, Romeoville IL, Lockport IL, Crest Hill IL, Shorewood IL, Gilletts IL, and Fairmont IL.