Can Botox® be used for sweating?
Anon, Kumeu
Botulinum toxin (commonly known as Botox®) is a versatile beast. In addition to its well-known function of relaxing muscles, it can also stop sweat glands from working so is a great treatment for sweating.
When injected at a superficial depth (very close to the surface of the skin), it acts to interfere with sweat glands and results can last up to 6-9 months. It is particularly helpful for those who experience excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis), which can affect a variety of areas including armpits, hands, feet and face. The very superficial nature of the injections minimize muscle involvement, however sometimes muscles close to the skin surface are also weakened, so a tailored approach is needed to ensure treatment is appropriate.
It is also important to ensure your injector is confident other causes of hyperhidrosis have been excluded such as tumour, thyroid disturbance, medications and diabetes. If any doubt, it is always best to check with your GP in the first instance.
As the warmer months approach (yay!), so too does sweating. This can be embarrassing and affect quality of life significantly. It is helpful to know reliable treatments for this exist and our good ol’ friend Botox® can help us once again.