It is common and also completely normal to sweat unless you are sweating more than one should. Hyperhidrosis is when your body sweats excessively abnormally for no apparent reason. With hyperhidrosis, your body’s sweat glands overact causing you to sweat a lot at any time, at any place. Often caused by a medical condition or anxiety, this excessive sweating can cause a lot of challenges for people dealing with it.
The most common, Primary focal hyperhidrosis, may not necessarily have a medical cause though it can be hereditary and passed down by family.
Secondary hyperhidrosis occurs due to medical conditions such as diabetes, thyroid problems, menopause, cancer and low-blood sugar.
Apart from facing the embarrassment of sweating in public, people having excessive sweating may also be prone to skin infections.
Botulinum toxin
Botulinum toxin, a well-known cosmetic treatment to smooth wrinkles by temporarily paralyzing the face muscles, can also be used to treat migraines and hyperhidrosis.
Botulinum toxin injections block the release of the neurotransmitter “acetylcholine” that causes sweat glands to release sweat. Your nervous system normally activates the sweat glands to cool the body temperature that has risen, but with hyperhidrosis there is overactive nerves signaling the sweat glands, therefore when botulinum toxin is injected directly into the commonly sweating area, the overacting nerves are basically paralyzed.
A starch iodine test is recommended to test how much sweat your body produces. Your provider will apply an iodine solution to the sweaty area and sprinkle starch over the iodine solution causing the area with excessive sweating to turn the solution dark blue.
To date, the FDA has approved botulinum toxin injections for under-arm sweating only. Although a doctor may recommend treatment elsewhere in the body like palms, face and soles of feet.
It usually takes between 2 – 4 days to notice results with 2 weeks for the injection to take on full effect.
Side effect
The most common side effects of injecting botulinum toxin for hyperhidrosis would be
-pain on the injected area
-bleeding on the area
-flu-like symptoms
-headache
-anxiety
Results
Research demonstrates that treating excessive sweating of the armpits, hands, feet, head and face and other small areas with botulinum toxin is safe and effective. When treating underarm excessive sweating, botulinum toxin has shown result with an 82-87% decrease in sweating with dryness lasting 4 to 12 months, though some studies have found it can last up to 14 months.
In the case of excessive sweating in the palms, research shows that botulinum toxin is 80-90% effective. Repeat injections are needed after 6 months but may cause temporary pain in the hands.
A potential side effect of botulinum toxin injections in the face as a treatment for sweating is asymmetry, particularly of the forehead which can occur if the botulinum toxin diffuses into the facial muscles. Such asymmetry, however, is always temporary and can, if necessary, be balanced out by additional botulinum toxin injections.
Research – Sweathelp