Have you ever found yourself afraid to raise your arms in normal situations because others may see your underarm sweat stains? Do you hesitate to buy new clothes because they might be ruined by underarm sweat? Do you constantly worry that someone will notice your sweat stains? Do you find yourself changing clothes frequently, or putting absorbent materials under your clothing to prevent sweat stains from showing? Though most people can control this mild to moderate sweating with over the counter antiperspirants, for some the sweating is so excessive that it interferes with their daily activities. This causes physical as well as psychological problems, such as social isolation and emotional trauma.
Primary Axillary Hyperhidrosis (PAH) is the medical term used to describe the condition of severe excessive underarm sweating. Simply put, PAH is a condition that involves overactive sweat glands. Most people who suffer from excessive underarm sweating have often tried numerous different clinical strength antiperspirants and topical medications to treat their excessive sweating with poor results.
In 2004, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approved BOTOX® for the treatment of severe primary axillary hyperhidrosis in patients unable to obtain relief using antiperspirants or other clinical strength topical medicines. Treatment with BOTOX® helps control the symptoms of severe underarm sweating by temporarily blocking the chemical signals from the nerves that stimulate the sweat glands. When the sweat glands don’t receive chemical signals, they stop producing sweat. BOTOX® injections are expected to temporarily stop the production of excessive sweat in the treated areas only. Sweat continues to be produced elsewhere. Your pores do not get clogged and the sweat does not get backed up. The rest of your body continues to produce moisture normally.
BOTOX® treatment for severe excessive underarm sweating is safe, quick, and effective. Approximately 15-20 small injections are made underneath the skin of the armpit to block the release of the neurotransmitter responsible for the production of sweat by the sweat glands. The entire procedure takes about 10 minutes and complications are rare. Results are proven. In one clinical study involving 322 patients with severe underarm sweating, 81% of the patients receiving BOTOX® injections achieved a greater than 50% reduction in sweating with 50% of the patients having their excessive sweating relieved for up to 7 months. BOTOX® is now also being used for the treatment of excessive sweating of the hands and feet.
It is important to remember, however, that treatment with BOTOX® for severe excessive sweating is not a cure; your symptoms will return gradually, and you will require further treatments in 4-7 months.
If you believe you are suffering from severe excessive sweating that is significantly interfering with your daily activities, ask your physician if BOTOX® could be right for you.
