Most of us know Botox as a non-surgical cosmetic treatment to help conceal fine lines and wrinkles. Not many people know it can also be used to treat excessive sweating.
Sweating is a normal biological function that helps to regulate our body temperature, but some people sweat more than necessary. Excessive sweating can have a significant impact on your quality of life.
If you sweat a lot more than you feel is normal, you might avoid exercising in a public place, or you might avoid social situations. It can impact the clothes you feel you can wear, the places you go, and your self-esteem. Some people need to change their clothes multiple times in a day, and they may also feel self-conscious about body odour.
If you feel you sweat too much, you may have hyperhidrosis. And you may be interested to learn that Botox injections could help you to reclaim your life.
What is hyperhidrosis?
Hyperhidrosis is the medical name for excessive sweating. You may have primary focal hyperhidrosis, which is when the mechanism for controlling your body temperature is overactive.
Sweating is a normal biological response that helps to control your body temperature. When this system is overactive, it triggers the sweat response without a change in external temperature. Stressful situations can also trigger this reaction. This type of hyperhidrosis is often hereditary and has no medical cause.
You could also have secondary hyperhidrosis, which is caused by an underlying medical condition. This could include:
- Diabetes
- Menopause
- Thyroid issues
Hyperhidrosis can affect any area of the body, including the hands, feet, underarms, scalp and face.
Why should you treat your hyperhidrosis?
Some people find a way to manage their excessive sweating through changes to their lifestyle and avoiding known triggers. There are some complications to look out for if you choose to leave hyperhidrosis untreated.
As you might imagine, hyperhidrosis can lead to dehydration as you lose water and electrolytes through sweat. Hyperhidrosis will also leave you more susceptible to skin infections.
Using Botox for hyperhidrosis
Many people know Botox as an anti-wrinkle solution, but it can also be used to treat hyperhidrosis. Botox uses botulinum toxin, which is a neurotoxic protein. Just as it can relax the muscles in the face to make wrinkles appear less prominent, it can also relax the sweat glands.
When injected into the skin, it blocks the nerve signals responsible for sweating. It also prevents the sweat glands from producing too much sweat. The results will typically last around seven months. This can provide some much-needed relief for those suffering from hyperhidrosis.
Botox for hyperhidrosis is highly effective when the condition is localised to a single area such as the hands or feet. In more generalised sweating conditions where the whole body is affected, it’s difficult to target specific areas.
The Botox procedure for hyperhidrosis is very simple. The area is cleaned and then a numbing cream is applied. The Botox is injected with a very thin needle. There may be some bruising and discomfort at the injection site, but this will quickly pass. The effects of the Botox injections can be seen in around five days, with maximum impact after around two weeks after the injections.
How can I get Botox for hyperhidrosis?
Once you have seen your GP and ruled out any more serious health conditions, you can think about the next steps. Many people will try a high-strength antiperspirant before turning to Botox injections. If this doesn’t work, you may be a candidate for Botox.
At Sloan Dental, we offer full support for excessive sweating and hyperhidrosis. Our understanding team will guide you through the process, ensuring that you have realistic expectations of what can be achieved. We also provide a clean, safe and welcoming environment to make the entire process more pleasant.
If you’re ready to take control of your excessive sweating, get in touch with Sloan Dental today!
