Botox for sweating ?
If sweating is keeping you from doing things like yoga, READ BELOW
Do you suffer from sweaty hands, underarms or even feet? Does this affect your daily living? Do you feel self-conscious when you have to shake someone’s hand or do you always keep your arms down?
If this is you, PHI has a solution!
Botox is mainly known for it’s cosmetic purposes, but did you know it was originally developed to treat certain medical conditions? Botox was discovered in 1977 and then approved for use in 1989 to treat strabismus (a vision condition in which a person cannot align both eyes simultaneously under normal conditions). Soon after, Botox was used to treat uncontrolled blinking (blepharospasm) and muscular spasm or movement disorders (such as cervical dystonia and torticollis). What doctors then discovered was slightly unintentional, but fascinating - Botox caused a reduction in fine lines and wrinkles. At PHI Medical Aesthetics, we use Botox to treat fine lines/wrinkles, migraines, TMJ and hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating).
Sweating is an important bodily function as it prevents us from overheating and regulates our body temperature. Hyperhidrosis is a disorder that causes the body to sweat more than it needs to maintain optimal body temperature. According to The Canadian Dermatology Association, “Hyperhidrosis affects work productivity, confidence, social comfort, emotional well being and wardrobe choices. Studies show that hyperhidrosis impacts quality of life similar to or even greater than other well-known dermatological conditions, such as severe acne or psoriasis. It has also been shown that only 38% of hyperhidrosis sufferers talk to a health care professional about their condition. People rarely seek help because many are unaware that excessive sweating is a treatable medical disorder.” Many patients we see express these exact concerns and often times anti-perspirant just isn’t enough.
How does Botox work in treating hyperhidrosis?
Botox is an effective treatment in helping patients who suffer from hyperhidrosis, most commonly to the axillary (underarm) area. Instead of working within the muscles, Botox targets the sweat glands by intercepting the body’s signal to secret sweat. It will not prevent sweating to the entire body and will not affect other areas that has not been treated. The goal is just to reduce the amount sweating, as your body still needs to sweat . As with cosmetic Botox, a hyperhidrosis treatment can be more effective in some patients than others. Expect the treatment to last for 3-4 months, while some lucky patients may enjoy the results for 6 months or more.
Who is a good candidate?
Must be 18 years or older
Must not be pregnant or breastfeeding
Must be in overall good health
You have explored other options in managing your hyperhidrosis. These include: prescription anti-perspirant, oral medications, sweat proof clothing etc.
What to expect during treatment?
After your consultation, the treatment itself will take approximately 20 minutes. To keep you comfortable, a topical numbing cream will be applied to the treatment areas (underarms, hands or feet). Botox is then injected directly into the areas. The typical dose for underarms is 50 units-100 units per side and hands/feet is 50 units per side. FYI - Therapeutic Botox treatment can be covered under certain health plans and benefits.
Call us at 403-930-8677 to book your complimentary consultation or to find out details on how it can be covered under your health plan.