Use Botox injections for treatment of excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis)
You may be familiar with the medication known as Botox. Many associate this medication with the treatment of fine lines and wrinkles on the face, and it is used as an antiaging solution for adult men and women. However, Botox has other uses. Botox is not just for cosmetic purposes; these injections can be used to treat hyperhidrosis, also known as “excessive sweating.” Our team at Skinprovement Dermatology New York, New York, can help you find out.
How can Botox be used for excessive sweating?
Patients who have been diagnosed with hyperhidrosis, dealing with embarrassing sweating no matter the temperature, are often interested in talking to a dermatologist at Skinprovement of New York, New York, about their options for treatment. Botox injections are one way to reduce or eliminate sweating in the underarms. Botox is a neuromodulator formulated with Botulinum toxin type A that can reduce sweating in the armpit area. Within one week of injections, patients will notice a significant reduction in the amount of sweat they experience from the underarms for up to one year after the initial injections. To maintain the results, most patients come into the office twice a year for additional treatments to keep their sweating problems at bay!
Treatments for Hyperhydrosis at SkinProvement Dermatology New York - Dr. Stephen Comite
What is Hyperhydrosis?
This is Dr. Stephen Comite of Skinprovement Dermatology in Midtown Manhattan. Hyperhidrosis is a very common but often overlooked medical condition in which people get excessive sweating, mainly in three areas.
The most common area is the underarms or the armpits; the second is the hands, and the third is the feet. Sometimes people get excessive sweating on the forehead, but this is less common.
What are the signs of hyperhidrosis?
This condition is so distressing to many patients because if it’s under the arms, they often have to change clothes several times daily.
If the sweating is in the hands, they find it difficult to hold hands, use computers and write with a pen.
If the sweating is in their feet, It’s hard to wear shoes, sandals, or anything on their feet. Often people have to wear socks and change them multiple times daily.
What causes hyperhidrosis?
Patients ask what’s the cause of hyperhidrosis, and while we don’t know the cause, we do know it often runs in the family.
Our estimates are that at least 3% to 4% of people in the United States have hyperhidrosis or increased sweating in one or more locations.
What treatments are available for hyperhidrosis?
The treatment for hyperhidrosis depends upon how bothersome it is to an individual patient and where excessive sweating occurs.
We can benefit our patients by prescribing some new topical medications available. Another treatment that I very often use is Botox in the area.
This is much longer lasting, so instead of using the medication daily, Botox can work for an average of about six months.
The range for how Botox work can be three months, and I have seen it last as long as approximately a year.
These Botox treatments have been performed for at least 15 years, and in many patients, the improvement in quality of life is just dramatic.
Feel free to give us a call and learn more about treatment available for hyperhidrosis.
What are some alternative options for the treatment of hyperhidrosis?
This embarrassing condition can be addressed in more than one manner. Dr. Stephen Comite can evaluate your needs and find out if you might be a candidate for another type of treatment, such as:
- Topical medications
- Oral medications
- Iontophoresis
- Surgery
- Biofeedback
Many of these have pros and cons, so learning about your options and educating yourself further on them can assist you in making the right choice for your unique needs.
How do I learn more about Botox injections for the treatment of hyperhidrosis?
To discuss your solutions further with our team, call our New York, NY area practice at (212) 933-9490 to schedule an appointment at our office at 110 East 40th Street, Suite #402.
We are always accepting new and current patients into our office for dermatological care.
Alternative treatments that are available for your condition are topical and oral medications, iontophoresis (use of an electric device), surgery, biofeedback, and thoracic sympathectomy (cutting of nerves in the chest). The benefits and risks associated with the use of these treatments will be discussed with you.
Side effects you may experience include soreness and pain at the injection site. If your hands or feet are treated, you may develop weakness of the injected muscle and neighboring muscles which may last several months, numbness and bruising, hematoma (collection of blood) and local pain from the injection.
There may be continuation of sweating in areas that had not been treated such as the sides of finger and outer aspects of thenar eminence (near the thumb). Although these procedures have been described for over 10 years, other side effects may also occur that are not as yet known. In addition, the long-term effect of Botox® is not known although Botox® has been safely used for over 15 years.
You cannot have Botox® treatments if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.
Because of his expertise, our dermatologist is a consultant for Allergan, the manufacturers of Botox® Cosmetic. In addition, our dermatologist has been quoted about Botox® Cosmetic in a major daily New York City newspaper. Our dermatologist has recently co-authored a paper on the topic of increased sweating or hyperhidrosis; this paper was published in a peer-reviewed dermatology medical journal.
While Botox®, which is a genetically engineered product, is approved by the FDA for the treatment of excessive sweating in the underarms and it has been used by doctors for excessive sweating elsewhere on the body in the past few years. The FDA recognizes the common practice among physicians to use FDA approved drugs in their professional discretion in so-called “off label” uses.
Just call our office at (212) 933-9490 or e-mail us anytime and set up a Botox for Sweating Consultation. If time permits and you qualify for this procedure, we may be able to begin treatment on the day of your consultation.
