Excessive sweating or hyperhidrosis can be a debilitating condition that can damage a person’s self-confidence and their relationships with others, as well as their clothes. And it’s a relatively common disorder – it’s thought that two to three per cent of us suffer to it to some degree.
Excessive sweating: Am I suitable?
There is actually a scale (called the Hyperhidrosis Disease Severity Scale) which is used to measure how serious excessive sweating is. A consultation is crucial to diagnose what’s behind it as it can be caused by a range of neurologic, metabolic or systemic diseases, but usually sufferers are otherwise healthy. Excessive sweating might be triggered by heat or emotional stresses, but some people suffer from the condition all the time. It is commonly located in the face, underarms, hands and feet.
Excessive sweating: What do I have to do to prepare?
There is no preparation necessary for this treatment.
Excessive sweating: What’s the treatment like?
Various topical and oral medications and surgical procedures have been developed to deal with hyperhidrosis but success has been limited. However, in recent years Botox has been used to successfully treat excessive sweating.
Botox works by blocking the nerve endings that supply the sweat glands. This is a temporary procedure as over the next six months the nerve endings will reattach.
Using a very fine needle, a small amount of Botox is injected into about 10 to 15 evenly spaced sites in the treatment area. It takes about 30 minutes in total.
Excessive sweating: What about after?
You should start noticing changes within a week of your treatment. There are varying levels of reduction of the hyperhidrosis reported, but on average it should be reduced by about 90 per cent for the duration of the treatment.
Excessive sweating: Are there any risks or side effects?
Side effects are rare with this treatment. You might be a bit red and swollen in the treatment area but this is very short-lived.
Excessive sweatingL What will it cost me?
Usually a bit more expensive than Botox used for wrinkle relaxing. Costs approximately £400 per session and it will last about six months at the very most.
