Using Botox to Treat Underarm Sweating
By Paula Young | Published on August 12, 2010 | 0 Comments
If you’re like most people, then you probably tend to sweat a bit when you’re faced with certain trying situations, such as humid weather, potentially painful medical procedures, or even pressure-filled work deadlines. Sweating, even at a moderate level, can be embarrassing and just plain uncomfortable. After all, there’s nothing like the feeling of going about your day while having to make certain not to reach upwardly for fear of revealing your slightly, yet noticeably moist armpits.
Clearly, even a modest amount of sweating can cause a person to change his habits and feel self-conscious. Unfortunately, there are some people out there whose bodies cause them to take the concept of sweating to a whole new level. Due to a condition called hyperhidrosis, some have no choice but to face the side effects of excessive sweating on a daily basis.
The problem with excessive sweating is that it can truly wreak havoc on one’s self-esteem. Imagine that you’re trying to get a new job. You’re bound to be nervous as you approach your first interview, but what if you had a condition that caused you to start sweating profusely from the moment you walked through your dream company’s door? For some people, this hypothetical scenario is actually a life-ruining reality.
Excessive sweating can make otherwise normal activities such as socializing and dating seem impossible or undesirable. From a career-related perspective, those who can’t control their sweating will often times have no choice but to shy away from jobs involving teamwork and public presentations. While there are some prescription-strength antiperspirants on the market that can work for those who sweat excessively in the underarm area, these products are not always effective. For this reason, more and more sufferers of underarm sweating are turning to medical spas for a new way of treating this troublesome problem – Botox.
How does Botox treat underarm sweating?
Paula Young is the staff nurse and co-owner of Allentown, Pennsylvania’s Young Medical Spa, a full-service facility offering everything from laser hair removal to body sculpting and shaping, and according to her, Botox is one of the newest and most successful options for treating excessive underarm sweating. The process works by isolating an affected patient’s most active sweat glands and injecting them with Botox. Since Botox is a paralyzing agent, it renders overactive sweat glands incapable of producing sweat.
While this type of treatment for extreme underarm perspiration may sound unconventional, the FDA has actually granted its seal of approval for Botox as a means of preventing excessive sweating. As a result, more and more health insurance providers are offering coverage for Botox treatment provided that it is being used to combat sweating problems (but don’t expect your insurance company to suddenly start covering those wrinkle-zapping injections). Considering that Botox isn’t very cheap, the fact that insurance companies recognize it as a valid form of hyperhidrosis treatment is what makes it possible for some patients to consider this solution.
How effective is Botox at treating underarm sweating?
According to Young, patients who come in for this type of treatment tend to leave satisfied with the results. Of course, a single Botox session will only last for so long, and patients looking to keep those sweating episodes at bay will need to return every four to six months for follow-up treatments. Additionally, many who have undergone Botox in the past will agree that the process is somewhat uncomfortable. However, if given the choice between facing a series of injections or dealing with excessive underarm sweating on a regular daily basis, most patients would gladly opt for the former.
Although the FDA has approved Botox as a means of treating underarm sweating, it does not endorse the use of Botox for combating sweating in other areas of the body, such as the palms and soles of the feet. Unfortunately, for those whose problem areas fall outside of the armpits, you may have to resort to oral medications or even surgery for effective treatment. On the other hand, only time will tell as to whether or not Botox will one day gain FDA approval for treatment of hyperhidrosis on a whole. Until then, those who suffer with excessive underarm sweating can at least take comfort in the fact that Botox is available to them.
*Disclaimer: The information on this website is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.