We at Philosophy of Beauty understand the anxiety and discomfort caused by hyperhidrosis and are pleased to offer a non-surgical treatment to help.
Hyperhidrosis is defined as excessive sweating that goes beyond regulating body temperature and that is not related to heat or exercise. This condition has been found to affect approximately 3% of the world’s population and at least 900,000 Canadians. Though sweating is a natural cooling process for the body, hyperhidrosis occurs without natural triggers. This means that there is automatic overstimulation of the sweat glands. Generally, hyperhidrosis is classified into two types of causes.
Primary Idiopathic Hyperhidrosis: Sweating caused by an unknown origin or trigger. It is usually in local areas, such as the hands, feet, or underarm.
Secondary hyperhidrosis: Sweating caused by an underlying condition such as obesity, menopause, diabetes, or hyperthyroidism. It is often noted that the whole body is affected.
Most patients that struggle with Hyperhidrosis share common signs and symptoms which include:
- Clammy or wet palms of the hands
- Clammy or wet soles of the feet
- Frequent sweating
- Noticeable sweating that soaks through clothing
- Painful, irritated skin that could lead to bacterial or fungal infections
There are several treatment options available for hyperhidrosis, including topical aluminum chloride, and oral medication. Unfortunately, until recently, there was no effective treatment with long-term results, except for surgical treatments that involve cutting the sympathetic nerve fibers that control sweating. Fortunately, new research has shown that botulinum toxin or Botox is an effective, non-surgical, and long-term treatment for hyperhidrosis. Botox is also Health Canada and FDA-approved for axillary treatment. Botox works by temporarily blocking the chemical signals for the nerves that stimulate your sweat glands. After treatment, the sweat gland that has been overstimulated stops receiving signals and slows down as a result, causing you to produce much less moisture. Once the sweat glands no longer receive chemical signals severe perspiration has been shown to reduce by over 80%.
Treating hyperhidrosis with Botox is considered an outpatient procedure with little to no downtime. Most patients are able to go back to work or continue with their daily activities as they wish. Upon arriving for your appointment, the targeted area will be cleaned with an antiseptic solution. You will then receive a topical numbing treatment and finally, with a very fine needle, the specialist will carefully begin a series of quick, shallow injections. The product is injected just below the surface of the skin in the axillary (underarm) area in a grid pattern, approximately 1 to 2 centimeters apart. Keep in mind that due to the procedure being injections, tiny pinpricks may be felt causing slight discomfort. In total the treatment typically takes 10-20 minutes to perform. Though Botox is generally safe for most people be sure to consult with your primary care provider to ensure this is the most effective treatment for you.
Most people report that results last up to six months. However, some patients have reported that they have seen results last up to a year. The duration of the results varies from person to person. The success rate can also be dependent on other variables, such as the individual’s age, metabolism, and how many treatments they have received. Most patients schedule maintenance treatments every six months to maintain treatment success and prevent excess sweating from returning.
Botox is a simple and fast way to help alleviate the stress and embarrassment of hyperhidrosis. Most other treatments provide short-term relief, but Botox has proven to provide relief for an average of six months.
The days of embarrassment and having to change into more than one shirt in a day are over. Let the specialists at Philosophy of Beauty help you reclaim your self-confidence.