Hyperhydrosis

What is Hyperhidrosis?

Hyperhidrosis is excessive sweating. Sweating is a natural phenomenon necessary for the regulation of an individual's body-temperature. It is one of the most important ways in which the body loses heat, however, people with hyperhidrosis produce sweat in amounts far greater than needed to control their temperature. It is thought that about 0.5% of the population (or about one person in 200) has some form of hyperhidrosis.

Hyperhydrosis can affect the face, palms, feet, armpits and less frequently the trunk and/or the thighs. Axillary Hyperhidrosis (hyperhidrosis of the armpits) can be embarrassing causing large wet marks and sometimes a white halo of salt from sweating on clothes. This is the area for which we provide treatment. Injections of botulinum toxin (type A) into the skin has been shown to be a very effective treatment for axillary hyperhidrosis. Side effects are rarely troublesome.

How Does The Treatment Work?

Small quantities of botulinum toxin are injected into the skin of the affected area. This blocks the action of the nerves that supply the eccrine glands stopping them from producing sweat. Although the nerve endings are blocked, new nerve endings will slowly grow to replace them. On average, treatment will take effect in about 3 to 7 days and this will usually last for 4 to 7 months which is when further treatment is required.

What Happens During The Treatment?

Using a very fine needle, a tiny amount of the solution is injected into the skin in about 10 to 15 places spaced about 1cm apart. Sometimes an iodine and starch test is used to locate the area where sweating is greatest. Treatment causes only mild discomfort and normally takes about 30 minutes.

Are There Any Side Effects?

In clinical trials a small number of patients experienced increased sweating in other parts of the body.

Although the injection is given into the skin it is possible that a small amount spreads into the nerves supplying the muscles. In clinical trials about 0.7% of patients reported a slight weakness in the arm when the armpit was treated. This did not last and got better without intervention.

Other reported side effects include mild 'flu-like symptoms (which lasted a few days) and slight discomfort at the injection site. There may also be slight bruising in the area treated.