Botox®: A Solution for Excessive Underarm, Hand, Feet and Forehead Sweating

The most common form of hyperhidrosis is focal, or limited to the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, the underarms, or the face. It is estimated that 5.8 million Americans have problems related to focal hyperhidrosis. Do you suffer from underarm sweating so severe that it stains your clothing and makes you feel uncomfortable in certain social settings? Did you know that there is an answer to this problem?

Botox® is FDA-approved for severe underarm sweating when topical agents are not effective and is covered by many insurance plans for this purpose. Botox® temporarily blocks the chemical signals from the nerves that stimulate the sweat glands in the treated area and helps to control severe primary axillary hyperhidrosis, or severe underarm sweating.

In a clinical study of 322 patients evaluating the efficacy of Botox® treatment of severe underarm sweating, 55% of Botox® treated patients achieved an effective reponse compared to 6% of patients treated without Botox®. In addition, 81% of Botox® treated patients had a greater than fifty percent reduction in sweating compared to 41% treated without Botox®.

The treatment is straightforward and involves multiple injections with a fine needle of Botox® solution into the affected underarm area. A topical anesthetic cream is applied to the area prior to treatment for patient comfort. Results are noticed within a few days to four weeks of your first treatment. Botox® treatment is safe and is not a cure. The effects will gradually wear off and underarm sweating will resume. On average, a Botox® treatment for severe underarm sweating lasts six months, but you will know when you are due for another treatment as your symptoms return.

Sweaty hands and feet are often very embarrassing for patients and can increase anxiety and stress in both work and social situations. Botox® treatment can also successfully treat severe hand(palmar) and feet(plantar) sweating as well as sweating of the face.

If you feel you are a candidate for Botox® treatment for severe underarm, hand, feet or forehead sweating, please call the Juva Skin & Laser Center at 212-688-5882 to schedule an appointment.