What is hyperhydrosis?
Hyperhidrosis is a disorder that makes people sweat more than they need to. When the cause is unknown it's called primary hyperhidrosis. Hyperhidrosis can also be caused by an underlying condition (e.g., endocrine disorders, menopause, obesity, nerve damage) and by some drugs, although this is very uncommon. This is know as secondary hyperhidrosis.
When sweating occurs over the entire body, it is known as generalized hyperhidrosis. When sweating occurs in certain places only, it is know as focal hyperhidrosis. Most often, focal hyperhidrosis affects:
- Underarms (axillary hyperhidrosis)
- Hands (palmer hyperhidrosis)
- Feet (planter hyperhidrosis)
- Face (facial hyperhidrosis)
How serious is hyperhidrosis?
While not life-threatening, hyperhidrosis has significant impacts on quality of life and productivity. Excessive sweating can damage the skin, promote infection and cause unpleasant odours. These outcomes are undesirable from both a medical and social point of view. Excessive sweating can also be inconvenient and costly.
The science of hyperhydrosis.
Normally, the body produces sweat in orer to keep its temperature at a healthy level. Sometimes, for reasons scientists don't yet understand, the nerves controlling the sweat glands become overactive. The result is hyperhidrosis.
How hyperhidrosis is diagnosed.
Hyperhidrosis is diagnosed by your doctor after conducting a full medical history and a physical exam. Some tests may be required to help rule out other diseases.
If you suffer from excessive sweating, you are not alone. It's a conditions that affects millions of people worldwide. It is estimated that 2.8% of the population is affected by some form of hyperhidrosis.
There are a number of options for managing hyperhydrosis. These range from topical perparations to surgery. There is no single "right" way to treat hyperhydrosis. Everyone is different. If you have hyperhidrosis, you and your doctor need to discuss the option that best suits your situation.
Treatment options include:
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Focal injections: interrupting the signal from the nerve to the sweat glands.
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Topical treatments: applying aluminum chloride hexahydrate.
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Oral medications: treating the underlying conditions.
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Iontophoresis: applying low-intensity electric current to affected areas.
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| Surgery: severing the nerves that cause excess sweating. |
BOTOX® is highly effective.
BOTOX® is an effective way to treat excessive sweating. In one study of excessive underarm sweating, 95% of patients responded to the treatment with an average reduction in sweating of 83% in one week.
Plus, the effect is long lasting. On average, each treatment will effectively reduce sweating for seven months.
BOTOX® is the only prescription medicine approved by Health Canada for the treatment of axillary hyperhidrosis - which means it is deemed safe and effective when used correctly by a specially trained doctor.
BOTOX® is also safe
BOTOX® is very safe. For the treatment of excessive underarm sweating, the only drug-related side effect is a perceived increase in sweating in other parts of the body, which happens in only 4.5% of cases.
BOTOX® has been used for many years to treat other diseases. It is approved by Health Canada to treat muscle spasms affecting the eyes, neck and limbs. BOTOX® is also used to relieve muscle spasm in children as young as two with cerebral palsy. The long-term safety of the drug is well proven.
What does a BOTOX® treatment involve?
The procedure is simple. A small amount of the drug is injected intradermally to the affected area using a very find needle. That means the needle is placed just under the skin and the discomfort is, therefore, quite minimal. You may also opt for some local anaesthetic cream if you are concerned about needles.
BOTOX® works by blocking the chemical signal from the nerve to the target tissue, which in the case of hyperhidrosis is the sweat gland. As the overactive nerve no longer stimulates the sweat gland, the sweating stops. Since the drug only works in the area where it is injected, sweat glands in other parts of the body function normally. There is no risk of getting overheated.
You should notice a signigicant reduction of sweating in the treated areas within a week of your treatment.
For more information about hyperhidrosis and
how to manage your symptoms,
Contact Lasermed.
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