Frequently Asked Questions
– Excessive sweating
What causes underarm sweating?
Hyperhidrosis is the medical term for excessive
sweating and when it occurs in the underarm
skin it is called "axillary hyperhidrosis."
This is caused by stimulation of the eccine
sweat glands by the nerve endings which are
the final nerve pathways from higher centres
in the brain. These nerves respond to different
kinds of stress: emotional stress like intimate
social situations or public speaking, or physical
stress like the increased body temperature that
comes with exercise or hot and humid weather.
Some people are routinely troubled
by excessive sweating whilst others are only
bothered when they are under emotional stress,
physically active or over-heated. The nerves
that control sweating depend upon a chemical
transmitter called acetylcholine which is a
molecule produced at the very ends of the nerve
fibres. Botulinum Toxin is a genetically engineered
neurotoxin which can, when injected into the
skin, block the release of the acetylcholine
to the sweat glands for months!
Who are good candidates
for muscle relaxing injections?
• People with problem underarm sweating
• Those working close to others such as
hairstylists, nurses, dentists and hygienists,
airline flight attendants, pilots and surgeons
• People working in hot conditions such
as models, television newscasters and chefs
• People making public presentations such
as executives, lawyers and salesmen
• People who have ruined their clothes
on special occasions such as weddings
How is Botulinum Toxin
used?
After performing a harmless and painless starch test to locate the sweat glands, a very small needle is used to inject small amounts of Botulinum Toxin into the skin of the underarms in approximately 12 to 15 places on each underarm. Heavy physical exercise should be avoided for several hours, but patients may engage in any normal activity.
When will treatment take
effect?
Your underarm sweating will decrease to 95%
within 48 hours and the full effect will be
seen within 1 week. Along with the sweating,
there is a simultaneous disappearance of odour
associated with the decreased sweating.
How long does the treatment
last?
Most patients will obtain 5-6 months of dryness
with one treatment.
What are the risks and
complications?
The only complications from injection into the
axillary skin are some tiny bruises that are
occasionally seen. These fade in a few days
and occasionally small persistent areas of sweating
that may need a second treatment session. There
is no risk of muscle weakness, numbness or permanent
change in the axillary skin.
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