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Hyperhidrosis
What is hyperhidrosis?
Hyperhidrosis is excessive sweating caused by overactive eccrine sweat glands, which are most frequently found in arm pits or palms.
How common is hyperhidrosis?
Hyperhidrosis usually affects people in their teens and twenties and 1 in 200 people on average are approximately affected.
What causes hyperhidrosis?
The cause of hyperhidrosis is not really known though many people have relatives with a similar problem, suggesting there may be a genetic cause. It can be associated with other illnesses such as hyperthyroidism or diabetes, and is usually ‘generalised’ hyperhidrosis affecting the entire body.
What treatments are available?
Self help measures include wearing clothes made from natural
fibres, ensuring surroundings are cool and well aired, avoiding
alcohol, tea, coffee and spicy foods, avoiding stress and tension
and attention to personal hygiene, by taking frequent showers.
Aluminium Hydroxide based anti-perspirants can be used, but these
have to be used regularly and can cause skin irritation. Some
sufferers require surgery in the form of endoscopic cervical
sympathectomy.
A less invasive, but very effective, treatment is to inject
Botulinum Toxin Type A into the armpits.
How does Botulinum Toxin Type A work?
Botulinum Toxin Type A is licensed for severe underarm sweating that is not adequately managed with topical agents. Botulinum Toxin Type A treatment helps control this condition by temporarily blocking the chemical signals from the nerves that stimulate the eccrine sweat glands. When the sweat glands don't receive chemical signals, the severe sweating stops.
How soon does the treatment work and how long does the effect last?
You should notice an improvement within the first week after
treatment and a significant reduction in underarm sweating within 4
weeks of your first treatment. There is a possibility that some
sweat glands may be missed, and you may continue to experience some
sweating from the untreated areas. If you do not see a significant
reduction in sweating, you should contact your healthcare provider
and request a follow-up consultation.
The treatment lasts on average between 4 and 7 months.
Are there any side effects?
Side effects are generally infrequent. Mostly commonly there may be some discomfort at the injection site. Rarely, flu-like symptoms may occur. These effects usually disappear within a few days. There may be an increase in sweating in other parts of the body and even more rarely there maybe slight muscle weakness. These effects tend to disappear within 4 months and without requiring any additional treatment.
Who is not suitable to have Botulinum Toxin Type A treatment?
It is not suitable for people with neuromuscular transmission disorders (e.g. Myasthenia Gravis), chronic respiratory problems, coagulation disorders or people of are on warfarin (We would need to discuss this with the patient first), pregnant women, breastfeeding mums, if there is a history of allergy to injection ingredients, if there is infection or inflammation over the injection site or if the person is taking any of the following medications - aminoglycoside antibiotics, anticoagulants, aspirin or muscle relaxants.
How much does it cost?
For both arm pits or both palms, the procedure including
consultation would take up to 1 hour and cost £450.
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