How to Treat Excessive Sweating

Throughout a normal day, you find yourself dripping sweat from your hands or sweating so much that it soaks through your clothes, creating visible sweat stains. You aren’t overly hot or participating in strenuous activities, but you still find yourself excessively sweating.

You’re experiencing a condition known as hyperhidrosis. Fortunately, you have options for effectively managing this condition. Here’s what you should know about treating excessive sweating.

What is Hyperhidrosis?

Hyperhidrosis is a condition where you experience high levels of sweating. Your excessive sweating isn’t necessarily related to being overheated or physical activity.

Some people sweat excessively only from a specific body part (such as the feet, hands, underarms, or face); this is known as focal hyperhidrosis.

Individuals with hyperhidrosis usually feel embarrassed or self-conscious about their sweating, especially in romantic, professional, or social situations.

Large amounts of sweating also make many patients more prone to suffering from skin infections.

What Causes Hyperhidrosis?

Occasionally, hyperhidrosis is caused by a medical condition or medical event that triggers the excessive sweating, like diabetes, hot flashes associated with menopause, a heart attack, an infection, cancer, or thyroid problems.

If you’re suddenly sweating significantly more than normal, contact your doctor to ensure you’re not experiencing a medical event that’s triggering the sweating.

However, much of the time, there’s no underlying condition causing chronic cases of hyperhidrosis. The patient is otherwise healthy but experiences overactive sweat glands

Sometimes, excessive sweating is related to stress or nervousness, but there’s often no clear reason for their overactive sweat glands.

How Can You Treat Hyperhidrosis?

Typically, sweat levels from hyperhidrosis are so excessive that they don’t respond to over-the-counter anti-perspirants. Prescription anti-perspirants may offer some relief, but many cases of hyperhidrosis don’t sufficiently improve with regular use of these products.

Conventional hyperhidrosis treatments focus on destroying or removing the sweat glands. These treatments are often expensive and not widely accessible.

A more effective, affordable way to treat hyperhidrosis is to use Botox injections to reduce levels of excessive sweating. Your practitioner will strategically place the injections where you experience high levels of sweating. The Botox prevents your body from creating a chemical that activates your sweat glands.

The FDA even approved Botox injections specifically for treating hyperhidrosis that impacts the armpits (referred to as axillary hyperhidrosis).

Are Botox Injections a Long-Term Solution for Hyperhidrosis?

Botox injections for excessive sweating can last for up to a year before you’ll need to repeat the treatment.

One study found that 4 weeks after receiving injections, most (82 percent) of the participants had a 75 percent reduction in their sweating. By the third treatment, 79 percent of participants were continuing to experience lower levels of sweating.

To maintain these results over the next couple of years, 94 percent of individuals needed 4 or less injections, making Botox an effective solution for extended hyperhidrosis management.

Are There Any Side Effects of Using Botox to Manage Hyperhidrosis?

The main side effects of using Botox to treat hyperhidrosis are related to the injections. You may experience swelling, bruising, and soreness for a couple weeks after your appointment.

It’s possible you might have temporary weakness of the muscles in your treatment site.

What Can You Expect During Your Procedure?

Your practitioner will first apply a numbing cream to your injection sites. After cleansing the area, they’ll administer multiple injections using a small needle.

You’ll typically begin seeing results within a week, but it usually takes a couple weeks to obtain your full results.

There’s minimal downtime after your injections, and you can usually resume your normal activities the same day. You may need to avoid vigorous activity for a couple days to make sure you Botox doesn’t migrate to another location.

Who’s a Good Candidate for Botox Injections?

If your hyperhidrosis is interfering with your quality of life and making it uncomfortable for you to be around other people, you’re a terrific candidate to use Botox injections to decrease your excessive sweating.

Postpone your Botox injections if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding. Botox may not be a suitable treatment if you have a neuromuscular disorder.

Individuals who experience excessive sweating in specific locations are likely to have the best results managing their hyperhidrosis with Botox injections.

If you’re taking blood thinners or other medications the contribute to excessive bruising, you’ll need to stop taking them a few days before your appointment.

How to Schedule Botox Injections for Excessive Sweating in Encino

Botox injections are an effective, affordable way to reduce excessive sweating associated with hyperhidrosis. The procedure is safe, simple, and offers lasting results.

Contact Glow Aesthetic Center in Encino to schedule a free consultation!