Arizona’s scorching summer temperatures make it inevitable to break a sweat. Releasing sweat is a body’s natural method of detoxifying, but how much is too much sweating? A small percentage of the population is seeking the popular noninvasive cosmetic procedure used to eliminate fine lines and wrinkles on the face, Botox, to eliminate excessive perspiration.
Hyperhidrosis, or excessive sweating is a medical issue leading many to shed up to $900 to $1,000 per treatment. Botox injections are not currently being used to eliminate sweating from every region of the body, though the Food and Drug Administration has solely approved the specific treatment of hyperhidrosis in the auxiliary glands, or armpits.
Dr. Babak Nafe, a Naturopathic Physician who specializes in general and aesthetic medicine at Rejuvena Health & Aesthetics is seeing more patients turn to Botox to relieve profuse armpit sweating rather than simply using prescribed medicated aluminum-based deodorants.
“The way it works is the same way it works in any other part of the body,” Nafe said. “It temporarily blocks the chemical signals that stimulate the nerves that are connected to the sweat glands.”
According to Dr. Nafe, a recent study demonstrated that 84 out 100 patients treated with Botox achieved greater than a 50 percent reduction in sweating.
Although Botox injections to eliminate excessive auxiliary sweating are not as common as using the treatment to diminish facial wrinkles, a small percentage of the population does face this problem. Prescription based deodorants do not always work on all patients leaving many individuals to suffer with the embarrassment of profuse sweating to the point where individuals become self-conscious.
“If they’re finding out that they have to constantly change their shirts, especially in the summer when it’s so hot to the point that they’re ruining their shirts or need to bring extra,” Dr. Nafe said. “Those kind of people would definitely be candidates to try it.”
Not everyone is a suitable candidate for the treatment. Individuals who suffer from diseases that may affect their muscles or nerves would not be eligible for this type of cosmetic procedure.
Each treatment consists of an iodine test to locate a patient’s sweat glands, followed by 15 to 20 injections in each armpit. The procedure usually takes about 20 minutes or less and the results will generally last about six to seven months. There is no recovery time necessary and patients will notice results 24 to 48 hours after their treatment.
As typical with any sort of cosmetic treatment, Botox injections come with side effects, such as allergic reactions, migraine beaches or rashes. Much like many cosmetic procedures, Botox used for this specific reason is not covered by medical insurance.
If excessive auxiliary perspiration is negatively impacting your life, Botox might be the ideal solution for you.
