What is Hyperhidrosis?
Hyperhidrosis is excessive sweating that’s not always related to heat or exercise. It can soak through clothes or into bed linens. Hyperhidrosis often causes physical discomfort and social anxiety. The body uses sweat for temperature control, but hyperhidrosis goes beyond normal, functional sweating.
Effective Solutions for Excessive Sweating are Here
Excessive sweating from the armpits and other areas of the body can be uncomfortable and embarrassing. The condition known as hyperhidrosis is believed to affect as many as 15.3 million Americans—that’s 4.8% of the U.S. population! So, this condition is more common than you might have thought.
Fortunately, there are practical solutions to hyperhidrosis. Which hyperhidrosis treatment is right for you will depend on the cause of your excessive sweating, its severity, and what areas of your body are affected, among other things.
OK, How Can I Stop My Excessive Sweating (Hyperhidrosis)?
Excessive sweating is uncomfortable, inconvenient, and embarrassing. Less serious cases can sometimes be alleviated with lifestyle modifications (e.g., stress reduction and avoiding spicy foods). However, most cases usually call for proactive hyperhidrosis treatment.
Fortunately, there are several options for treating it. Some, like clinical-strength antiperspirants and anticholinergic drugs (e.g., glycopyrrolate), may be used in combination with each other.
Others, like Botox injections or sympathectomy surgery, are so effective that there is no need to combine them with other hyperhidrosis treatments. When antiperspirants and lifestyle changes don’t do the trick—the preferred treatment for excessive sweating today is Botox.
Options for treating excessive sweating include:
- Lifestyle changes
- Botox injections
- Clinical strength antiperspirants
- Anticholinergic drugs
- Iontophoresis (electrical currents)
- Sympathectomy surgery
Why is Botox the Treatment of Choice for Excessive Sweating?
Botox treatment for excessive sweating offers the best results with the least discomfort and inconvenience. Clinical research has proven Botox highly effective in treating hyperhidrosis. It also avoids the inconvenience and other downsides of medication and the risks associated with any surgery.
Iontophoresis applies electrical currents to block nerve signals to sweat glands like Botox does, except it requires more sessions and is not precisely targeted. The sweat-reducing results of Botox treatment for hyperhidrosis also outlast those from iontophoresis. These factors combine to make Botox the most attractive option whenever possible.
Botox is the optimal hyperhidrosis treatment for most people because:
- It can be administered in a convenient outpatient setting.
- It is highly effective, delivering an average 82-87% decrease in sweat production.
- Botox for excess sweating often only requires one session every 6-12 months.
- Botox requires fewer sessions and lasts longer than iontophoresis.
- Botox avoids the risk and recovery period of surgical options.
What Causes Hyperhidrosis?
There are several different potential causes of hyperhidrosis or excessive sweating. Sometimes, an underlying medical condition, like diabetes, or its symptoms can trigger hyperhidrosis. Sometimes, hyperhidrosis happens because the body’s perspiration reaction is overstimulated by errant nerve signals, and there is no underlying condition or ailment to blame.
Hyperhidrosis diagnoses fall under two main categories:
1 – Primary (idiopathic) Hyperhidrosis:
Primary hyperhidrosis results from abnormal nerve signals, leading to excessive sweating in areas like palms, soles, and underarms. While genetics play a role, there’s no specific medical cause. Primary hyperhidrosis is the most common of the two types.
2 – Secondary Hyperhidrosis:
Secondary hyperhidrosis is excessive sweating caused by another medical condition or medication.
Health conditions that can trigger secondary hyperhidrosis include:
- Diabetes
- Hot flashes
- Thyroid issues
- Battling an infection
Medications that can cause or contribute to secondary hyperhidrosis include:
- SSRI and tricyclic antidepressants
- Opioid pain medications (oxycodone, fentanyl, etc.)
- Some antibiotics and antiviral medicines
Is Botox Treatment for Excessive Sweating Safe?
Hyperhidrosis treatment with Botox is arguably one of the safest clinical approaches to treating excessive sweating. This treatment avoids the risks and recovery time of surgical solutions to sweating the inconvenience of medications, and it’s more effective than iontophoresis. Like any procedure involving medication, there are some reaction risks. Still, these can generally be avoided by giving us a complete list of medications you are taking before your visit.
Expert Hyperhidrosis Treatment in Boca Raton
At The Herschthal Practice, our state-of-the-art hyperhidrosis treatment is offered on a convenient outpatient basis. Why allow excessive sweating to cause discomfort and concern ever again? Your solution is just a phone call away.
In addition to the very latest in aesthetic dermatological practices, we are also proud to offer an exceptional selection of body and skincare products curated by Dr. Herschthal personally.
To schedule a consultation or ask about our services, please call us at (561) 391-9200 or follow this link to book your consultation.
