Are you not sure about the effectiveness of Botox for sweating armpits? What? You had never heard about this kind of treatment before? It’s Ok, most of us are not familiar with the non-cosmetic applications of Botox – a neurotoxin widely used to eliminate fine lines and wrinkles from face and around the neck.
Botox, brand name for a naturally occurring neurotoxin Botulinum toxin type A, released by the bacterium Clostridium Botulinum, no doubt got much of fame after being introduced in Aesthetic Medicine at the start of 21st century (2002), but it has been around since late 1980s. This maybe another news of the day for you, but the reality is that Botox has a long history in ophthalmology, as it has been used to treat spastic eyelid disorders ever since it got FDA’s approval in late 1980s.
A few years ago the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved this neurotoxin to treat hyperhidrosis – a neurological disorder in which a person’s sweat glands become overactive and start producing sweat even when there is no need to. This condition can affect any region of body, but three most commonly affected areas include the armpits, soles of feet and palms of hands. Doctors all over the world have been successfully using Botox to alleviate excessive sweating symptoms ever since it got FDA’s approval.
It is pertinent to mention here that FDA has approved Botox to treat armpit sweating only after every other treatment has failed to offer significant relief. To determine whether you are a candidate for Botox sweating armpits, your practitioner will perform starch test, and will go ahead only if the color changes. Once it has been determined that you are a candidate for hyperhidrosis treatment through Botox, the toxin will be injected at 10 to 15 evenly distributed spots in the armpits.
The toxin works by clinging itself to the nerve endings transmitting chemicals signals to the sweat glands. When the connection between the glands and the central nervous system is broken, sweat production is reduced considerably – by up to 80 per cent. The entire procedure takes less than an hour to complete, and the best thing about it is that there no downtime associated. You can drive home immediately after getting the Botox shots.
Effect of treatment can be seen after 48 to 72 hours, but it reaches its peak only after 7 to 10 days. Longevity of effectiveness varies from one individual to another, but generally it lasts for 6 to 8 months. Some patients do not need a reinjection for as long as a year.
So if armpit sweating is embarrassing you at work place as well as in your social gathering then get the Botox shots today and stay dry for months.