Carolina Laser and Cosmetic Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina specializes in dermatology and cosmetic procedures, including Botox, Restylane, Perlane, Juvederm, Evolence, Dysport, Sculptra, Latisse eyelash treatment, liposuction, laser hair removal, laser tattoo removal, laser skin rejuvenation and wrinkle resurfacing and vein treatment (laser and sclerotherapy).

BOTOX® Cosmetic Treatment | BOTOX® Cosmetic to Control Excessive Sweating

BOTOX® Cosmetic is also used to control excessive sweating of the armpits and palms, and occasionally other parts of the body. About one person in 100 has a serious problem with excessive sweating in these areas. This usually starts in childhood or adolescence, and sometimes other family members have a similar problem. This kind of excess sweating is caused by a reflex reaction of the nervous system and is beyond voluntary control. This kind of excessive sweating is sometimes associated with stress or heat, but often there is no cause which can be identified.

There can be considerable emotional and social stigma attached to excessive sweating of the hands and armpits, and this can lead to a loss of confidence and self-esteem. For example, those afflicted with excessive sweating often feel that -- when people see big sweat marks under their arms or feel their sweaty palms -- they may decide that the individual is nervous or insincere, even when that is not the case.

Social engagements and simple things like physical contact with other people may be avoided because of uncontrollable sweating.

Patients afflicted with excessive sweatingcan routinely soak through clothing in a matter of minutes, and some patients have to use Kotex™ pads in their armpits, shields, absorbent tissues and frequent changes of clothing to cope with the disorder. Shirts and jackets can be quickly stained and ruined, and dry cleaning and replacement of clothing is sometimes a substantial expense.

Questions to ask yourself when considering BOTOX® Cosmetic treatment for excessive sweating include:

• Over the past week, how embarrassed or self-conscious have you been because of your sweating?
  
• Over the past week, how much has your sweating interfered with normal activities like shopping or looking after your home?
  
• Over the past week, how much has your sweating influenced the clothes you wear?
  
• Over the past week, how much has sweating affected any social or leisure activities?
  
• Over the past week, how much has sweating made it difficult for you to enjoy any sport?
  
• Over the past week, has your sweating interfered with working or studying?
  
• Over the past week, has your sweating created problems with your partner, friends or relatives?
  
• Over the past week, how much has your sweating created sexual difficulties or interfered with intimacy?

Individuals troubled by excessive sweating often do not respond adequately to antiperspirants, and they may not respond to (or be willing to tolerate) systemic medications, electrical treatments on the areas of excessive sweating, permanent destruction of the nerves which control sweating, or surgery (in the armpits) to either scrape away the sweat glands or to cut out the areas of excessive sweating.

BOTOX® Cosmetic treatment, by contrast with the above, is a simple office procedure with little discomfort or risk; and can be much less expensive than surgery. Some people will only want BOTOX® Cosmetic treatment before an important event (for example, a wedding). Others, whose sweating is mainly a problem during hot weather, may have BOTOX® Cosmetic treatment at the start of every summer. BOTOX® Cosmetic treatments can be safely continued year-round if necessary to maintain control of your sweating.

Before your BOTOX® Cosmetic treatment, a simple iodine solution will be applied to the area of excessive sweating. This solution is dried with a small fan, then powdered starch (of the sort found in most kitchens) is sprinkled on the area. Where there is excess sweating, the moisture of the sweat allows starch to combine with iodine, producing a dark blue color. This “starch-iodine” test indicates the precise areas of excess sweating, and allows us to concentrate the BOTOX® Cosmetic treatment where it is needed -- reducing both the number of injections and your costs.

The blue marks from the starch-iodine test will be wiped off after your BOTOX® Cosmetic treatment.

It is important NOT to apply any local anesthetic creams (for example, EMLA™) before your BOTOX® Cosmetic treatment for excessive sweating, because these local anesthetic creams interfere with the accuracy of the starch-iodine test.

When used to reduce sweating, BOTOX® Cosmetic is diluted to 25 units per ml (in order to increase the spread of BOTOX® Cosmetic around the treated area). Usually, 2 units of BOTOX® Cosmetic are injected every 1 - 1.5 cm in the area of excessive sweating identified by the starch-iodine test. When it is used to control excessive sweating, BOTOX® Cosmetic is injected into the top layer of the skin (where the sweat glands are) rather than into the muscles under the skin (as is the case when we are treating dynamic wrinkles, muscle tension headaches and some migraine headaches).

Treatment of the armpits is easy, and no anesthetic is needed. Both armpits can be treated at the same time.

A simple local nerve block is usually used before treatment of the hands, to ensure your comfort. Because there can sometimes be a bit of weakness of the treated hand for a week or two, it is generally best to treat one hand at a time. After several weeks, the other hand can be treated.

If small areas of troublesome sweating persist, they can be identified with a starch-iodine test for $75 and then treated at relatively low cost with BOTOX® Cosmetic when you return for follow-up several weeks later.

After BOTOX® Cosmetic treatment, excess sweating starts to decrease within a couple of days, and the full effect in reached in a week or two. The goal of BOTOX® Cosmetic is reduction of sweating to a normal level, but not total elimination of sweating to the point where the treated area becomes abnormally dry.

The effect of the BOTOX® Cosmetic treatment for excessive sweating usually lasts for 4-6 months, but in some cases can last for up to a year. Because you continue to sweat normally in other areas, there is no concern about overheating.

Patients usually report very high satisfaction with BOTOX® Cosmetic treatments, return for additional treatments, and would recommend BOTOX® Cosmetic treatments to their friends.

Dr Anne L. White, Carolina Laser and Cosmetic Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, has trained internationally in the latest techniques of cosmetic procedures, including Botox, Restylane, Perlane, Juvederm, Evolence, Dysport, Sculptra, Latisse, liposuction, laser hair removal, laser tattoo removal, laser skin rejuvenation and wrinkle resurfacing and vein treatment (laser and sclerotherapy).