Wet palms, frequent changing of shirts - the result of excessive sweating - known as hyperhydrosis, is always a state of embarrasment. Botox, a
Wet palms, frequent changing of shirts - the result of excessive sweating - known as hyperhydrosis, is always a state of embarrasment. Botox, a purified form of Botulinum toxin type A, is now a new found solution for treating hyperhydrosis.
Prescription antiperspirants and some pills might help to overcome this situation, but not all people are benefited from this situation. Hence for these people injecting purified botulinum toxin into the skin does a greater relief for such condition.Most sufferers "can find relief with prescription antiperspirants, special medicated powders, and other topical treatments," says Jim Baral, MD, who is a dermatologist at the American Dermatology Center in New York City and an assistant professor at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine. "There is even an oral drug called Robinul that can be used to stop excessive sweating, but it can have side effects like dry mouth. For a small number of patients, these options to not work. That's why we've started using Botox to treat people who don't respond to other medications."
It can stop sweat glands from over producing when nothing else works - when surgery is the only other option left.
"Botulinum toxin is a weakening agent, that, when injected, results in a chemical disconnection of the nerve, which is called chemodenervation," says Dr. Mitchell F. Brin, associate professor of neurology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City, who has worked with the toxin. "In our studies, botulinum toxin therapy has been effective in 70 to 80% of patients treated."
The effect of the drug starts at around 3 to 4 days and the effect lasts for about 3 to 4 months.
