Can Botox Be Used for Excessive Underarm Sweating?

What Is Hyperhidrosis, and What Causes It?

The medical term for excessive sweating is hyperhidrosis. While sweating is normal, hyperhidrosis occurs when you have overactive sweat glands. This means that you could start sweating even with no particularly hot weather outside or when you're relaxing rather than hitting the gym.

On the bright side, hyperhidrosis does not pose any serious health concerns or come with other side effects. However, excessive sweating can become embarrassing and even uncomfortable. The most common body parts to experience excessive sweating include:

• Hands
• Feet
• Chest
• Underarms
• Head and face

You could experience hyperhidrosis in one or more parts of your body, depending on the type you experience and the cause behind it.

What Is Botox, and How Does It Work?

When you think of Botox, you probably think of an injection in the forehead that helps get rid of wrinkles. So, what does it have to do with hyperhidrosis? First, let's talk about what Botox actually is.

Botox refers to a neurotoxin, or more specifically, an injectable protein consisting of Botulinum toxin. When used for aesthetic reasons, Botox paralyzes the muscles in your face temporarily to smooth out wrinkles. But doctors also use this neurotoxin to treat various neuromuscular conditions like muscle spasms and migraines.

How does Botox help with excessive sweating? A Botox injection can mute the nerve impulses that lead to sweating. Essentially, the injection interrupts the nerve signals that your sweat glands typically receive, so you sweat less.

Can You Use Botox for Underarm Sweating?

You can sweat in multiple areas of your body, but underarm sweating is perhaps the most common and problematic. Excessive underarm sweat can cause increased body odor and discomfort, as well as leave you with damp shirts in the armpit area. Plus, no one wants to be constantly putting on deodorant throughout the day.

Fortunately, you can use Botox for excessive sweating in your underarms, but before you do, you’ll want to consider the pros and cons of doing so.

Pros

Many people use Botox to address hyperhidrosis in the underarms because of the following advantages:

• It's less invasive than getting surgery to treat the problem.
• It's generally safe when you get the treatment from a certified and experienced medical professional.
• The injection causes minimal pain.
• Noticeable results can take place just two weeks later.
• Insurance might help pay for the procedure, depending on whether you've tried other treatments and your policy coverage.

Cons

Like any procedure, Botox also has certain drawbacks that you should be aware of before scheduling an appointment:

• It can cause mild side effects or pain.
• You'll need follow-up injections every 7 to 16 months to maintain results.
• It can cost around $1,000 for injections in both underarms.

Can You Use Botox for Sweating in Other Parts of the Body?

If you experience excessive sweating in more than just your underarms, you might wonder if you can use Botox for other areas, too.

It's important to note that Botox only had FDA approval for treating underarm sweating, not excessive sweating in other parts of your body. Still, you can use Botox to address excessive sweating in other parts of the body.

Palms

If you have constantly sweaty hands, it may be worth getting a Botox injection. While Botox for palm sweating does not currently have FDA approval as a treatment, some studies suggest that the neurotoxin can reduce palm sweating by up to 50% for up to six months.

Face

We don't have as much research on how well Botox treats face sweating, but you can find qualified treatment providers who offer it and ask about other patients' experiences. Some studies found that Botox can help reduce sweating in the face for up to six months, with the most common side effect being forehead muscle paralysis.

Feet

Some people experience serious sweating on the soles of their feet. You might be able to treat this with a Botox injection. In a study with people between 12 and 17 years old, 73% of participants experienced satisfactory results when getting Botox injections for excessive foot sweating.

What a Botox Appointment Looks Like

If you decide to use Botox for underarm sweating, you should learn more about what to expect from your appointment. Let's talk about what you should do before, during, and after your Botox appointment.

Before the Appointment

Of course, the first step involves meeting with a qualified medical professional and talking about your concerns. If you want to get Botox for excessive underarm sweating, explain your concerns and struggles clearly and honestly with your treatment provider, and don't be afraid to ask questions.

To prepare for your appointment, your treatment provider will likely request that you wear short-sleeved shirts and avoid shaving your armpit for a few days before the procedure. You may also need to stop taking any blood thinners so you don't bruise at the injection site. Your doctor will tell you what medications to continue and which ones to stop before your Botox appointment.

During the Appointment

On the day of your appointment, your treatment provider may suggest wearing a dark-colored shirt to avoid potential staining. Luckily, the short procedure only lasts about 20 or 30 minutes.

Rather than receiving a single injection, you'll typically get between 15 and 20 around the armpit area (instead of all in the same injection site). Your doctor will use ink to mark the injection sites before starting (which explains why they suggest wearing a dark-colored shirt). Each quick injection uses a fine needle that goes just below your skin's surface to deliver the Botox.

Although most people tolerate this procedure pretty well and don't experience much pain, some still feel sensitive in the underarm area when it comes to injections. If you prefer, you can ask for a numbing agent to prevent any pain or discomfort during the procedure. However, these injections typically cause minor pain. Thanks to the minimally invasive nature of this procedure, you can go back to work or whatever else you have planned to do that day right after your appointment.

After the Appointment

You'll likely need to schedule a follow-up appointment with your treatment provider within the next few weeks. In the meantime, you could start noticing results in as little as four days, though the full effects won't appear until about two weeks later.

Right after the appointment, your underarms may feel a bit tender. To avoid potential irritation, you should wait to exercise or take a hot bath for one or two days and avoid using deodorant for 24 hours.

For underarms, the results can last between 7 and 16 months. Since this procedure only offers temporary results, you'll need to schedule follow-up appointments and injections to keep up with the results. You'll be able to discuss an ideal treatment schedule with your provider during your follow-up appointment.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Botox Treatment for Underarm Sweating?

Are you a good candidate for Botox treatments? Treatment providers generally recommend Botox to stop sweating for those who have tried other methods, like topical medications, and have yet to find a good solution.

To be a good candidate, you also need to be in good health and not have any allergies to any of the ingredients in the Botox injection, which your doctor will confirm with you before moving forward with the procedure. You should also have a hyperhidrosis diagnosis. Sweating is normal, and the Botox injection aims to help those who face excessive or abnormal amounts of sweating.

You should also have realistic goals for this treatment. Botox is not a cure or even a permanent solution to excessive sweating. Instead, it gives you temporary relief, and you'll need to schedule multiple treatments to maintain results.

Possible Side Effects of Getting Botox for Excessive Sweating

Although Botox injections offer promising results for those wanting to treat excessive sweating, they do have the potential to cause certain side effects. The most common include:

• Bruising
• Pain or tenderness at the injection site
• Redness or swelling
• Numbness
• Bleeding
• Headaches
• Flu-like symptoms

While these side effects are minor, some people, in rare cases, experience more serious issues like muscle weakness throughout the body, breathing struggles, impaired vision, and a loss of bladder control. Additionally, you may not even notice these side effects until a few hours, days, or weeks after your appointment.

Regardless of when you notice them, you should schedule an appointment with your doctor as soon as you notice any serious side effects or other adverse effects.

Put an End to Excessive Sweating With Ridgefield Aesthetics

Living with hyperhidrosis can be challenging, impacting not just your health but also your daily life and self-esteem. If you've navigated through various treatments with little success, it's time to explore a more lasting solution—Botox. According to the International Hyperhidrosis Society, an impressive 85% of individuals find significant relief from excessive sweating with Botox. This could be the breakthrough you've been seeking.

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Choosing Botox for underarm sweating offers a transformative benefit: the ability to significantly reduce, or even halt, sweat production in the underarms for an extended period of 10 to 12 months. Imagine the freedom and confidence of moving through your day without the worry of sweat marks or the inconvenience of frequent antiperspirant applications. This minimally invasive procedure, completed swiftly at our clinic, allows you to resume your daily activities immediately, with lasting effects that bring you comfort and peace of mind throughout the year.

However, informed decision-making is key. While Botox presents a promising solution, it's essential to weigh potential side effects like swelling or bruising at the injection site. At Ridgefield Aesthetics, we prioritize your informed consent and overall well-being. Specializing in cosmetic injectables, our team in Ridgefield, Connecticut, is here to guide you through every step, ensuring you have all the necessary information to make the best choice for your lifestyle and health.

When you're ready to take control and enjoy a life free from the constraints of excessive underarm sweating, reach out to Ridgefield Aesthetics. Our dedicated experts are eager to support you in achieving not just aesthetic goals but an enhanced quality of life. Contact us at 203-403-3833 to schedule your appointment and embark on a journey to lasting comfort and confidence with Botox for underarm sweating.