Published on 2 July, 2021Hyperhidrosis is the overproduction of sweat; past the point of what is required to regulate body temperature. One in 20 people suffer with the condition, which commonly affects the hands, feet, scalp and underarms, causing a severe decrease in quality of life, and impacting both physical and mental wellbeing. The social stigma around sweating creates difficulty in personal relationships and a lack of confidence in professional settings. There are both non surgical and surgical options for treating hyperhidrosis.Our team of clinicians at The Sharp Clinics in Brisbane and Ipswich have treated many patients for hyperhidrosis. In this article she explains the non surgical options available, and how injectables can help.Non surgical treatments for hyperhidrosis include injectables, absorbent pads and the use prescription anti-perspirants, however the latter often only gives short term relief. Through research and studies, muscle relaxants have been found to be effective in the reduction of excessive sweating and are now at the forefront of popular treatment for patients who have tried less invasive options with poor results. The muscle relaxant product is carefully injected into the superficial layers of the skin in the area of concern to temporarily block the release of acetylcholine, which prevents the over stimulated sweat glands from producing excessive amounts of sweat. The American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery has found that “research demonstrates that when patients who have been unresponsive to topical anti-perspirants are injected with botulinum toxin, they experience a 75% reduction in sweating, an improvement in emotional and physical wellbeing, and a decrease in activity limitations without any serious adverse events”. How do the sweat injections work?Muscle relaxant injections for hyperhidrosis work by blocking the nerve signal to the sweat glands to inhibit the over production of sweat.How long do the injection results last?Depending on the area of the body treated, the reduction in sweating can last anywhere from four to six months. Some patients require multiple treatments, and rarely, some patients do not respond to the treatment which is why we recommend treating just one area to start and then gauging your body’s response or adjusting the dose. What areas can be treated?Most areas of the body can be treated but the treatment commonly involves the hands, face, feet, under arms and scalp. To book a consultation with our clinicians and find out if this treatment might be right for you, please call our friendly patient care team on 3202 4744.
