Δερματολογια – Πλαστικη Χειρουργικη
Hyperhidrosis
Hyperhidrosis Treatments
In the Palms, Soles and Armpits!
The normal increased secretion of sweat occurs only at times when our body is in conditions of intense stress, intense exercise or increased temperature. Hyperhidrosis is a disorder appearing in the armpits, palms and soles when the body produces sweat at times when there is no reason. It is estimated to affect around 2-3% of the world's population and this practically means that millions of people around the world experience excessive sweating, beyond what is considered normal.
Excessive sweating has a significant impact on a person's quality of life, causing anxiety, discomfort and social embarrassment, limiting many of their daily activities. Therefore you can imagine the relief that these persons feel when they hear that the medical application of Botox provides a solution to their problems, painlessly and within 1 week of its application.
| Treatment Time | 15 minutes |
| Duration of Result | 4-6 months |
| Pain Level | Painless |
| Anaesthesia | Topical Anaesthetic Cream |
| Result is Visible | In 2 weeks |
| Recovery Time | None |
What is Hyperhidrosis?
Sweat is a transparent liquid, produced by the sweat glands of the skin and is a physiological mechanism of the body, in order to regulate body temperature. Sweat consists mainly of water, but also contains trace elements, salts and small amounts of aminoacids and other substances, which play a role in the antimicrobial protection of the skin.
The main reason why sweat is secreted is to cool the body. During physical activity or when the ambient temperature rises, the nervous system activates the sweat glands to produce sweat. The sweat then evaporates from the skin, consuming heat energy from the body and thus lowering the body´s temperature.
Hyperhidrosis is a medical condition in which a person produces an excessive amount of sweat, beyond the body's needs for temperature regulation. It affects both genders equally and usually appears on the armpits, palms and soles, but it can also appear more rarely on the face and head. Excessive sweating affects 2-3% of the population and occurs even when the person is in an air-conditioned room and at rest, without performing any strenuous activity. People with hyperhidrosis sweat up to 4 times more than the average and this brings limitations in their daily activities.
What causes Hyperhidrosis?
Hyperhidrosis is the result of a dysfunction-overactivity of the nerves, which stimulate the sweat glands of a specific area, with the most frequent areas of appearance being the armpits, palms and soles. It is usually either idiopathic and appears de novo, during adulthood or hereditary. It is usually either idiopathic and appears de novo, during adulthood or hereditary when there is a family history of hyperhidrosis and a hereditary predisposition and then it can appear in adolescence. Hyperhidrosis is also divided into 2 types, Primary Hyperhidrosis and Secondary Hyperhidrosis.
Primary and Secondary Hyperhidrosis
| Primary Hyperhidrosis | Secondary Hyperhidrosis | |
|---|---|---|
| Location Points | Usually is localized and located in one area: such as armpits, palms and soles | Usually has a generalized form (over the whole body) |
| Cause | Overactivity of sympathetic nervous system nerves | Some underlying pathological disease or side effect of medications |
| Heredity | Yes, in 30-50% | No |
| Age of Appearance | Adolescence | Adult life |
| Appears during sleep | No | Yes |
| Is BTX Treatment effective | Yes | No |
| Primary Hyperhidrosis | |
|---|---|
| Location Points | Usually is localized and located in one area: such as armpits, palms and soles |
| Cause | Overactivity of sympathetic nervous system nerves |
| Heredity | Yes, in 30-50% |
| Age of Appearance | Adolescence |
| Appears during sleep | No |
| Is BTX Treatment effective | Yes |
| Secondary Hyperhidrosis | |
|---|---|
| Location Points | Usually has a generalized form (over the whole body) |
| Cause | Some underlying pathological disease or side effect of medications |
| Heredity | No |
| Age of Appearance | Adult life |
| Appears during sleep | Yes |
| Is BTX Treatment effective | No |
When hyperhidrosis is primary there is no underlying cause, while when it is secondary, it means it has an underlying cause, which could be a medical condition/disorder or a side effect to a medication or nutritional supplements. Conditions that can cause secondary hyperhidrosis include diabetes mellitus, gout (increased uric acid), injuries after a traffic accident (e.g. head), obesity, hyperthyroidism, etc.
In secondary hyperhidrosis, the increased production of sweat manifests itself throughout the body, characterized by wet sheets when waking up in the morning (while the room was cool), as the sufferer also sweats a lot during sleep.
What are the symptoms of Hyperhidrosis?
Abnormal Sweating
Even if you are sitting, doing absolutely no activity and in a cool, air-conditioned room.
Constantly Moist Skin
The skin remains moist, even if you washed and dried your hands a few minutes before.
Frequent Skin Infections
You often get fungal infections on your feet and hands, as the interdigital areas are constantly wet and with "skin breaks" from the constant moisture.
Difficulty in Daily Activities
You struggle in your daily life, even with simple tasks like writing with a pen, typing on your laptop and opening a door with a knob. You often think about offering your hand for a handshake and avoid social events where handshakes are inevitable.
Hyperhidrosis and Daily Life
Regain Confidence in your Social Life!
Treatments for Hyperhidrosis
Treatments for hyperhidrosis depend on whether it is primary or secondary.
For secondary hyperhidrosis, things are specific and the treatment results from the search for the causative factor (disease or medication) that caused it. Thus, by avoiding / replacing / correcting the causative factor and adding treatment with anticholinergic drugs, for as long as necessary, the secondary hyperhidrosis automatically improves.
For primary hyperhidrosis, there are more treatment options and they include the following:
Topical Treatments
The common deodorants from the Super Market are definitely not the solution to the problem of underarm sweating, no matter how often you apply them, as these are deodorants for the good smell and not anti-perspirants, for the decrease in sweat secretion. In cases of hyperhidrosis, it would be good to contact a Dermatologist, to guide you on the right choice of pharmaceutical antiperspirant, which will gradually help you gain control of the situation.
One of the most common medical substances we use is the 25% solution of aluminum chloride hexahydrate (ACH). The correct application of the treatment is important and the solution should only be applied at night and on skin without hairs (eg in the armpit area). It should be washed off the next morning, before the skin sweats during the day, as the presence of moisture leads to the formation of hydrochloric acid, with subsequent skin irritation.
Iontophoresis
Another treatment that only works for a percentage of patients and only for the area of the palms and soles (and unfortunately not for the armpits) is iontophoresis. The patient's hands or feet are placed in a flat position on the bottom of two trays filled with water, in the iontophoresis device, to which electric current is carried through electrodes. The current is increased until the patient starts to feel a discomfort (about 15mA on the palms and 20mA on the soles). This weak current inhibits the secretion of sweat, without damaging the sweat glands.
Botox for hyperhidrosis is the No1 and most frequently applied treatment for hyperhidrosis in the armpits, palms and soles. And that's because botulinum toxin treatment for hyperhidrosis is relatively simple and usually lasts for about 4-6 months, depending on the patient and the degree of hyperhidrosis of the area applied.
It is important to emphasize that the botulinum toxin only acts locally, where the injection was made and does not affect the body's normal sweating, as the other sweat glands continue to function normally. This means that you can control excessive sweating, only locally in the specific areas, without affecting the general sweating of the body.
Invasive Treatments
Τhese involve destroying the sweat glands of the subcutaneous tissue and are a treatment method for the armpit area only. This treatment is performed with local anesthesia and local liposuction in the armpit area, with subcutaneous scraping of the glands in the axillary area. The treatment is carried out in a single session, its success rates vary in the literature from 40 - 60% and it manages to a certain extent to reduce the intensity of the symptoms.
Another invasive treatment that concerns both axillary and palmar hyperhidrosis is the thoracic sympathectomy, with removal of the T2 and T3 ganglia, which is done endoscopically by a Thoracic Surgeon and concerns severe cases of hyperhidrosis.
How does Botox work on Hyperhidrosis?
Botulinum toxin type A is derived from the bacterium Clostridium Botulinum and is indeed a safe, medical substance that has been FDA approved since 2004 for the treatment of hyperhidrosis. The action of Botox is caused by inhibiting the release of acetylcholine, a substance that is responsible for the chemical signal that stimulates the nerve endings of the sweat glands to produce sweat.
So for as long as the action of Botox lasts (4 - 6 months) there is no chemical signal to stimulate the sweat glands and excessive sweat production stops. After this period of time, Botox treatment must be repeated to maintain relief from hyperhidrosis symptoms.
Advantages of Botox for Hyperhidrosis
Painless
Procedure
Long Lasting
Effect
Safe Process
with FDA Approval
Value for Money
Treatment
Targeted Action
at the Problem
Immediate Return
to Daily Activities
Painless
Procedure
Long Lasting
Effect
Safe
Procedure
Value
for Money
Targeted
Action
None
Recovery Time
90% report regaining confidence after Botox for Hyperhidrosis!
Areas of application of Botox in Hyperhidrosis
- Armpits
- Scalp
- Palms and Fingers
- Soles and Toes
- Face and especially Forehead
Botox for Hyperhidrosis Prices - Cost
Choose the best, not the cheapest!
The cost of Hyperhidrosis Botox treatment depends on the area, the number and depth of the wrinkles and the units of the product, which are necessary for each person.
The final cost of your personalized treatment will be known to you at the end of your assessment, with our specialized Doctors, but to have an estimate of the initial cost for treatment Botox Hyperhidrosis starts at 250 euros.
Quite often people come to our Clinics who have done this application in non-medical places or to Doctors, who use inferior materials, with a cheap cost of 120 and 150 euros
telling us that their application only lasted 1 month or that the material "spread" so much in the area, that it was as if they did not do it. And then they are forced to pay again for the application to be done correctly with good materials, which last and give the right result in the placement area. We all know very well "You get what you pay for" and this also applies to Aesthetic Medicine, that's why you should always choose based on the expertise of Doctors and their results and not on whether you will find it cheaper in an aesthetic center or not.
Hyperhidrosis Treatment with Botox Step by Step
Medical History - Skin Assessment
Skin Preparation
Skin Marking - Botox Application
Post Botox Instructions
All you need to know about Botox for Hyperhidrosis
Instructions before Botox for Hyperhidrosis
If the treatment is to be applied to the armpits, then it is important to shave them the day before.
Do not use antiperspirant products for 24 hours before treatment and certainly not on the day of treatment.
It would be best not to consume alcohol 24 hours before your treatment.
Avoid taking anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g. Mesulid, Brufen, Voltaren) and analgesics (e.g. aspirin) for at least one week before the treatment, as they increase the possibility of bleeding and therefore bruising, during the treatment.
Also avoid taking vitamins and multivitamin preparations, for at least a week before treatment, as these are substances that increase the bleeding tendency and consequently the risk of bleeding.
Instructions after Botox for Hyperhidrosis
Avoid touching, rubbing or massaging the treatment area for the next 4-6 hours.
Avoiding physical activity for 24 hours is recommended.
The medication of BTX is particularly sensitive to heat. Avoid hot baths, saunas, and exposure to the sun or blow dryer for 24 hours.
Why should I choose Derm & Plastic for Botox for Hyperhidrosis?
Derm & Plastic Surgery Clinics are specialised Aesthetic Dermatology and Plastic Surgery Clinics. Cosmetic applications of Botox and Brotox are applied daily in their premises, only by the Dermatologists and Plastic Surgeons of our Clinics and not by unqualified Doctors or even worse non-doctors, as is the case in other places.
In our Clinics, our Doctors perform not only cosmetic, but also medical botox, for bruxism, hyperhidrosis and migraines and use only the FDA approved medications
with absolute transparency and safety and the patients are given the barcode of the medication used in their treatment.
The many years of specialization and experience of Dr. Zografou, with thousands of patients in Greece and abroad and the modern therapeutic Botox protocols that Dr Zografou has developed and are applied in our Clinics, guarantee the effectiveness of your treatments.
At the Derm & Plastic Surgery Clinics, we offer high quality medical services, with the highest standards and at extremely affordable prices (value for money). All you have to do is to book your appointment at one of our two Clinics, where we will inform you about our Botox medical protocols!
Derm & Plastic TV
Myths and Truths for Hyperhidrosis Botox
Myth: Using antiperspirant products is only suitable for the armpits
Truth: Antiperspirant products are suitable for application anywhere on the body that exhibits excessive sweating, such as the palms, soles, face, chest and groin area. In any case, it is recommended to test the product on a very small area of the skin, before its wider application.
Myth: Deodorant and antiperspirant products should be used in the morning
Truth: Sweat production is at a low level during the night and this allows the active ingredients in deodorants and antiperspirants to penetrate the skin pores more easily. These products inhibit perspiration and also inhibit the growth of odor-causing bacteria, so it's best to use them at night, after bathing, to achieve maximum effectiveness during the day.
Myth: Hyperhidrosis can be combated with simple antiperspirant products
Truth: Antiperspirants provide a temporary solution for patients with mild symptoms of hyperhidrosis, but they do not act on the root of the problem. More drastic solutions include treatments with oral medications that reduce sweat production. However, these drugs act systemically and can cause side effects such as dry eyes, dry mouth, headaches and digestive and urinary system disorders. Because of these side effects and for cases of moderate to severe hyperhidrosis, Botox treatment is an effective yet safe option, offering long-term relief from hyperhidrosis.
Myth: A little baby powder in the armpits reduces the sweating
Truth: Baby powder isn't particularly effective at reducing sweat and also once it gets wet it will form an annoying mass that will stain your clothes. Instead of talc, it is better to use special antiperspirant products.
Myth: It's not good to block sweat as it doesn't escape afterwards
Truth: Botox blocks the production of sweat in specific areas of the body and the sweat simply does not secrete after the Botox treatment. So there is no need to escape as it is not produced anymore there. It is also worth noting that the targeted blocking of sweating in one area, for example in the armpits, does not affect the normal sweating mechanism of the rest of the body, since sweat glands exist throughout the body and in other areas continue to function normally.
Myth: After treatment, I will sweat more in other places
Truth: The body has about 4 million sweat glands. Botox treatment in one localized area does not affect the frequency or amount of sweating in other areas of the body. The purpose of the treatment is to combat hyperhidrosis locally only, by stopping the chemical communication between the nerves and the sweat glands in that particular area only. The remaining sweat glands will continue to secrete the same amount of sweat as before.
Frequent Questions about Botox for Hyperhidrosis
As an injectable treatment, Botox can cause some minor discomfort, but the needles used to administer it are so fine that the discomfort is actually very mild and tolerable. On a pain scale of 1 to 10, most patients rate it a "1 or 2" especially in the armpit area.
For the area of the soles and palms, where the skin is thicker and the sensitivity to pain is greater, if someone wishes, an anaesthetic cream can be applied locally, 10-20 minutes before the treatment so that the area becomes numb.
As the body metabolizes the active substance of Botox, its effect weakens, the nerve stimulus begins to be transmitted again to the sweat glands and they gradually return to their pre-treatment state. However, you can maintain the effect of Botox by repeating the treatment at regular intervals every 4-6 months. On average of 2-3 treatments per year are sufficient.
Hyperhidrosis Botox has absolutely no long-term effect on the sweat glands, so if one decides for personal or financial reasons to stop Botox applications, the glands will simply begin to hypersecrete again, as they did in the past. Their secretion will be neither less nor greater than what they had in the past, but exactly the same as before the treatment.
When Botox treatment is applied by an experienced Doctor, then it is completely safe. Only some mild and transient side effects may occur, such as pain, swelling or even bruising at the injection sites. These are temporary side effects that go away after a few days and you don't need to worry. It is important to know that Botox for hyperhidrosis is an approved medication and has been approved by the European Medicines Administration as well as the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) since 2004.
It is important to choose a qualified Doctor who has the training and experience to administer Botox injections safely and effectively. A qualified Doctor will take all necessary precautions to minimize the risk of side effects and ensure that you are fully informed of any potential risks before undergoing this treatment.
- Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Hyperhidrosis Botox is not recommended for women who are pregnant or breast-feeding.
- Allergies: People who are allergic to any component of the Botox formulation should not receive the treatment.
- Neuromuscular disorders: People with certain neuromuscular disorders such as Myasthenia Gravis or Lambert-Eaton syndrome should not take Botox.
- Infections: People with skin infections at injection sites should not receive Botox until the infection has healed.
- Bleeding disorders: People with bleeding disorders or those taking blood-thinning medications should avoid Botox, as it increases the risk of bleeding and bruising at injection sites.
If you have a question about this treatment that is not answered in the text above, please send your question to the Doctor. Don't send questions about treatment costs and prices, as these are only formulated after the medical consultation, either in person at our Clinics or by Online Consultation.
Book an appointment and come to one of our Clinics or if you don't have time or live far away, request a video call consultation first and then come directly for your treatment.
