According to WebMD, more than 1 million people suffer from excessive underarm sweating that cannot be remedied by the use of over the counter antiperspirants or prescription creams. People who have this condition, known as axillary hyperhidrosis, often sweat when they aren't feeling warm, resulting in overly wet underarms.

However, BOTOX® Cosmetic has been shown to offer relief for these patients, lasting in some cases for up to two years. In 2004, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved BOTOX® Cosmetic as a treatment for severe underarm sweating.

How Does BOTOX® Cosmetic Reduce Underarm Sweating?

It is believed that BOTOX® injections temporarily block certain acetylcholine chemical signals from the nerves that stimulate underarm sweating. In patients with axillary hyperhidrosis, these nerves are overstimulated, producing the excessive sweating. It will only stop sweating in treated areas. Other parts of the body will produce sweat normally. If BOTOX® treatment is stopped, the underarm sweat glands will then produce the same amount of sweat as before treatment.

What Does the Research Say?

In a study whose results were presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology, in July 2005, a group of researchers examined the efficacy of BOTOX® Cosmetic on a group of 193 patients who had failed with other treatments. These patients had received either placebo or BOTOX® Cosmetic treatment for an earlier one-year study, followed by a three-year follow up study of just BOTOX® Cosmetic injections every eight weeks.

At four weeks following the first treatment in the follow on study, 83 percent of patients (141/171) reported improvement. At eight weeks after the first treatment, 78 percent of patients (131/169) reported improvement.

A gravimetric measurement of sweat reduction produced similar results. Four weeks after the first treatment, 82 percent of patients (138/168) experienced a reduction of sweat by at least 75 percent. At eight weeks after the first treatment, 70 percent of patients (19/27) also had sweat reduction of at least 75 percent. Among those patients who received at least one BOTOX® Cosmetic injection, 94 percent required four or fewer injections to keep their symptoms under control for the duration of the study.

Finally, 78 percent to 83 percent of patients who received the BOTOX® Cosmetic treatment reported feeling less impaired in their daily lives as a result of severe underarm sweating. This was measured in terms of the tolerability of underarm sweating and the degree to which it interfered with patients' daily activities such as proper hygiene, going to school or work, and socializing with family and friends.

Those patients who suffer from excessive underarm sweat live in constant fear of doing activities as simple as raising their hand in class, buying new clothes for fear of ruining them, or meeting new people in social situations. They have probably tried a number of over the counter or prescription remedies, to no avail. In particularly severe cases, they may even be considering surgery. Fortunately, BOTOX® Cosmetic injections offer a fast, effective, minimally invasive treatment for most patients who suffer from excessive underarm sweat.

Contact Dr. Pin's practice today to schedule a consultation.