Neuromodulators for Excessive Sweating :Neuromodulators – injections of botulinum toxin commercially known as Botox and Dysport and Xeomin – can be used to treat excessive sweating. A minute amount of the neuromodulator is injected beneath the skin, where it is absorbed by nerve cells. It works by blocking neurotransmitters that encourage sweating. A typical treatment involves about 15 to 20 injections.

Hyperhidrosis causes social anxiety and research has shown that its treatment results in increased job performance and quality of life. In 2004, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approved BOTOX (onabotulinumtoxin-A) for the treatment of severe primary axillary hyperhidrosis or excess underarm sweating. Such neuromodulators have been shown to decrease sweating by up to 87% in the axilla. At our clinic, the most common condition treated is axillary hyperhidrosis or underarm sweating.

There are 2 types of Hyperhidrosis

It is important that a medical assessment is done in order to determine the possible causes and type of hyperhidrosis a patient may have.

Primary focal hyperhidrosis refers to excessive sweating not caused by a medical problem or a side effect of medications.

Hyperhidrosis is the primary medical diagnosis and typically an episode of excess sweating occurs at least once a week on very specific focal areas of the body.

Interestingly, primary focal hyperhidrosis does not occur during sleep and may be inherited but never discussed inside the family because of embarrassment.

Neuromodulators such as Botox and Dysport are natural, purified proteins with the ability to temporarily block the secretion of the chemical that causes the production of sweat. When small, shallow injections are done in the underarm area after sufficient topical anesthesia, decreased sweating can be noticed at around 2 to 4 days with full results noted around 2 weeks. The results can last from 4 to 14 months.

Treatment with Botox and other neuromodulators is safe because these glands do not affect temperature regulation and the underarm sweat glands consist of less than 2 % of the body’s sweat glands.

The cost of treatments for hyperhidrosis depends upon the size of the body treated but generally starts at about $1000 dollars for the injection of both underarms. In order to control the excess sweating, repeat injections are required usually every 6 to 14 months.