How does it affect people?
Heavy sweating causes discomfort, and worrying about the unpleasant smell of perspiration causes psychological and social problems – people’s moods drop, their self-esteem and self-confidence decline. People may start to avoid public places, become reclusive, and avoid contact with even their closest friends. You can’t wear everything you want on your back.Often, clothing materials (avoiding silk, for example, in favour of cotton) and colours (avoiding bright colours, opting for black and white) are chosen to make sweating less visible. Some people always carry a change of clothes with them so they don’t have to be wet all day.
What are the reasons?
Causes of sweating over the body include: tumour diseases, metabolic disorders such as diabetes, thyroid diseases, neurological diseases, febrile diseases (e.g. infectious diseases), panic attacks, anxiety, some medicines. In such cases, the underlying cause should be treated rather than excessive sweating. The causes of local (armpits, palms, soles) hyperalgesia are unknown and are more likely to be related to emotional factors.
How to treat local hyperhidrosis?
Antiperspirants are the first choice – antiperspirants are sweat-retardants (as opposed to deodorants, which simply hide the smell of sweat). If antiperspirants have not been effective within 2 weeks of use, the next step is treatment with botulinum toxin.
What is botulinum toxin?
Botulinum toxin is a biological neurotoxin (nerve poison) produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum that causes muscle paralysis. Botulinum toxin is used both in conventional medicine to treat tendinitis, muscle spasms and associated pain, and in aesthetic medicine to reduce mimic wrinkles and sweating.
Type A botulinum toxin is used in aesthetic medicine.
How does botulinum toxin work?
The injectable drug blocks nerve transmission to the sweat gland, preventing the sweat gland from functioning properly and sweat production stops.
Who can have Botulinum treatment?
Suitable for people with hyperhidrosis:
– interferes with daily life or occurs more than once a week
– mucous membranes under the armpits on both sides of the body
– starts before the age of 25
– ends at night
Are there any contraindications?
Pregnancy and breastfeeding. Under 18 years of age. Muscle disorders, blood clotting disorders, general infection, skin inflammation at the injection site. Inflammatory diseases should be treated before botulinum injections.
What does the procedure look like?
The procedure takes about 30 min. During this time, approximately 30 intradermal injections are made under the armpit on each side at 8-10 mm intervals. This means that 100 active units of botulinum are injected into each side. If necessary, a numbing cream is used to relieve the pain and applied to the area to be injected 60 minutes before the procedure.
It is not recommended to go for massages, sauna, sunbathing or to consume alcoholic beverages for 2-3 days after the injection.
How good are the injections?
Studies show that there is a 75% reduction in sweating, which is accompanied by an increase in emotional and physical well-being and a reduction in activity limitations. Patients are very satisfied, with an average symptom-free period of 6-9 months. If the effect disappears, botulinum treatment can be repeated.
Anti-hyperhidrosis botulinum toxin injection therapy is a safe and highly effective treatment. The indications and doses of the medicine used are registered in the national medicines register. Only doctors are allowed to inject the medicine.
The injection is performed by Dr Ulvi Loite (dermatovenerologist).
The cost of the procedure is €395.
