Underarm sweating: botulinum toxin for hyperhidrosis
When excessive underarm sweating stops responding to antiperspirants: how botulinum toxin works, whether the procedure hurts, when the effect starts and how long it lasts.
Sweating is an entirely natural way for the body to regulate its temperature — particularly in a hot and humid climate like Antalya's. But when the amount of sweat reaches a level that affects daily life, social relationships and confidence — the medical name is hyperhidrosis — it lowers quality of life. Where deodorants and antiperspirant creams are not enough, botulinum toxin applied to the underarms is one of the methods most often used.
How it works
Sweat glands are stimulated by the sympathetic nervous system. In excessive sweating these glands work far harder than usual.
Botulinum toxin acts at exactly this point: it temporarily halts the transmission of the nerve signals that stimulate the sweat glands. Sweat production in the treated underarm area is brought under control. The procedure does not disturb the body's overall sweating system or its heat balance — it balances the excessive activity only in the area treated.
When it is done
It can be carried out whenever excessive sweating has become a social and psychological problem and is restricting the choice of clothing. It can be done at any time of year, but having it before spring and summer, when the complaint intensifies, makes for a considerably more comfortable summer. It is not performed during pregnancy or breastfeeding, or where there is an active skin infection in the treatment area.
Does it hurt?
Underarm treatment is comfortable and generally easy to tolerate in a clinic setting. Beforehand, a simple starch-iodine test may be done to identify the points where sweating is heaviest. For comfort during the procedure, a local anaesthetic cream is applied to the underarm, or ice is used. Very fine needles then deliver small doses just beneath the skin, at a depth of about 2-4 mm. Because the needles are so fine, the sensation is usually no more than a light sting. The whole process takes on average 15-20 minutes.
Returning to daily life
One of the main advantages is that this is a "lunch-break" procedure. You can return to your normal day or to work immediately afterwards.
For the treatment to work well, the following matter in the first 24-48 hours:
- do not touch or massage the treated area
- avoid contact with water — showering, bathing — for the first 24 hours
- stay away from very hot environments such as public baths, saunas and steam rooms, and from heavy sport, for the first few days
The effect generally begins a few days after the procedure and settles fully within about 2 weeks. How long it lasts varies with the individual, but on average it continues for 4 to 8 months. When it begins to wear off, the procedure can safely be repeated.
Results of any surgical or interventional procedure can vary from person to person.
See also botulinum toxin.