Effective Botox Treatment for Excessive Sweating

It is estimated that 3% of the UK population suffer from hyperhidrosis, an hereditary disorder characterised by excessive sweating, most commonly around the armpits, palms, feet and face.

It can be an embarrassing, disabling condition, particularly for those who work in business or are constantly in the public eye, but because patients are reluctant to talk about it, the incidence of the condition is likely to be grossly underestimated.

People who complain of excessive sweating rarely seek a physician's help, unaware that they have a treatable medical disorder. In fact, early detection and proper clinical management of hyperhidrosis is available with injections of Botulinum toxin (best known in the UK by the brand name of Botox®) which can significantly improve the condition and patients’ overall quality of life. Botox is more commonly known in the UK for its use as a muscle relaxant treatment for frown lines, forehead lines and crow's feet.

Consultant neurologist Dr. Marie-Helene Marion, who was the pioneer of hyperhidrosis treatment in France, now treats the disorder at the London BTX Centre. She has been trying to draw attention to this taboo condition since she began to practise in England in 1999.

Dr Marion says, “Many healthcare professionals claim that excessive sweating is a psychological condition, which compounds the problem for patients. Actually in 65% of cases hyperhidrosis is familial and starts in childhood, so the physiological basis for this condition is likely to be genetically determined.”

There are various ways to treat hyperhidrosis, but by far the most efficient non-invasive treatment is medically controlled injections of Botulinum toxin. The toxin blocks the transmission of the nerve to the sweat gland, which in turn reduces sweating. Botox is fully licensed in the UK for treatment of severe axillary (armpit) hyperhidrosis. The injections have to be repeated once or twice a year. In most cases, the injected sites become dry for about 7 months on average.

Dr. Marion explains, “The tragedy is that people who have hyperhidrosis are often in a vicious circle - the more confidence they lose, the more they want to reduce their social contact; and the more they become obsessed and emotional about their condition, the more it is aggravated.”

Hyperhidrosis is caused by overproduction in the sweat glands. Patients have an increased response to stimuli, in particular to the emotions due to sympathetic hyperactivity. Dr Marion adds, “Anyone who suffers from excessive sweating ought to have it properly diagnosed. I would stress that they should ensure that they attend clinics with doctors appropriately trained in the medical use of Botox.”

Dr. Marie-Helene Marion, MD, AIHP, ACCCA-Paris, is Consultant Neurologist at St. George’s Hospital, London, and registered with the GMC. The London BTX Centre is a specialist medical clinic for the therapeutic application of Botox and can be contacted on 0800 107 4888.