Do I have Severe Underarm Sweating?

If underarm sweating is significantly interfering with your daily activities and topical agents haven't worked, you may be a candidate for BOTOX® treatment. First you will want to assess the severity of your condition by completing the Self-Assessment Questionnaire prior to your consultation appointment. BOTOX® is FDA-approved for severe underarm sweating that is not adequately managed with topical agents. BOTOX® treatment helps control this condition by temporarily blocking the chemical signals from the nerves that stimulate the sweat glands. When the sweat glands don't receive chemical signals, the severe sweating stops. Treatment effect typically lasts nine months.

Hyperhidrosis Disease Severity Scale (HDSS)

How would you rate the severity of your hyperhidrosis?

1 = My underarm sweating is never noticeable and never interferes with my daily activities

2 = My underarm sweating is tolerable but sometimes interferes with my daily activities

3 = My underarm sweating is barely tolerable and frequently interferes with my daily activities

4 = My underarm sweating is intolerable and always interferes with my daily activities

(If you are in category 3 or 4, you may be a good candidate for BOTOX treatment)

Have you tried over the counter antiperspirants?

Have you ever tried topical prescription antiperspirants such as Drysol or Aluminum Chloride?

Have you ever been evaluated for a thyroid condition? Do you have any medical conditions that may predispose you to excessive sweating?

FAQ’s

What Is Treatment With BOTOX® Like?
The procedure is relatively straightforward. A small volume of BOTOX® solution is injected into the affected underarm area through a very fine needle. The needle is placed just under the skin, so you may experience some injection-related discomfort. You will receive multiple injections based on your doctor's assessment of the area that needs to be treated.

What are the most common side effects?
In clinical studies of patients with hyperhidrosis, the most frequently reported side effects (3% to 10% of patients) following BOTOX® injection included injection-site pain and bleeding, non-underarm sweating, infection, inflammation of the throat, flu syndrome, headache, fever, neck or back pain, itching, and anxiety.

How should I prepare prior to treatment?
Arrive to the office with your underarm area shaved.

You must refrain from use of antiperspirants or deodorants for 24 hours prior to treament. Failure to do so will affect the physician’s ability to localize the area to be injected. This can decrease the effectiveness of their treatment.

You should refrain from use of blood thinners, aspirin, NSAIDS such as Motrin, Alleve, and Advil for 10 days prior to treatment to help minimize bruising and bleeding. Please consult your primary care physician prior to discontinuing any prescription or recommended medications.

You should be resting comfortably without exercise or hot drinks for 30 minutes prior to your treatment.

What should I expect after Botox treatment?
You should notice a significant reduction in underarm sweating within 4 weeks of your first treatment. There is a possibility that some sweat glands may be missed, and you may continue to experience some sweating from the untreated areas. If you do not see a significant reduction in sweating, you should contact the office and request a follow-up consultation. We will repeat the Iodine Starch test to outline specific areas that may need additional treatment.

How can I get more information?
At Physician Body Solutions we provide free consultations so that you may have your questions addressed to your satisfactions. For more information about severe underarm sweating, visit the International Hyperhidrosis Society Web site at www.SweatHelp.org.