When sweating becomes a burden
Sweating at the wrong moment – few people are unfamiliar with the situation when a sudden sweat outbreak is out of place and becomes noticeably visible or olfactorily apparent to others. Sweating is a natural reaction of the human body to exertion, heat or illness. However, some women and men experience regular heavy sweat outbreaks even in situations that actually give no cause for it: not only the armpits, but also the forehead and scalp, the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet can be affected and become drenched with sweat; this is referred to as focal hyperhidrosis.
A suddenly occurring hyperhidrosis can unsettle those affected greatly because they fear that the increased sweating is visible or detectable by others – for example through stains on clothing or unpleasant odors. This often happens at moments when there is no immediate possibility to conceal the sweat outbreak and ordinary deodorants are no longer sufficient. Nighttime sweating episodes can also impair well-being and disturb restful sleep.
Persistent heavy sweating can become a significant psychological burden in relationships, at work and in social environments and may lead sufferers to withdraw. The resulting restriction in perceived quality of life is often considerable. Targeted measures can, however, help alleviate the symptoms – especially when no clear cause can be identified.
Surgically removing the sweat glands not only means a major procedure, but can also entail certain complications. Topical treatment of the affected skin areas with aluminum chloride–containing substances also has disadvantages: on the one hand, these must be used regularly to produce an effective result; on the other hand, particularly sensitive skin often reacts with itching and irritation to frequent application, and excessive application can discolor clothing. Many affected people sweat more noticeably on the face. Treatment with an aluminum chloride cream is often not possible in this area due to the size of the affected surface and the generally greater sensitivity of facial skin.
Treatment of hyperhidrosis with Botox
Treatment of the skin areas affected by focal hyperhidrosis with botulinum toxin at PraxisClinic Jadore represents a non-surgical and at the same time skin-friendly alternative. With targeted Botox injections at the affected sites, Dr. Christoph Jethon helps people who suffer from hyperhidrosis of the face, as well as other parts of the body and the associated strong sweat odor, to achieve a significant reduction in sweating in these skin areas. Botulinum toxin treatment for excessive sweating can therefore be successfully performed not only in the armpits but also on any other hyperhidrosis-affected areas such as the palms, soles or on the scalp and face.
How does Botox work for hyperhidrosis?
Botox has long been known to be successfully used to smooth wrinkles by injecting it into certain facial muscles that contribute to wrinkle formation. The botulinum toxin used for this purpose is a natural toxin (botulinum toxin A). It contains an active substance that inhibits the transmission of nerve impulses to a muscle and thus weakens its activity. The same neurotransmitter that normally stimulates the facial muscles also activates the sweat glands. Through targeted injections of botulinum toxin, Dr. Christoph Jethon blocks the signal transmission and thereby reduces the secretion of the sweat glands in a specific area to treat hyperhidrosis. The side effect observed during facial tightening with Botox — that the skin of the treated region is drier — is therefore intentionally utilized here.
Depending on the dosage of the botulinum toxin, sweat production is thus reduced or completely blocked. Because only a small region of the body is treated with the injections, normal sweating is not restricted. Nerve functions such as sensation or tactile perception through the skin are not affected either.
Botox treatment of hyperhidrosis at PraxisClinic Jadore
Before starting treatment of hyperhidrosis with Botox at PraxisClinic Jadore, you should first clarify with your general practitioner whether there are possible disease-related causes for the excessive sweating that need to be considered for a Botox therapy. Afterwards Dr. Christoph Jethon will ascertain with you which areas of your body are exactly affected by hyperhidrosis and will explain the measures he proposes in this case to best alleviate the heavy sweating in these areas. In doing so, Dr. Jethon will discuss the course of the Botox treatment with you and inform you about possible risks as well as what results you can expect.
Dr. Christoph Jethon has extensive expertise in treating hyperhidrosis with Botox – especially in a sensitive area such as the face – and through the correct dosage and skillful, precise injection technique he produces exactly the intended effect on the sweat glands.
Treatment of focal hyperhidrosis at PraxisClinic Jadore is performed on an outpatient basis and takes about 30 minutes depending on the diagnosed findings. For preparation Dr. Jethon precisely marks the area to be treated, because the botulinum toxin is injected only there at intervals of one centimeter into the skin to achieve as even an effect as possible. If your hyperhidrosis treatment also includes the armpit area, you should shave it beforehand if necessary to facilitate marking the injections.
Depending on the location of the treatment sites on the body, you will receive a local anesthetic or cooling or a topical anesthetic ointment as preparation. Afterwards Dr. Christoph Jethon injects the botulinum toxin in small, even intervals into the marked skin area.
How quickly does the Botox treatment work for hyperhidrosis?
In many cases a single simple Botox injection is sufficient to significantly reduce sweat production. In most cases, repeated, regular applications of Botox can even completely suppress the heavy sweating. The sweat-reducing effect, however, does not appear immediately after the treatment; it usually takes between 2 and 7 days before sweating is noticeably reduced. Over time you can particularly notice the positive effect of the Botox treatment for hyperhidrosis in situations where the feared sweat outbreak does not occur, which can contribute to significantly increased well-being and an improved quality of life.
How long does the effect of a Botox treatment last?
The effect of Botox injections on sweat production also depends on the respective location, but is generally between 4 and 6 months before it subsides. However, the effect lasts longer with repeated treatments.
What risks does botulinum toxin therapy have?
Botox therapy is generally well tolerated. With correct administration, as provided at PraxisClinic Jadore, no long-term side effects from botulinum toxin are known. In addition, the precisely adjusted anesthesia and the precise technique of Dr. Christoph Jethon during injection ensure that the treatment proceeds as gently as possible. In many cases of hyperhidrosis, surgery can thus be avoided. Occasionally bruising may appear, but these are harmless and fade after some time.
Checklist for hyperhidrosis therapy with Botox
- Duration of the procedure: 30 – 60 minutes, outpatient
- Anesthesia: local anesthesia
- Repeat: after 4 – 6 months
What should you consider before the Botox treatment for hyperhidrosis?
Dr. Christoph Jethon advises against undergoing Botox therapy during pregnancy as well as during breastfeeding. The intake of any medications that increase bleeding tendency, for example aspirin, or those that contain acetylsalicylic acid, should ideally be discontinued about 2 weeks before the planned appointment at PraxisClinic Jadore; this also includes common sleeping aids as well as vitamin E, ginkgo or garlic. These can increase the risk of bruising at the injection sites. Medications prescribed by your general practitioner that are medically necessary should of course continue to be taken; please inform Dr. Jethon about them.
Checklist for preparation for the Botox treatment:
- Avoid medications with blood-thinning effects as well as sleeping aids and products containing vitamin E, ginkgo and garlic
- Do not plan therapy during pregnancy or while breastfeeding
- Shave armpits if applicable
What should you consider after the Botox treatment?
You can leave PraxisClinic Jadore immediately after the Botox injections. In the following hours you should avoid rubbing or massaging the treated areas. You should also refrain on the day of treatment from sports or strenuous activities, visiting a sauna, and strong sun exposure.
Checklist after hyperhidrosis therapy with Botox
- Do not rub or massage the treated areas
- Avoid strong sun exposure
- Fit for work: immediately
- Socially presentable: immediately
- Sports, sauna: after 1 day
Treatment of teeth grinding with botulinum toxin
In addition to treating hyperhidrosis with Botox injections, Dr. Christoph Jethon also offers the non-surgical treatment of bruxism with botulinum toxin at PraxisClinic Jadore.
What are the costs of a hyperhidrosis treatment?
As a rule, only approximate costs can be given for non-surgical procedures, since the price is determined individually according to the effort and duration of the treatment.
An overview of our treatment prices can be found on our price list.
